LINFIELD UNIVERSITY SWIMMING VERSUS WHITWORTH • JANUARY 17, 2026

FINDING A HAPPY BALANCE

Maintaining a heavy courseload with a demanding training schedule doesn’t mean being a college athlete can’t be fun too, says Andrew Lee

by NATASHA FREIMUTH ’29

After many years of being a key contributor in the pool, Linfield University senior Andrew Lee has learned to make the most of every moment remaining in his swimming career.

A public health major with an eye toward a becoming a dentist, he’s competing in his final season with a renewed sense of appreciation, enjoying each day to the fullest.

“I’m trying to enjoy every meet that we have, every practice that we have,” says Lee. “This is like the home stretch for everything. I’m just want have fun.”

Lee has spent four years making his mark at Linfield, both in the pool and in the classroom. A versatile athlete, Lee has competed in just about every stroke and distance, with his favorites being the 100yard butterfly, 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

On top of his swimming, he maintains the demands of one of the most rigorous academic paths at Linfield. As he trains for one of the most challenging seasons the program has had in recent years, Lee waits to hear back about his acceptance into a number of dental schools from across the country.

His journey in the sport did not begin with the same determination, but rather, by coincidence.

“My older sister had been taking swimming lessons before me. And so, it was like, if she’s doing that, you’re also going to be doing it,” Lee says of the expectations his parents laid before him. “At first, I just kind of got roped into it that way.”

What started as basic lessons gradually evolved into something more serious. After joining a summer league for a season, Lee joined a local club team in Portland, where he would remain competing for nearly 10 years. The long-term commitment shaped his work ethic and helped prepare him for collegiate competition. It evolved into a point of pride for Lee in finding the balance in his commitments.

“A lot of people stop competing after club swimming,” Lee says. “You do it for so long that you get burnt out. Being able to continue through college, and actually enjoy it, was a big thing for me.”

When it came time to choose a college, Linfield offered the balance Lee was looking for. A Portland native who attended Mountainside High School, he wanted to stay close to home without feeling stuck.

“Portland’s about an hour away, so not too far, not too close,” Lee says. “I also had a couple teammates from my club team who had swum here, so I knew a little bit about the school.”

After visiting Linfield’s McMinnville campus, the decision felt easy Linfield allowed Lee to continue swimming competitively while pursuing a demanding academic path, one rooted in service and accessibility.

Lee’s interest in public health stems from a desire to address gaps in healthcare, particularly in dentistry. He hopes to attend dental school after graduation, with OHSU as his ideal destination, though he’s applied broadly throughout the country.

“Dentistry is kind of overlooked,” Lee says. “It’s expensive, and a lot of people don’t have access to it. I want to help provide realistic, accessible dental care for people in the community.”

Lee has completed nearly every science prerequisite required for dental school, often stacking demanding courses together. Despite the workload, he found classes that stood out, including anatomy and physiology.

“I was taking organic chemistry at the same time, which was probably one of the worst course loads I could’ve done,” Lee says. “But our professor, Daniel, made the class interactive and engaging, which really stood out to me.”

Now an upperclassman, Lee’s role on the team has evolved. This season, the Wildcats have shifted to a shared leadership model, placing responsibility on athletes willing to step up.

Lee has been one of them.

“I’ve helped organize gear orders, get in contact with people and make sure everyone’s connected,” Lee says.

The results have been apparent. Lee calls this season one of the strongest the team has had, highlighted by a successful midseason meet held earlier than usual and a productive training trip. Training trips are among Lee’s favorite memories at Linfield. His freshman-year trip to Hawaii stands out, followed by trips to New Mexico and Arizona. Each winter, the team commits to high-volume training, often practicing multiple times per day during the last week of winter break.

“It’s a lot harder practices with higher workload,” Lee says. “But it pays off in the last weeks of the season.”

Outside of the pool and classroom, Lee has found a creative outlet in photography. What began as a hobby during his freshman year turned into a four-year side job after a teammate encouraged him to bring his camera to a conference meet. Lee later worked with Linfield’s sports information and strategic communications departments, photographing sporting events and student life. “I’m pretty introverted, especially during the season,” Lee says. “Photography kind of pushes me to get out there and meet people.”

As he prepares for graduation and the next stage of his education, Lee says he’s focused on finishing his swimming career with perspective.

“I found that balance. Being able to keep improving, but also enjoy swimming, that’s what I’m most proud of.”