Nik Gable
Reporter
It’s that time of the year again — the weather is warming up at Pacific Lutheran University, but spring sports are cooling down. Let’s take a look at how some of the spring sports teams ended up doing.
Overall the Men’s Baseball team played pretty darn well. They finished with a record of 22-18, and made it to the Northwest Conference Tournament for the seventh straight year. Earlier in the year, they won two games against ranked Cal Lutheran.
Women’s Softball had an absolutely electric season, finishing with a stellar record of 30-14. They had a four game sweep of rival University of Puget Sound, in which they outscored them 33-12. The team will learn on Monday, May 9 if they get into the NCAA tournament. If not, this team has a lot of momentum to build on for next season.
Women’s Golf had a solid spring showing. They played in three events total and finished at an average position of fourth overall. At the NWC Championships they finished fourth and had two Lutes, Lauren Tsukimura and Ava Edmonds, finish in the top 20.
Men’s Golf played a total of five events, finishing first in three of them. In the NWC Championships, Joshua Clogston finished second overall, missing out on the top spot by one stroke.
“10 strokes at full power!” The Women’s Rowing team soaked themselves in glory and really cold water this season. The team finished first in several events. They won the NWC Championship and would find out on May 10th (after The Mast was printed) if they qualify for the Division III National Championships from the NCAA selection committee. The team will be losing six seniors, but returning 16 rowers.
Rackets were swung and tennis balls were smacked over nets as the Women’s Tennis team finished with a 3-13 record. With only one senior, Taylor Stokes on the team, they should have experienced players coming back next year. Sophomore Maggie Burnett finished with the team’s best record at 6-9.
Men’s Tennis finished with an overall record of 4-7. Hampus Pers Elliasson finished with the team’s best record at 6-5. The team has four freshmen who will look to take the baton from the four seniors who are leaving.
The men’s and women’s Track and Field teams had a successful season, each finishing second at the NWC Championships. Senior Bailey Forsyth set two personal records that earned her two indoor All-American nods at the Indoor National Championships, and she also won the 100-meter and 200-meter events at the Outdoor Championships. Hezekiah Goodwin won the NWC title in both the 800-meter and the 3,000-meter steeplechase. NWC Freshman of the Year Grady Lemma won the title in the 400-meter hurdles. Darius Chaffin finished first in the javelin event. Ava Nelson won the women’s shot put title, and Masum Real took the men’s shot put crown.
The Men’s+ Ultimate Frisbee team is headed to the Division III National Championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You already know based on this alone that they had a stellar season and look to continue the momentum in Milwaukee.
The PLU Women’s Lacrosse team won four games this season. Senior Haley Jones, winner of both league midfield MVP and the “Love of the Game” award, said that her favorite memory this season was her last game, where her team helped her score the final goal in her illustrious career and her tenth of the game. Jones is the only Senior, therefore the team will have a lot of returning experience.
The Men’s Lacrosse team finished with a record of 0-8. However, the team essentially recruited a brand new roster this season. The team has a lot to be proud of with plenty of players not having competitive lacrosse experience prior to this season. They competed hard in every game, and have gained experience that will help the team next year.
Wrestling sent three to the national tournament, with Terri Ajifu earning All-American honors at the competition.
