UNLV Sweeps Air Force

UNLV

The UNLV men's and women's swimming and diving teams celebrated their Senior Day in grand style by sweeping a Mountain West Conference dual meet against Air Force on Saturday afternoon at Buchanan Natatorium. The Rebel men won their meet by a score of 164-129, improving to 6-1 on the season and tied for first in the MWC at 4-0, while the score on the women's side was 208-80 in favor of UNLV.

On the men's side, UNLV won a total of 12 events, with Kier Maitland, Kyle Virva and David Seiler winning two events each. Maitland was a winner in the 500 free (4:33.27) and in the 1650 free (15:36.94), Virva was first in the 200 free (1:39.99) and the 50 free (21.07) while Seiler claimed the 100 back (51.26) and the 200 IM (1:54.64). Other winners included Daniel Egly in the 200 fly (1:51.65), Calan Eldridge in the 100 free (46.40), Andrew Morrell in the 200 breast (2:07.02) and Cody Roberts in the 100 fly (49.88).

The Rebels also swept both men's relays. Seiler, Morrell, Roberts and Charlie Tapp won the 200 medley in 1:32.42, while Seiler, Virva, Eldridge and Steven Nelms were first in the 400 free relay in 3:04.56.

In the women's meet, UNLV won 14 events and exhibitioned the other two. Two Rebels won two events each, with Anja Crawford posting victories in the 200 IM (2:11.22) and the 100 back (59.32), while Rachelle Zuccaro swept the diving events, scoring 252.90 on the 1-meter and 275.10 on the 3-meter. Single event winners included Shawnee Landolt in the 1650 free (17:31.47), Marva Harpak in the 200 free (1:52.91), Lisa Gillespie in the 100 breast (1:05.92), Ana Dangalakova in the 200 fly (2:06.19), Andree-Anne Genereux in the 50 free (24.08), Friderika Szel in the 100 free (52.95), Elise Warren in the 200 breast (2:25.94), and Marley Prothero in the 500 free (5:06.44).

Dangalakova, Kelsey Clarke, Emma Gustaffson and Madison Rousell teamed up to win the first event of the day, the 200 medley relay, in 1:48.77.

UNLV returns to action with a non-conference meet at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 1 pm.


Air Force

Competing against conference rival UNLV on the road, the Air Force men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams were swept by the Rebels on Saturday afternoon. The Falcon men dropped a 164-129 contest to 23rd-ranked UNLV, while the women lost a 208-80 decision to the Lady Rebels.
 
Diver Kyle Van Valkenburg (Sr., Tucson, Ariz.) led the Air Force men, winning in both the 1- and 3-meter springboard events. He scored a season-high 308.70 at 1-meter, while posting a mark of 318.38 on the 3-meter board.
 
Also recording wins for the Falcons were juniors Benjamin Gunn (Gainesville, Ga.) and Josh Hammervold (Sugar Land, Texas). Gunn, who placed second in the 100 backstroke, captured the top spot in the 200 back, posting a time of 1:51.47, just ahead of teammate Paul Young (Fr., Lakeville, Minn.). Meanwhile, Hammervold, who was the runner-up in the 200 breaststroke, won the 100 breast with a mark of 57.79.
 
Sophomore Nate Roesler (Hastings, Minn.) posted a pair of runner-up finishes, placing second in both the 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly, with a season-best mark of 1:54.87 in the 200 fly. Other men’s swimmers who finished in the top two for Air Force were Jon Jones (Fr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) in the 200 free and Chris Morin (Sr., Crown Point, Ind.) in the 200 IM.
 
Among the leaders on the women’s side was Chelsea Tompkins (Sr., Grand Junction, Colo.), who placed third in both springboard events. Caitlin Teresky (Jr., Newtown, Pa.) came in second in the 1000 freestyle, while Becky Gleason (Sr., Ballwin, Mo.) and Katrina Castellanos (Fr., Roseville, Calif.) placed third in the 200 butterfly and 200 breaststroke, respectively.
 
In addition, freshman Haley Holcombe (Snellville, Ga.) was awarded first-place points in the exhibitioned 100 butterfly, while posting the third-fastest time in the race. Her mark of 58.66 in the event was a career best.
 
Air Force returns home next week for a pair of conference dual meets. The Falcons welcome BYU to Cadet Natatorium Jan. 21 at 6:00 p.m., while hosting Utah on Jan. 23 for a 1:00 p.m. contest.