The Whitworth Swim season comes to a close with the 2025 Northwest Conference (NWC) Championship taking place on Feb. 14-16. The men’s and women’s Pirates have put on an impressive and consistent performance this season, with records of fastest posted times and multiple sweeping meets. As they come into the 2025 NWC championships, swimmers and coach Steve Schadt reflect on how they feel they will be entering their biggest meet of the year.
Coach Schadt reflects on the season stating, “We have had a very good season, men and women have been swimming very well, best times both seasonally and lifetime.” He expressed that he is excited to see the team’s race and accomplish their goals at the championship. “The swim team focuses all year on this one swim meet,” Schadt says.
Schadt explained he is diligent in his planning for Whitworth Swim throughout the year but is adaptable to addressing concerns throughout the season. “It’s like being a scientist in the laboratory, trying to get the recipe perfect,” Schadt explains. Schadt stated that as swimming gets closer to the NWC Championships, it’s more detailed work, more race pace and technique work.
Schadt explains how Whitworth Swim is different from its opponents for the NWC meet, stating, “The people are what makes the Whitworth swim team special. It’s like a family, everyone supports each other, and they work very hard.” Schadt states he is constantly evaluating how he can come alongside the athletes to best position them, make sure they are getting the amount of rest they need, offer encouragement and boost their confidence.
“I’ve been a part of the program for many years, and so for me, it is a special place, like the traditions and the things they do together, the family atmosphere, it is a special thing,” Schadt adds. Coach Schadt’s hope for the team is that “they swim with heart and passion, chase excellence, and swim fast.”
“My favorite things at the NWC Championship are seeing people do things that they didn’t realize they could do and the energy aspect to the NWC,” said Schadt.
Senior swimmer, Jillian Larrabee, reflects on how she feels Whitworth Swim is coming into the NWC meet. “Whitworth has a real shot of winning this year at the Swim Northwest Conference Championships, because we’ve held the whole season (for the first year) and we have all been undefeated in our domains, and we’ve [kind of] crushed it,” stated Larrabee.
Larrabee explained her personal goals for the NWC meet, stating, “I am ready to go to the conference knowing that the training that I have put into the season will pay off in my racing.”
Whitworth men’s and women’s swim teams won the 2025 NWC Championship, taking first out of nine teams. Larrabee qualified for all A-finals and won seven medals. “The team fought hard throughout the season and at conference, and I’m proud to end my season with the Whitworth Pirates,” Larrabee says.
