The Northwest Conference preseason poll released Oct. 30 named both Linfield men’s and women’s swimming team third in the regular 2018-19 season.

The women’s team received a total of 46 points in the poll, which puts the ‘Cats a 12-point-jump behind the second-ranked  Pacific Lutheran Lutes. The Whitman Blues ranked first in the poll with 60 points.

Last season, the Blues won the NWC tournament championship. The Blues and the Lutes tied for first place in regular 2017-18Wildcat Evette Dow, who was crowned the winner of the 1,650 freestyle and named the co-women’s swimmer of the year last year, will return as a senior to hopefully get her fourth-straight NWC title in a row.

Dow will swim alongside with seven other sen season, with the Wildcats and the Puget Sound Loggers right behind them tied for third.

iors in for their last season swimming as a Wet Cat.

The men’s team received a total of 51 points—just one point behind the second ranked Blues with 52 points. The Whitworth Pirates ranked first with 64 points.

The poll is consistent from last year’s results for the men’s team. The Wildcats placed third last year in regular season as well as third in the NWC championship.

Above them, the Whitworth Pirates finished undefeated in first place and the Lutes in second place last season. However, the preseason poll ranked the Lutes fourth for this season.

Junior Noah Cutting will return to gain major points for the team. Cutting was the NWC men’s swimmer of the year last season and earned an invite to the Championship.

”Preseason polls are voted on by conference coaches and coaches cannot vote on their own team. Points are awarded on an 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, according to NWC.

The Wet ‘Cats competed in the NWC sprint meet on Oct. 27 to kick off the first meet of the season. Linfield will compete in their first regular season meet against Puget Sound at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 on the road. The Loggers ranked fifth in both the men’s and women’s poll.