Air Force Academy

Feb. 23, 2009

The Air Force men's and women's swimming and diving teams head to Oklahoma City, Okla., this week for the 2009 Mountain West Conference Championships.

Scouting the Falcon Men...
The Air Force men's swimming and diving team wrapped up the regular season with a 7-12 dual record and 1-4 mark in the MWC. The Falcons have several athletes who are ranked among the top 10 in the MWC in their respective events: David Arlington (seventh, 1-meter); Corydon Butler (eighth, 1650 free; ninth, 1000 free), Spencer Butt (fifth, 200 breast), Robert Dawson (seventh, 50 free; 10th, 100 free), Justin Day (fifth, 100 breast), Cody Deacon (10th, 100 breast), Nick Dixon (seventh, 200 fly; ninth, 400 IM), Benjamin Gunn (second, 100 fly; second, 200 IM; third, 200 fly), Josh Hammervold (sixth, 200 IM; seventh, 200 breast; ninth, 100 breast), Tom Hansen (sixth, 1650 free; sixth, 200 back; seventh, 500 free; 10th, 1000 free), Sean O'Keefe (fourth, 1000 free; fifth, 500 free; fifth, 1650 free; seventh, 200 free), Eric Robinson (10th, 200 fly), Kyle Van Valkenburg (second, platform; eighth, 1-meter) and Kai Yamashiro (second, 200 back; sixth, 100 back).

Van Valkenburg is the defending conference champion in the platform five and also earned all-conference honors on the 1-meter springboard. Air Force returns four other all-conference performers from 2008 in Day (100 breast, 400 medley relay), Gunn (100 fly, 200 fly, 800 free relay), O'Keefe (200 free, 500 free, 1650 free, 800 free relay) and Yamashiro (100 back, 200 back, 400 medley relay). In addition, Arlington was an all-conference performer in 2007 on the 3-meter springboard.

Last Year at the MWC Championships...
The Air Force men finished fourth at the 2008 Mountain West Championships, with seven individuals and two relays earning all-conference honors in a total of 15 events. Leading the way was Kyle Van Valkenburg, who captured the MWC title in the platform dive.

Meanwhile, the Air Force placed ninth overall, led by all-conference performers Jane Hwang and Danielle Dowds. Hwang earned All-MWC recognition in both the 100 and 200 freestyle events, while Dowds placed fourth in the platform dive to earn all-conference honors for the second time in her career.

Up Next...
Next week, March 5-7, the Falcons will send a group of swimmers to the American Short Course Championships in Austin, Texas. Meanwhile, Air Force will also host the NCAA Zone E Diving Meet March 12-14 in Austin, Texas.

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