Whitworth swim breaks records in NWC Championship

February 19, 2022

Jessica Defiesta (center) jumps off the starting blocks in the 100 yard freestyle during an NCAA college swimming meet at Whitworth University, Friday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. | Caleb Flegel/The Whitworthian

Taylor Jones | Staff Writer

1. (Left) Noah Clarke shakes hands with an opponent after swimming the 500 freestyle during an NCAA college swimming meet at Whitworth University 2.(Right) Ty Deeds swimming the 100 yard freestyle during an NCAA college swimming meet at Whitworth University, Friday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. | Caleb Flegel/The Whitworthian

Both the men’s and women’s teams made history this past weekend at the NWC Championships in Federal Way, Washington, with the men’s team being named NWC Champions.

“I am very proud of our men’s and women’s swim teams. They worked incredibly hard all season long and their commitment to our program was outstanding,” Coach Steve Schadt said.

Day One

Day one, Feb. 10, was successful for both the women’s and men’s teams.

The men’s team started setting records with Ryan Grady, Zachary Washburn, Finn McClone and Jacob Goguen finishing the 800-freestyle relay with a time of 6:39.93. Grady continued the streak by setting a school record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:38.67.

The women’s 800 freestyle relay – Emma Thompson, Isabella Hackney, Ryann Reid and Carly Hoff – finished first in 7:45.77. Both the men’s and women’s 200-yard medley relay teams finished second.

Day Two

Grady broke a Northwest Conference record and Washburn tied another during day two of the men’s NWC Swimming Championships. Grady won the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:48:27, qualifying for the NCAA Division III Championships.

Washburn placed first in the men’s 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.29, which tied Owen Lempert’s 2020 record and earned him a qualifying score for the NCAA DIII Championships.

Day two was challenging for the Pirate women as the 400-medley relay team was disqualified for an illegal relay exchange. This disqualification dropped the women’s team from first to fourth in the conference.

Thompson broke Whitworth’s school record in the 200 I.M. with a time of 2:06.91, beating the previous record of 2:07.35 set by Jackie Beal in 2016. This was Thompson’s best time of the season, earning her second place in the event.

Day Three

Grady broke another Northwest Conference meet record and posted an NCAA Division III qualifying mark on the third day of the meet, finishing the men’s 100-yard breaststroke in 54.85. The men’s team, composed of Washburn, McClone, Grady and Goguen, finished second in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:22.78, breaking the old record of 1:23.76. The men’s team finished first again at the end of day three.

Thompson won her first career individual event on the third day of the conference with a time of 56.34 in the 100-yard backstroke. In the 200-freestyle relay, Thompson, Doncevic, Larrabee and Hoff took second in 1:37.89. Larrabee placed second in the 100-yard butterfly with a personal best of 57.45. By the end of the day, the women’s team had moved up to third place in the conference.

Day Four

The conference championships ended on Sunday, Feb. 13, where the men’s team won their fourth straight conference championship. Washburn, McClone, Grady and Goguen finished first in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:01.09, breaking the old NWC record of 3:01.55 set by Whitman College in 2015.

Grady broke the record for the 200-yard breaststroke finishing with a time of 1:57.57, replacing former Pirate Rory Buck’s 1:57.79 in 2011. “I am immensely proud of the men’s and women’s team and the effort we’ve all put in this year to get to the conference. It was amazing seeing everyone get so hyped up and cheering. Their energy was inspiring,” Grady said.

In the 50-yard freestyle, Goguen took first with 44.73, while Washburn placed second with 44.91. Both were under the Whitworth team record of 45.45 and Goguen broke the conference record of 44.83 set by Whitman’s Clark Sun in 2017. In the 1,650-yard freestyle, Florey took first place with a time of 16:21.21.

The Whitworth women’s team won two events on final day of the conference and finished in third place overall. Thompson won the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:03.15 beating her past best time of 2:03.59, and Hoff, swimming her personal best time, won the 100-yard freestyle in 52:87.

Grady, who set records in all three of his individual events, shared the honor of NWC Men’s Swimmer of the Meet with a student from Whitman. Grady won the 200 I.M., 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke. Washburn was the NWC Freshman of the Year, winning the 50-yard freestyle and placing second in both the 200 and 100 freestyles.

“I’m incredibly proud of our athletes. Each teammate competed at their best and brought out the best in each other,” Assistant Coach Christine Mabile said.

Steve Schadt was awarded the NWC Coach of the Year for the sixth time. “[The team is] a great group of people and I feel God has blessed me to be able to coach alongside them.” Schadt said.

“I’m looking forward to NCAA’s in a month and am excited to see what the qualifiers can do! ” Grady said.

The 2022 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships will take place in March in Indiana.

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