Air Force Academy

Oct. 28, 2009

The Air Force men's and women's swimming and diving teams host a non-conference dual meet this week, Oct. 30, welcoming Mesa State to the Cadet Natatorium. Friday evening's meet is slated to begin at 5:00.

Scouting the Falcon Men...
The Air Force men enter this weekend with an 0-1 dual record after falling to conference rival TCU last week. The Falcons had four individual wins against the Horned Frogs, with junior Benjamin Gunn winning the 200 butterfly and 200 IM, while Sean O'Keefe (500 free) and Corydon Butler (1000 free) added victories as well.

Fifteen different Falcons rank in the top five in the Mountain West Conference in their respective events, led by Gunn, who leads the league in the 200 fly and is second in the 200 IM and fourth in the 200 backstroke. O'Keefe is also ranked in three events, rating second in the 1650 free, fourth in the 100 free and fifth in the 500 free. Junior Robert Dawson is rated second in the 50 free and third in the 100 free. In the 200 free, freshmen Jon Jones and Jake Stronko are rated third and fifth, respectively, while Jones also holds the conference's third-fastest time in the 1650 free. Other swimmers ranked among the MWC's top five are Butler (third, 1000 free; fourth, 1650 free), J.H. Vivadelli (fourth, 1000 free; fifth, 400 IM), Tom Hansen (second, 400 IM), Chris Morin (fourth, 100 fly), Josh Hammervold (fourth, 200 IM), Ryan Brigman (fifth, 1650 free) and Nate Roesler (fifth, 100 fly).

Scouting the Falcon Women...
The Air Force women enter this weekend with a 1-4 dual record after competing against Northern Colorado, TCU, Colorado State, New Mexico and San Diego State last week. The Falcons secured four individual victories in their meet against Northern Colorado and TCU--sophomore Alison Ceranski in the 50 free, sophomore Katharine Ernst in the 100 butterfly, freshman Katrina Castellanos in the 100 breast and junior Kaeli Kluesner in the 200 back.

Nine women's swimmers rank in the top 10 in the Mountain West Conference in their respective events, led by freshman Haley Holcombe, who holds the fourth-fastest time in the 400 IM, and is ninth in the 200 IM and 10th in the 1000 freestyle. Kluesner holds the fifth-fastest mark in the conference in the 400 IM and is eighth in the 200 back, while Ernst is seventh in the 100 fly and eighth in the 400 IM. Other Falcons with conference top-10 marks include Rachel Roberts (fifth, 1650 free), Ceranski (seventh, 50 free), Becky Gleason (eighth, 400 IM), Alexandra Trobe (eigth, 1650 free), Cassie Fletcher (ninth, 50 free) and Kelsey Pilcher (ninth, 1650 free).

Scouting the Mavericks...
The Mesa State men's team, in its first season of competition, enters this weekend with an 0-3 dual record (not including meets against club teams). The Mavericks last competed at the Rocky Mountain Invitational Oct. 16-17, defeating Metro State's club team, while falling to host Colorado School of Mines and the Colorado club team.

Meanwhile, the Mesa State women enter this week's meet with a 5-2 dual record, after going 3-1 at the Rocky Mountain Invitational. The Mavericks picked up wins over Adams State, Colorado School of Mines and Nebraska-Kearney, as well as club teams from Metro State and Colorado, while falling to Colorado State.

The Quest for 100...
Air Force men's head coach Rob Clayton will look to secure his 100th career dual victory this week against Mesa State. In his 12th season at the helm of the Falcons' program, Clayton currently holds a 99-53 career record.

Up Next...
The Air Force swimmers are off next week, while the divers head to Los Angeles, Calif., to take part in the USC Diving Invitational, Nov. 6-7. The men's swimmers return to action Nov. 19-21 at the annual Nike Cup in Long Beach, Calif., while the women will head to the Cougar Classic in Houston, Texas, Nov. 20-22.

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