Falcons Fall to Wyoming in Regular Season Finale

Feb. 6, 2010

USAFA, Colo. - Competing in dual action for the final time this season, the Air Force men's and women's swimming and diving teams fell to Wyoming Saturday afternoon at Cadet Natatorium. The men, who finish the dual season with a 3-4 overall mark and 2-3 record in the MWC, dropped a 167-133 decision to the Cowboys (7-3, 3-2). Meanwhile, the women, who sit at 2-9 overall and 0-8 in the conference, fell to the Cowgirls (14-1, 7-1), 183-102.

The men got out to a strong start in the dual, as the team of Benjamin Gunn (Jr., Gainesville, Ga.), Cody Deacon (So., Portland, Ore.), Chris Morin (Sr., Crown Point, Ind.) and Robert Dawson (Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) clocked a season-best mark of 1:32.26 to take first place.

The Falcons also received a first-place finish from Corydon Butler (So., Williamsburg, Va.) in the 1000 free, as he touched the wall in a time of 9:47.09. He also won the 500 freestyle later in the afternoon, clocking in at 4:43.38.

Morin, the team captain competing in his final home meet, also had a strong day of competition for Air Force, winning both the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly. His time of 46.01 in the 100 free was a career best. Meanwhile, his first-place showing in the 100 fly sparked a 1-2-3 finish by the Falcons, as Nate Roesler (So., Hastings, Minn.) and Anthony Chiaro (Fr., Tucson, Ariz.) came in second and third, respectively.

Also winning an event for the Air Force men on Saturday was Gunn, who captured first place in the 100 backstroke, registering a mark of 51.31. In addition, several Falcons added runner-up finishes. J.H. Vivadelli (Fr., Richmond, Va.) placed second in the 200 fly with a career-best time of 1:54.87, while Dawson matched his season-best mark in the 50 free, clocking in at 21.24. Also finishing second were Deacon in the 100 breast and Paul Young (Lakeville, Minn.) in the 200 back.

For the divers, senior Kyle Van Valkenburg (Tucson, Ariz.) registered the top finish on the men's 1-meter board, placing second with a career-best mark of 329.40. Meanwhile, classmate David Arlington (Eagle River, Alaska) was the runner-up on the 3-meter springboard, posting a score of 302.32.

On the women's side, the Falcons had three individual winners. Senior Becky Gleason (Ballwin, Mo.) made the most of her final home meet, posting a win in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:10.03. Alison Ceranski (So., Marinette, Wis.) added a victory in the 50 freestyle, clocking in at 25.39, while junior Kaeli Kluesner (Denver, Colo.) won the 200 IM with a mark of 2:12.79.

The Air Force women also turned in second-place finishes in four other events. Katrina Castellanos (Fr., Roseville, Calif.) took second in the 100 breast, while Cassie Fletcher (So., Durham, N.C.) placed second in the 100 freestyle. Kluesner added a second-place showing in the 200 backstroke and Katharine Ernst (So., Folsom, Calif.) finished second in the 100 butterfly.

The Falcons take a break from competition for the next few weeks as they prepare for the 2010 Mountain West Conference Championships, which will be held Feb. 24-27 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

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