Falcons Head to MWC Championships
2/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 26, 2008
The Air Force men's and women's swimming and diving teams return to action this week, Feb. 27-March 1, as they head to the 2008 Mountain West Conference Championships, being held in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Scouting the Falcon Men...
The Falcons wrapped up the regular season with a 4-7 overall record and 1-4 mark in the MWC. Twenty different athletes are slated to compete for Air Force this week, including some of the conference's top swimmers. Currently ranked among the MWC's top 10 are David Arlington (9th, 1-meter; 9th, 3-meter; 4th, platform), Bryan Avery (4th, 200 free; 5th, 100 fly; 6th, 200 fly), T.J. Cowling (9th, 50 free), Justin Day (3rd, 100 breast); Nick Dixon (9th, 200 fly); Benjamin Gunn (4th, 200 back; 6th, 100 fly), Josh Hammervold (8th, 200 IM), Tom Hansen (6th, 1650 free; 7th, 500 free; 10th, 1000 free), Spencer Liedl (7th, 200 IM; 10th, 400 IM), Sean O'Keefe (3rd, 1000 free; 3rd, 1650 free; 5th, 500 free; 8th, 200 free), Kyle Van Valkenburg (4th, 1-meter; 8th, 3-meter; 1st, platform) and Kai Yamashiro (5th, 200 back; 8th, 100 back).
The Falcons return three all-conference performers from 2007 in Avery (200 free, 200 fly, 800 free relay), Cowling (800 free relay) and Arlington (3-meter dive).
Scouting the Falcon Women...
The Falcons wrapped up the regular season with a 2-11 overall record and 0-8 mark in the MWC. Fourteen different athletes are slated to compete for Air Force this week, led by junior Jane Hwang, one of the top swimmers in the conference. Hwang currently ranks eighth in the MWC in both the 100 free and 200 IM. Meanwhile, senior Danielle Dowds owns the conference's top mark in the platform dive.
Hwang leads the returners for Air Force, as the school record-holder in the 200 free and 200 IM earned all-conference honors in those two events, as well as the 100 free, in 2007.
Last Year at the MWC Championships...
The Air Force men finished third at the 2007 Mountain West Championships, led by Chris Knaute, champion in the 400 IM and 500 free, Paul Parmenter, the 200 IM champion, and Brady Lindberg, champion in the platform dive. Knaute, who was also runner-up in the 1650 free, was named the MWC Swimmer of the Year, while Rob Clayton was named MWC Men's Coach of the Year.
Meanwhile, the Air Force women brought home an eighth place finish at the championships in 2007, led by all-conference performers Jane Hwang and Blair Leake. Hwang, who set a new school record in the 200 free, earned All-MWC honors in the 200 IM, 100 free and 200 free, while Leake was an all-conference performer in the 100 breaststroke.
Air Force Athlete of the Week...
Three different members of the Falcons' swimming & diving teams have earned Air Force Athlete of the Week honors this season. Junior Kai Yamashiro was named the Air Force Male Athlete of the Week on Feb. 11, following his performance in the team's dual meet at Wyoming. Sophomore Kyle Van Valkenburg was named the Air Force Male Athlete of the Week on Feb. 4, following his performance at the Air Force Diving Invitational, while freshman Kaeli Kluesner was honored on Jan. 28 as the Air Force Female Athlete of the Week with her performances versus BYU and Utah.
Up Next...
The Air Force men will head to the 2008 Speedo Western Region Spring Sectional Championship, held March 5-9, in Federal Way, Wash. The Falcons will also host the NCAA Zone E Diving Regionals, March 13-15 in Oklahoma City, Okla., while the NCAA Championships will be held for the women March 20-22, in Columbus, Ohio, and for the men, March 27-29, in Federal Way, Wash.
