FEDERAL WAY, WASH.– The Whitworth Pirates men and women have officially clinched the 2025 Northwest Conference Championship title after 4 days of competition. Day four of the 2025 NWC Swimming Championships concluded with the traditional jump in the pool from the team champions and a celebration honoring all NWC’s graduating seniors.
The Northwest Conference also recognized coaches and student-athletes in end of the year awards. Earning Swimming Coach of the Year for the men’s team was Lewis & Clark’s Caitlin DeNise, leading her men’s team to 5th place– marking significant growth in their men’s swimming program. Both Whitworth’s coach Steve Schadt and Whitman’s coach Jennifer Blomme were awarded Co-Swimming Coach of the Year on the women’s side– awarded for their team’s top two finishes.
The 2025 Swimming Rookie of the Year for the men was claimed by Puget Sound Freshman Sam Lyon, who racked up a total of 52 points during the championship weekend. On the women’s side, Freshman Avery Riley was awarded Swimming Rookie of the Year– contributing 54 points for the Whitman Blues. Last but not least, the men’s 2025 Swimmer of the Year was awarded to Junior Ezra Billings (60 points) of Lewis & Clark, who helped the Pios claim 5th place in the team standings. The women’s 2025 Swimmer of the Year chalked up to a three-way tie, claimed by Kirsti Keppo and Sarah Arpag of Linfield, and Whitworth’s Isabella Hoopes. All three all contributed 57 points to their teams.
The final men’s team scores lined up with the Whitworth Pirates on top (814.5), followed by Puget Sound (536.5), Whitman (392), Linfield (374), Lewis & Clark (370), Pacific Lutheran (274), George Fox (191), Willamette (187), and Pacific (11). The Whitworth women claimed the team victory with a total of 636 points, followed by Whitman (591), Puget Sound (411), Linfield (382), Willamette (344), Pacific Lutheran (281), George Fox (229), Lewis & Clark (208), and Pacific (145).
The evening finals opened with the longest race of the weekend, championed by Linfield’s Kirsti Keppo with an impressive time of 17:32.53. On the men’s side, Whitworth freshman Jake Sachtjen outswam the competition with a final time of 16:08.80 to claim the gold.
In the women’s 200 backstroke, Whitman’s Frances Lenz swam a time of 2:07.20 to seize the top spot, followed closely by Pacific Lutheran’s Emma Gassman (2:07.59). Whitworth’s Austin Elwyn claimed the gold medal, swimming a time of 1:50.39.
Puget Sound freshman Trinity Link made a splash in the women’s 100 free and claimed her gold medal spot swimming at time of 52.57. Ezra Billings of Lewis & Clark swam another speedy time of 44.70 to claim victory in the 100 freestyle.
In the women’s 200 breaststroke, Josephine Piel outswam the competition with a time of 2:21.30 to claim another gold for the Whitman Blues women. In an exciting finish, Whitworth’s Alex Popov championed the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:05.30, while Pacific Lutheran’s Tyler Tanaka finished close behind with a time of 2:05.48.
Freshman Avery Riley took home the gold in the women’s 200 fly with a time of 2:04.74, closely followed by Linfield’s Sarah Arpag (2:05.07). On the men’s side, Henry Brewster outswam the competition in the 200 fly, finishing with a time of 1:49.93.
Wrapping up the championships with a thrilling set of 400 free relays, the Lewis & Clark men’s squad of Ezra Billings, Sam Locurto, Micah Rysavy, and Zachary Martin grabbed the top spot with a time of 3:03.88. The women’s quartet of Anneliese Hanson, Josephine Piel, Avery Riley, and Shaye Agnew posted a time of 3:31.23 to take home gold for the Whitman Blue.