Ladies’s Swim fifth in NWC Coaches’ Ballot

HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Pacific Lutheran University girls’s swimming crew is predicted to complete fifth on the 2026 Northwest Conference Championships in line with the NWC’s annual preseason coaches’ ballot launched on Tuesday afternoon.

The Lutes gathered 35 factors within the preseason rankings, verify in at No. 5. PLU sits eight factors shy of fourth ranked Linfield University and stands three factors forward of sixth ranked Willamette University.

Whitworth University was the overwhelming favourite, securing seven of the 9 first place votes and 63 complete factors. In-state rival Whitman College was picked second with 57 factors and the 2 remaining first place endorsements. University of Puget Sound is third with 48 factors with Linfield the highest Oregon crew, checking in at No. 4. 

 

George Fox University (23 factors), Lewis & Clark College (15 factors), and Pacific University (eight factors) spherical out the preseason ballot, sitting seventh, eighth, and ninth, respectively.

The Lutes positioned sixth on the 2025 NWC Championships, scoring 281 factors and ending 52 factors forward of seventh place George Fox.

Pacific Lutheran begins the NWC twin slate on Saturday, swimming towards George Fox in Newberg, Ore.