The Linfield Wildcats men’s and women’s swim teams failed to make a splash at the North West Conference Relay and Sprint meets in overall rankings, but made striking strides in individual times.

The men’s and women’s teams placed sixth out of six teams in the relay meet on Oct. 31. The men’s team ranked fifth out of six in the sprint meet on Nov. 1, and the women’s team placed last.

“At conference this year I expect both teams to be the best in Oregon and by my senior year winning Conference,” sophomore Rita Cohen said.

The teams were apprehensive about the meets, which can set the starting blocks for the rest of the season’s times.

“Many of us were a little nervous going into the relay meet just because it was the first time in a competition setting since Conference,” Cohen said.

Linfield’s swimmers had some impressive individual performances at the sprint meet, such as Cohen, who placed twelfth in the 100-yard IM with a time of 1:04:88 seconds, thirteenth in the 50-yard butterfly with a time of 28.28 seconds, sixteenth in the 50-yard butterfly with a time of 34.4 seconds, ninth in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25.97 seconds.

Another standout swimmer, junior Elizabeth Fry, placed thirteenth in the 50-yard breaststroke with a time of 34.24 seconds.

“I think this weekend went really well for us as a team. We had some great personal bests and great swims” Fry said.

Junior Ian White also swam well for the Wildcats, scoring in every event in which he competed. White placed fourteenth in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.9 seconds, ninth in the 100-yard IM with a time of 55.73 seconds, tenth in the 50-yard butterfly with a time of 24.64 seconds, fifth in the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 26.04 seconds, and eleventh in the 50-yard breaststroke with a time of 29.16 seconds.

The men’s and women’s swim teams are optimistic about the rest of the season and their potential to be up-and-coming competitors.

“I think we are now on the other teams’ radar and maybe even scaring a few,” Fry said.

Much of the team’s excitement and enthusiasm stems from the competitive energy of new coach Kyle Kimball.

“Kyle is an amazing coach who knows what he is doing and is passionate about seeing us succeed as a whole,” Cohen said.

The Linfield Wildcats’ next meet is against Whitman on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. in Walla Walla, Washington.

Helen Lee can be reached at [email protected].