Falcons Conclude the MW Championships With Three More Podium Finishes

LAS VEGAS, Nev./USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy women's swimming and diving team wrapped up the 2021 Mountain West Championships with three more podium finishes, Saturday, Feb. 20, at UNLV's Buchanan Natatorium and the Cadet Natatorium. The Falcons participated in six swimming events at UNLV, while the divers competed in the platform at home.

The top-eight finishes came from senior Kylie Stronko in the 200 back, sophomore Sefilina Maile in the 100 free, and freshman Kinzie Etzelmiller on the platform dive. AF finished the 2021 MW Championships with seven All-MW Conference finishes, which is the most for the program since 2015.

Maile was the top finisher for the Falcons, as she placed runner-up in the 100 free with a time of 50.20. It was her third All-MW finish of the championships, making her the first to accomplish that since Genevieve Miller in 2017.

Team captain Stronko wrapped up her final MW Championships with a seventh-place finish in the 200 back, clocking in with a 2:00.50. It was her second All-MW finish of the championship, third of her career, and second in the 200 back. Earlier in the evening, Stronko became the seventh Falcon all-time to win the MW Senior Recognition Award.

At the Cadet Natatorium, Etzelmiller placed seventh on the platform with a finals score of 221.55, which set a new season-best for the rookie.

Elsewhere in the swimming events, AF had three qualify for the B-Final of the 200 breast. Sophomore Kimmy Woolfenden placed the highest, taking 11th, while right behind her in 12th and 13th were sophomore Mason Brown and junior Evelyn Johnson. In the prelims, Brown swam to a 2:19.34, which is the 10th fastest time in program history.

Behind Stronko in the 200 back, four swimmers swam in the B-Final. Sophomore Shea Burcham was the highest placer, taking 12th, while behind her was senior Lexie DuChene in 13th, freshman Corinne Yorkman in 14th, and junior Ally Armbruster in 16th.

The 1650 free was contested to lead off the evening session, and freshman Kendra Joachim took top billing for the Falcons with a finals time of 17:28.31 to place 14th. Junior Caroline Wittich was behind her in 18th.

In the 200 fly, freshman Shayla Markle was the top finisher for the Falcons, taking eighth in the B-Final to place 16th overall. Finally in the last relay of the championship, the 400 free, the squad of Maile, freshman Kara Gavin, junior Lia Campbell, and sophomore Allana Clarke took seventh with a season-best time of 3:27.86.

As a team, AF finished with 726 points to place seventh overall. In addition to the seven All-MW finishes, AF had six swims set new top-10 program best times as well.

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