TACOMA, Wash. - If anything was learned on Saturday, it will be that the 2009 Northwest Conference Championships will be an exciting three-days as the Whitworth Pirates pulled past the Puget Sound Loggers in the final NWC dual of the season for both squads.  The Pirate men defeated the Loggers, 116-89, while the Whitworth women collected a 130-75 victory.

The Loggers started the meet off by taking both of the 200m Medley Relays but the Pirates quickly recovered, sweeping the 800m Freestyle events to pull ahead in the points.  Whitworth junior Natalie Turner won her first of two events in the 200m Freestyle with a time of 2:07.75 as did Michael Woodward with a time of 1:59.72.

The Loggers got their first individual win in the 200m Individual Medley as Jackson Kowalski (Keizer, Ore.) collected the win with a time of 2:14.56.  Kowalski also won the next men's event, taking the 100 Fly with a time of 1:00.41. 

Kowalski nearly won his third event in the 100m Backstroke, though he was edged out by teammate Garret Gentling (Shoreline, Wash.), who won the event with a time of 1:01.80.  Logger freshman Sierra Phillips (Cottonwood Heights, Utah) collected her only win of the afternoon in the 100m Breast, posting a winning time of 1:18.56. 

The Loggers ended the meet on a high note, collecting a thrilling win in the men's 200M Freestyle Relay with a time of 1:39.02, just 0.12 seconds ahead of Whitworth.

The Loggers will now turn their focus to the 2009 NWC Championships on Feb. 13-15 at the Weyehaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.

Results