Heading north for fast swimming!

The Pioneers hit the road this evening for Federal Way, Washington and the Husky Invitational. A behemoth of collegiate/USA Swimming competition, the Husky Invite is in its 63rd year. This year should prove to be the biggest year of attendance so far.

Today has seen bright sun and blue skies over Portland that should take us through a relatively clear, yet crisp, weekend of travel and competition.

Autumn on Palatine Hill

Week Six Update: Season up to now

We’ve past the ¼ marker on our season and time has flown by. Midterms are also in the rearview for most of our swimmers.

So far we have seen MANY great workouts. Sunny September and part of October made for great outside dryland on the field and in the stadium. Med balls have flown and tubing has stretched. More than a few stairs have been hopped, jumped and run.

In the water, the team is powering through great workouts and swimming fast already.

Fast swimming is always fun, but we make room for other kinds of fun, as well...

Synchronized swimming showcase over Fall Break.

The surprise appearance of boxes of VooDoo at a Saturday workout and partner relays for teambuilding and coordination.

We even took time out from training one afternoon to enjoy a surprise fire alarm.

Last weekend after our football team moved to 5-0 on the season, River had this to say: "That may have been the best football game I've been to... and I've been in the pep band since 8th grade!" Pep, indeed!

Campus is alive and buzzing with sports victories and busy academic schedules. The pool is filled each day with energetic and engaged teammates working and laughing together. This week is Homecoming and we look forward to Saturday’s Alumni Meet!

Greetings, dinners, friends and ice cream! Welcome to a new school year!

The annual march of new students and faculty to the field for Convocation...

And the hectic (and free) dinner in the glad outside the pool to follow Convocation.

Team Ice Cream Social!! Welcome to the swim team!

"Pio Fair!" The annual campus-wide activities fair: Live music, dinner, hundreds of student activities booths and lots of fun to kick off the new school year.

And really strange men on stilts... Say hi to Lucas in the bottom left, as well. Watch your fingers Lucas!!

Academic national recognition for Men’s and Women’s swim teams!

The CSCAA (College Swim Coaches Assoc. of America) released yesterday the certified results for their Spring Scholar All-America Team Awards.

Congrats to our men’s and women’s teams both for making this list!

Alumni News: Zach Yeager wins June Lake Triathlon

Congrats to class of 2009 grad Zach Yeager in his 1st Place overall finish last weekend at the June Lake Triathlon! He raced the grueling Olympic distance with most of the race at around 8000 feet in elevation.

Coach Miller named honorable mention Assistant Coach-of-the-Year

Assistant Coach Michael Miller received honorable mention status in CollegeSwimming.com’s Assistant of the Year awards. Michael was nominated by Matt Yelin (c/o 2011) and head coach Chris Fantz. We're so proud of the care our assistant coaches put into our swimming program!

Check it out!

http://www.collegeswimming.com/news/2011/may/17/assistant-of-the-year-honorable-mention-michael-mi/

Sunny Wednesday morning on Fir Acres Campus

Student-Athlete Awards Ceremony & Dessert

Last night students and coaches from all 19 intercollegiate teams at Lewis & Clark came together to celebrate accomplishments and send our seniors off into the world.

After a spectacular video presentation by student filmmaker Remy Neymarc, our very own senior and team captain Matt Yelin stepped up to MC the event, alongside Margaret Dowling from Volleyball/Basketball.

The first award of the evening went to one of our standout freshmen swimmers, Kayla Ernewein, who was named “Rookie of the Year” among all female athletes at the College.

Caz was a finalist for “Female Athlete of the Year” after her dominance at the NWC Championship and Matt Yelin was a finalist for the “Senior Career” award.

Our seniors left with the most swag, taking away their orange graduation tassels, an L&C watch or crystal ornament, and a brand new wireless keyboard with the L&C athletics logo splashed across the keys. Jealousy ran deep over that one. What a great sendoff for our seniors.

Friday on the grassy knoll.....

The swim office has been graced with a stunning Friday on campus. Above, two different classes meet on the field below Frank Manor House and students lounge on a sunny afternoon. Tomorrow's forecast even better!

Team Banquet Picnic!

The sun washed over a green and blooming Portland Sunday for the swim team’s annual banquet. This year’s gathering took the form of a picnic in Sellwood Park just across the river from campus. The park sits on a bluff overlooking the wildlife refuge, Oaks Park, the river, and downtown Portland beyond.

We celebrated with some great snacks and desserts before handing out varsity letters and a load of special awards.

Congratulations to all of Pioneer Swimming for a fantastic season with a wonderful group of people!


Our honorees this year:

Our dear, dear graduating SENIORS:
· Matt Yelin
· Claudia Ramirez
· Susie Trexler
· Lee Taylor
· Claire Jordan
· Kim Guinn
· Cat Menkel-Lawrence

Outgoing Captains:
· Matt Yelin
· Lee Taylor
· Claire Jordan
· Susie Trexler
· Kira McGieson

Incoming 2011-2012 Captains:
· Rachel Wolf
· Kira McGieson
· Steven Carreno
· Noah Boring

Most Inspirational:
· Kayla Ernewein
· Claire Jordan
· Matt Yelin
Outstanding Swimmer:
· Rachael Cazden
· Shuichi Matsumoto

Most Improved:
· Evan Damon
· Kayla Ernewein
· Matt Gallagher

Best Smile:
· Kira McGieson
· Noah Boring
· Shuichi Matsumoto
· Lesley Pfeiffer

No April Fool’s... A sunny, sunny Friday on campus!

Class on the lawn, anyone?

Conference Championship in photos by swimmer Kate Garvey