Air Force Academy

March 3, 2002

The Air Force men's team finished third and the women's team fifth at the 2002 Mountain West Conference Swimming and Diving Championships that concluded late Saturday in Oklahoma City, Okla. Senior Sarah Law was named MWC women's diver of the year, while coach Stan Curnow was honored as the diving coach of the year. Law and fellow senior Matt Horner each won senior recognition awards for the Falcons.

BYU won the men and women's team titles. The men scored a championship-record 931.5 points. They were followed by UNLV (750), Air Force (618.5), Wyoming (424) and Utah (297). The women's team won with 601 points, while UNLV took second with 757 points. They were followed by Colorado State (565), Utah (462), Air Force (444), New Mexico (400), San Diego State (362) and Wyoming (229).

Sophomore Paul Brehm highlighted the Air Force men on the final day of competition by winning the 200-yard backstroke with an NCAA provisional qualifying 1:47.01. Horner finished sixth (1:49.61) while fellow senior Race Steinfort was seventh (1:52.32). Freshman Evan Parr added an 11th place finish with a time of 1:52.52.

Junior John Dayton finished fourth in the 100-yard freestyle (45.17) while junior Nate Amidon was 11th (45.95). Sophomore Eric Pounds added a fourth place finish in the 200-yard butterfly (1:48.83), while Mason Phelps was ninth (1:52.30) and Rory Peterson 10th (1:52.51).

Rounding out the men's finishers was freshman Brady Lindberg, who took fourth in the platform diving with 401.35 points. The 400-yard freestyle relay team of senior Nam Nguyen, Amidon, Dayton and sophomore Kevin Heath finished third with a 3:01.73.

The divers led the women's team. Freshman Jessica Williams won the platform competition with 367.10 points. Law, who took second place with 361.90, followed her. Rookies Laura Badger (232.15) and Cuffy Hulse (316.95) took fourth and sixth place, respectively.

Other top finishers for the Falcons included senior Niki Van't Wout, who was eighth in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:05.58. Freshman Lindsey Jansen was 11th with a 2:08.57.

Carley Baxter and Christine Cleaver picked up points in the 100-yard freestyle. Baxter was seventh (52.00) and Cleaver 14th (53.06). Freshman Lara Styles added an 11th place finish in the 200-yard butterfly (2:05.89). The 400-yard freestyle relay team of freshmen Karen Long and Jaymie Van Kooten, Cleaver and Baxter finished sixth with a time of 3:30.84.

Final Team Standings

Men 1. BYU 931.5, 2. UNLV, 750, 3. Air Force, 618.5, 4. Wyoming, 424, 5. Utah, 297.

Women 1. BYU, 601, UNLV, 575, 3. Colorado State, 565, Utah, 462, 5. Air Force, 444, 6. New Mexico, 400, 7. San Diego State, 362, 8. Wyoming, 229.

Air Force Men's Individual Results

200 Backstroke - 1. Paul Brehm, 1:47.01, 6. Matt Horner, 1:49.61, 7. Race Steinfort, 1:52.32, 11. Evan Parr, 1:52.92.

100 Freestyle - 4. John Dayton, 45.17, 11. Nate Amidon, 45.95.

200 Butterfly - 4. Eric Pounds, 1:48.83, 9. Mason Phelps, 1:52.30, 10. Rory Peterson, 1:52.51.

Platform Diving - 4. Brady Lindberg, 4:01.35.

400 Freestyle Relay - 3. Air Force, 3:01.73.

Air Force Women's Individual Results

200 Backstroke - 8. Niki Van't Wout, 2:05.58, 13. Lindsey Jansen, 2:08.57.

100 Freestyle - 7. Carley Baxter, 52.00, 14. Christine Cleaver, 53.06.

200 Butterfly - 11. Lara Styles, 2:05.89.

Platform Diving - 1. Jessica Williams, 367.10, 2. Sarah Law, 361.90, 4. Laura Badger, 232.15, 6. Cuffy Hulse, 316.95.

400 Freestyle Relay - 6. Air Force, 3:30.84.