The Air Force men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams posted a combined 7-0 record in a multi-team meet, Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Academy’s Cadet Natatorium. The men were 3-0 with victories over conference rival North Dakota (169.00-118.00), Colorado Mines (178.00-101.00) and Colorado Mesa (174.00-110.00). The women’s team was 4-0 with wins over North Dakota (174.00-125.00), CSU-Pueblo (234.00-59.00), Colorado Mines (227.00-63.00) and Colorado Mesa (235.00-60.00).
The Air Force women opened the meet by winning the 200 medley relay as the team of Emma Strom, Gaby Miller, Maria Schroeder and Brianna Mount posted a time of 1:47.69. In the 1000 free, Genevieve Miller won (10:33.18) while Sara Menke was second (10:52.74). Jinan Andrews won the 200 free (1:55.34) while Menke was second (1:56.36). Elise Hart won the 100 backstroke (58.70) while Emma Strom was second 59.32). Jenna Tasic won the 200 butterfly (2:07.44) while Maria Schroeder was second (2:10.60). Brianna Mount won the 50 free (24.38). Andrews also won the 100 free (53.11) while Miller was second (55.58). Miller then won the 500 free (5:15.69) while Menke was second (5:19.19). Maria Schroeder won the 100 fly with a time of 57.43. Andrews won the 200 IM (2:11.71). In the women’s final event, the Falcon team of Mount, Schroeder, Andrews and Gaby Miller won the 400 free relay with a time of 3:34.67.
In women’s diving, Jessica Horn won the three-meter with 242.35 points and was second on the one-meter with 228.95.
The Falcon men opened the meet by winning the 200 medley relay as the team of Joey Gebhart, Zach Knoche, Kevin Mitchell and George Frank won with a time of 1:31.54. The Falcons went 1-2-3 in the 200 free as Jordan Dahle won (1:42.39) while Andrew Antonetti was second (1:44.73) and Lars Knutson (1:44.79). Devon Davis won the 100 backstroke (49.79). The Falcons also went 1-2-3 in the 100 breast stroke as Kevin Fanter won (57.05) while Zach Knoche was second (57.16) and Kevin Mitchell was third (59.25). Sean Ledford won the 200 fly (1:52.87). The Falcons took the top three places in the 50 free as Symen Ooms won (20.90) while Michael Hannigan was second (21.13) and Steffan Mount was third (21.16). Knutson won the 100 free (45.64) and Fanter won the 200 breaststroke (2:07.53). Fanter also won the 200 IM (1:56.26). Andrew Faciszewski won the 500 free (4:43.54). In the men’s final event, the team of Hannigan, Gebhart, Antonetti and Knutson won with a time of 3:04.37.
In men’s diving, Nathanael Zillweger won the one-meter (280.10 points) and three-meter (301.15).
“We swam very well and it was great to pick up conference win over North Dakota,” said men’s head coach Rob Clayton. “Kevin Fanter was really good in his season debut. He won three events and was outstanding today. Freshman Symen Ooms was great as he picked up his first collegiate win in 50 free. Knutson won the 100 free and then anchored the 400 free relay at the end of the meet. We are getting ready for four weeks of travel ahead of us, starting in Hawaii with an old conference rival. We are ready to do some great things on the road at sea level.”
Both the men’s and women’s team will compete against the University of Hawaii on Friday, Oct. 30, in Honolulu.
CSU-Pueblo
The Colorado State University-Pueblo swimming and diving team competed against three in-state schools in three dual meets at the USAFA Invite. The second-year program battled hard against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foes Colorado Mesa University and Colorado School of Mines as well as Division I opponents the Air Force Academy and University of North Dakota, but ended up on the short end of all three duals.
April McDonough (So., Frisco, Texas) placed third in the 1,000m race with a time of 11:07.53. McDonough bested her Division II competition by 17 seconds.
Samantha Sannes (So., Torrance, Calif.) torpedoed her way past the rest of her Division II competition in the 500 yard freestyle. Sannes' time of 5:25.44 earned her fourth place overall and stood six seconds faster than any other Division II athlete.
Competing in just her second, collegiate meet, Arianna Rohde (Fr., Anchorage, Alaska) put her name in the school's top five times list twice. Rohde posted the second fastest 200 yard backstroke clip in school history, touching the wall at 2:16.78. The freshman's time also earned her sixth place in the race.
Rohde also swam the fourth time in school history in the 200 yard breaststroke. Rohde's personal record placed her sixth overall in the race and second amongst Division II athletes.
In a busy afternoon in the pool, Rohde managed a third place finish in 200 yard individual medley (2:18.84).She also placed 10th in the 100 yard butterfly (1:02.26).
Stefany Busch (R-Fr., Carlsbad, Calif.) topped all Division II divers on the board in the 1m competition. Busch claimed seventh place with a score of 183.10.
The Pack's 400 yard freestyle relay time recorded the third fastest time in school history with a mark of 3:57.30. The team of Kristina Chang (Fr., Missouri City, Texas), Clarissa Gardella (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif.), Taylor Wertz (So., Lamar, Colo.), and McDonough finished ninth in the competition.
Head Coach, Brian Pearson's team will return to the pool when they compete in the Colorado Mesa Invite Nov. 19-21. This will be their only meet in November.
