Falcons Head to Wyoming for Final Dual Meet
2/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 6, 2008
The Air Force men's and women's swimming and diving teams wrap up the regular season this weekend, Feb. 9, with a conference dual meet at Wyoming.
Scouting the Falcon Men...
The Falcons enter this weekend with a 4-6 overall record and 1-3 MWC mark. The Air Force diving team was in action last weekend at its own invitational, led by sophomore Kyle Van Valkenburg, who won the platform dive. Meanwhile, the swimmers were last in action with a pair of home meets versus BYU and Utah, as Air Force won its first conference meet of the season against the Utes.
Among the top performers for the Falcons this season are Justin Day, ranked third in the MWC in the 100 breaststroke, Bryan Avery, who rates fourth in the 200 free and fifth in the 100 fly, Sean O'Keefe, who ranks third in the 1000 free and 1650 free and fifth in 500 free, and Benjamin Gunn and Kai Yamashiro, who rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 200 backstroke. Also, Van Valkenburg leads the conference in the platform dive and ranks fourth at 3-meters.
Scouting the Falcon Women...
The Falcons enter this weekend with a 2-10 overall record and 0-7 mark in the MWC. The divers, led by senior Danielle Dowds, were in action at last weekend's AF Diving Invitational, while the swimmers last took part in a pair of dual meets against BYU and Utah, dropping both contests.
Leading the Air Force women this season is junior Jane Hwang, who ranks eighth in the MWC in both the 100 free and 200 IM. Hwang's mark of 2:06.05 in the 200 IM at the Nike Cup set a new school record. Meanwhile, Dowds leads the conference in the platform dive.
Scouting the Cowboys...
The Cowboys enter this weekend with a 3-4 overall record and 2-2 mark in the MWC. Wyoming's last dual was a 144-99 loss to 23rd-ranked BYU, while the divers competed in last weekend's Air Force Diving Invitational.
Leading the way for the Cowboys is Alex Larkin, who leads the conference in the 200 breaststroke and is tied for the lead in the 100 breast, while Levi Bell ranks second and fourth, respectively, in the same events. Sam King leads the league in the 200 IM and is second in the 400 IM, Matt Urich ranks third in the 100 fly and fifth in the 200 fly and Eli Bell is third in the 200 free. Freshman Mark Murdock leads the conference in the 1-meter dive and is second at 3-meters, while Tyler Miller was named the MWC Diver of the Week this week for his performance at the AF Diving Invitational.
Scouting the Cowgirls...
The Cowgirls enter this weekend with a 6-3 overall record and 4-2 mark in the MWC. Wyoming's last dual was a 155-88 loss to BYU, while the divers competed in last weekend's Air Force Diving Invitational.
The Cowgirls have a large group of swimmers who rank among the conference's best, led by Megan Evans, who is ranked in the top five in both breaststroke events and both IM events. Lesley Young ranks second in the 100 breast and fifth 200 breast, Stephanie Vint is fourth in both the 500 free and 400 IM, Aimee Stinson ranks third in the 200 free and fourth in the 1000 free, and Cassie Stelow ranks third in the 50 free.
Air Force Athlete of the Week...
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. Van Valkenburg finished first overall in the platform dive, while placing fifth at 1-meter and seventh at 3-meters.
Meanwhile, freshman Kaeli Kluesner was honored on Jan. 28 as the Air Force Female Athlete of the Week. Kluesner recorded a pair of first-place finishes in the team's final home meet against Utah, winning both the 100 and 200 backstroke events. Kluesner also placed third in the 400 IM against Utah, while finishing third in the 200 back and 200 IM earlier in the week versus BYU.
Up Next...
The Falcons will take some time off in the next few weeks as they prepare for the Mountain West Conference Championships, to be held Feb. 27-March 1 in Oklahoma City, Okla.
