SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth University swept Saturday's swimming "Battle of Whits" in the Northwest Conference dual finale for both schools on Saturday afternoon at the Megan Thompson Aquatic Center.
The Pirate men were especially dominant against the Blues, winning all 14 events on the way to a 198-64 victory. Whitworth's women won 11 of the 14 races, including both relays, to defeat Whitman 179-78.
The Pirate men opened the meet by breaking their own pool record in the meet's first event. Kai Jon Hayashida, Alex Popov, Henry Brewster and Parker Dangleis combined to finish in 1:32.74, bettering the time of 1:33.34 the Bucs went last week against Puget Sound. All four swimmers went on to win at least one individual event.
Hayashida and Dangleis won two races apiece. Hayashida won the 100-yard backstroke in 52.99 and the 200-yard individual medley in 2:00.21. Dangleis took first in both the 200-yard freestyle (1:45.31) and the 100-yard freestyle (46.88).
Brewster took first place in the 200-yard butterfly (1:56.86), while Popov won the 100-yard breaststroke (59.01).
Jake Sachtjen swept both distance freestyle events. He went 16:34.06 in the 1,650-yard free and 4:48.93 in the 500-yard free.
Nathanael Van Liew sprinted to a win in the 50-yard freestyle (21.46). Mason Groth prevented Brewster from winning two events by out-touching his teammate in the 100-yard butterfly (51.61 – 51.75). Vincent McNabb won the 200-yard backstroke in 1:58.66 and Preston Wolf was first in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:11.93).
Whitworth's men closed the meet by winning the 200-yard freestyle relay. Dangleis, Blake Swenson, Austin Elwyn and Van Liew went 1:25.15.
Kallie Badry, Mya Granger and Molly Konop all won two individual events apiece for the Pirate women.
Badry took first place in both the 1,650 freestyle (17:55.21) and the 500 freestyle (5:21.38). Granger won both the 200 freestyle (2:03.13) and the 50 freestyle (25.71). Konop ran away with both the 100 breaststroke (1:07.44) and 200 breaststroke (2:26.50).
Whitworth swept both relays as well. Paige Dangleis, Konop, Grace Esteban and Megan Bonikowsky went 1:50.40 to claim the 200 medley relay. Esteban, Granger, Orlando and Dangleis won the 200 free relay in 1:42.56. Dangleis also took first in the 100 backstroke (1:01.32).
Hailey Freeman finished first in the 200 backstroke (2:21.08) and Isabella Hoopes touched first in the 200 I.M. (2:16.03).
Avery Riley won the 100 and 200 butterfly and the 100 freestyle for Whitman.
Both teams now turn their attention to the 2026 Northwest Conference championships on Fb. 13-15 at the Idaho Central Aquatic Center in Boise. Whitworth is the defending champion for both the men and women. Whitman was the women's runner-up last season.
