2006-07 Men's Swimming & Diving Season Preview
10/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Oct. 27, 2006
With the return of three conference champions in six events and an emerging diving program, the Air Force men's swimming & diving team envisions a tremendously successful 2006-07 season.
"We are a much stronger team than we were a year ago," men's swimming head coach Rob Clayton said. "Our diving squad is much improved. Coach Stan Curnow has brought in some excellent divers to complement platform diving champion Brady Lindberg."
Led by a veteran and talented senior cast, the team goal of a conference title is well within grasp. Seniors Chris Knaute and Paul Parmenter are the team captains for 2006-07.
"Our team captains Chris Knaute and Paul Parmenter are both conference champions and will continue to lead by example," Clayton said.
Knaute is a seven time Mountain West Conference Champion, the 2005 MWC Swimmer of the year and a two-time honorable mention All-American. "Since he's walked into the program, we've had great expections of Chris and he's never disappointed," Clayton said. "Paul has developed into the top 200 IMer in the Mountain West Conference." Parmenter holds the school record in the 200 IM and is the defending MWC 200 IM Champion.
Picked by the conference coaches in the preseason poll to finish third, Clayton feels optimistic that the Falcons have a shot to win the conference title.
"BYU and UNLV look like they are at the top of the conference, but we feel we are right up there with them," Clayton said. "Our team goal, as always, is to win the Mountain West Conference. In order to meet that goal, we have to have everybody swim better than they've ever swam before."
With Knaute and Parmenter leading the way, the medley events look to be one of the Falcons' top events. Fellow seniors Nick Burton and Justin Lapin were also all-MWC first team selections in both the 200 and 400 IM.
"Along with Chris and Paul, we have Nick and Justin. These four are clearly the class of the MWC in the medley events," Clayton remarked. "We anticipate freshman Alex Yee will step in and make it to the IM finals come February."
Another team strength will be the distance freestyle events. Knaute is the three-time defending conference champion and school record holder in the 1650 free. Knaute also holds the school records in the 200 and 500 free. Freshman Sean O'Keefe and sophomore Bryan Avery have shown promise in early practices and will be counted upon to score points in meets.
"We should be very strong in the distance free events with Knaute and freshman Sean O'Keefe. Bryan Avery is vastly improved from a year ago and will have an outstanding season in the 200 and 500 freestyles," Clayton said.
The Falcons are deep in the sprint-freestyle events as well. Seniors Ryan Moss and Nick Uzelac lead the charge with junior T.J. Cowling and freshman Chris Morin providing added depth as well.
Moss is tied for 10th all-time at the Academy in the 50 free and Cowling ranks 10th in the 100 free.
"Seniors Ryan Moss and Nick Uzelac should lead our sprint groups," Clayton said. "T.J. has been training very well and should have a breakthrough season," Clayton said. "Freshman Chris Morin should contribute immediately."
In the breaststroke events, Clayton looks to senior Andrew Bergman and sophomore Justin Day to carry the load. Bergman is amongst the top 10 all-time at the Academy in both breast events and Day ranks fifth all-time at the Academy in the 100 breast. Burton, who was a all-MWC selection in the 200 breast will also contribute.
"Justin Day had a tremendous freshman year, culminating as a finalist in the 100 breaststroke," Clayton said. "Between Justin and Andrew, and with Nick in the 200 Breaststroke, we should be very strong in the breast events."
Leading the way in the backstrokes will be Lapin, Yee, junior Spencer Liedl and sophomore Kai Yamashiro. Lapin ranks third at the Academy in the 200 back and seventh in the 100. Parmenter is seventh all-time in the 100 back and Yamashiro is ninth all-time in the 200 back.
"Justin will challenge for the MWC title in the 200 back, and Kai looks like he's ready for a great year after a standout freshman campaign," Clayton said.
The butterfly events will be handled by Parmenter, Burton and fellow senior Matt Sievers. Burton set the school record in the 100 fly at the 2006 MWC championships and Sievers is 6th all-time at the Academy in the 200 fly and ninth in the 100 fly. Paul Parmenter ranks fifth all-time in the 200 fly and will also contribute.
"Matt Sievers had a great year in both butterfly events as a junior and he should be right near the top of the MWC this year," Clayton said. "Nick is at the top of the returning swimmers in the conference in the 100 fly. Paul will be one of the MWC favorites in the 200 fly."
The Falcons will be strong again in the relay events, headlined by the 800 freestyle group. The Falcons have set school records in the 800 free the last two years and should challenge the school record for a third consecutive season.
"Our 800 free relay should be right at the top of the conference," Clayton remarked. "We should be strong in all our free relays."
The diving team is the deepest and most talented group that diving coach Stan Curnow has had in his tenure at the Academy. Led by senior Brady Lindberg, the Falcons have six divers that will compete to earn points for the team.
Lindberg is the defending MWC platform diving champion and the Falcons' top point scorer in both the one-meter and three-meter dives. Sophomore Randy Rogers had a solid freshman campain and showed steady improvement in the offseason. Junior Nathan Glandon joins the team after being an NCAA qualifier for the men's gymnastics team his first two years at the Academy. David Arlington, Matthew Kaye and Kyle Van Valkenburg comprise the freshmen diving class and come to the Academy with strong credentials.
"Our diving team is as solid as we've had here," Clayton said. "They will be competitive in every meet and should score a lot of points at the MWC Championships."
The Falcons open the season with a five-way meet at the University on Denver Friday, Oct. 27. The diving begins at 1 p.m. followed by the swim meet at 4 p.m.
