Air Force Academy
Wolfpack Invitational
Falcons in fifth after day two in Greensboro
11/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
GREENSBORO, NC. – With an impressive mix of under-classmen breaking through and upper-classmen blazing the way, the Falcons continued with strong performances on day two of the GAC Invitational on Friday, Nov. 18. After 28 events, N.C. State is in first place with 1406 points, followed by Notre Dame (1145), Duke (938), North Carolina (841), Air Force (694), Tennessee (841) and West Virginia (392). With the men's diving team competing at the Northwestern Invitational, the above score reflects the efforts of Falcon swimmers alone, minus the help of the diving team.
Out of the seven events on day two, the Falcons had 28 swims in the finals and came away with 11, Top-10 event finishes.
Getting the night started in the 200 Medley, the A Relay comprised of Joey Gebhart, Zach Knoche, Steffen Mount and Jordan Dahle, secured a fifth-place finish with a time of 1:27.46. Just over two seconds behind was the team of Cole McAnany, Kevin Fanter, Kevin Pollard, and Lars Knutson of the Falcon-B relay taking 10th in 1:29.50.
In the consolation heat of the 400 IM, Andrew Faciszewski and Garrett Glaudini led the way with 10th and 13th place finishes coming in at 3:52.48 and 3:55.19. Derek Brecht (3:56.02) and Zach Nelson (3:56.25) took 19th and 20th, placing all four Falcons in the Top-20.
Mount once again demonstrated his speed and strength, this time in the 100 Fly. Claiming fourth overall with a time of 47.72, he also posted the third fastest time in Academy history. Also impressive was Pollard's personal best swim of 48.90, which secured 11th place. He was followed closely by Gebhart (19th, 49.62), Grant Temple (21st, 50.02), Devon Davis (24th, 51.76) and McAnany (50.41)
In the 200 freestyle, Dahle raced to a seventh-place finish (1:37.50) and Michael Hannigan took ninth, winning the consolation heat in 1:38.07. In the same heat was Ben Brockman, claiming 11th (1:38.46), followed by Knutson for 29th (1:41.16).
Knoche also posted a lifetime best in the 100 breast stroke with a time of 54.41 for a sixth place finish. Less than two tenths behind was Fanter finishing eighth in 56.41. Swimming in the same heat, Brecht (25th, 56.20), Nelson (26th, 56.41), and Andrew Weiss (32nd, 57.66) finished their race with respectable performances as well.
The 100 backstroke was the first event where everyone who swam in prelims returned for finals. Leading the Falcons with a ninth-place finish was Cole McAnany, who won the consolation race. McAnany tied 2014 grad, Angus MacDonald, for the fourth fastest 100 backstroke time in school history at 48.34. Right behind in 10th place was Joey Gebhart with a 49.04. Making up the remaining backstrokers racing in finals was Devon Davis (24th, 53.77), Kris Tillery (25th, 49.35) and Grant Temple (31st, 51.44).
Claiming their third, fifth- place relay finish of the meet, Faciszewski, Brockman, Hannigan and Dahle each swam a strong 200 freestyle leg for a combined time of 6:32.38 in the 800 free relay. The Falcon "B" team, comprised of Mount, Knutson, Glaudini, and Riley Delahoyde, represented the Falcons with an 11th place finish in 6:45.25.
"It was a great night for us." head coach Rob Clayton. "We had such a good mix of new, young guys stepping up and demonstrating they're ready to swim at this level, especially Brockman, Nelson and McAnany, who tied for the fourth- fastest time in school history. Their swims are going to put them right in there at the conference level. Our usual mix of older guys were out there leading the way. Knoche and Pollard doing lifetime bests, Mount posting the third fastest time in school history, Dahle swimming great 200's and relays, and, of course, our 400 IMers starting us off with great swims by Faciszewski and Glaudini. We've got some guys coming back from injuries, specifically Davis, who made some steps forward tonight. Overall, we went by Tennessee and we have North Carolina in our sights, so hopefully we can run them down tomorrow. We've got a lot of momentum and it certainly was a positive night for the Falcons."
The meet concludes on Saturday, Nov. 19, in Greensboro, N.C.
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Players Mentioned
