The men and women of the Air Force Academy rolled to wins at home, beating the Seattle men and women and the Northern Colorado women over two days.
Probably most impressive for Air Force was sophomore Genevieve Miller, who won the 1000 free and 200 free back to back on day 1.
The two-day meet was scored as two separate dual meets, with Air Force winning all duals both days. Below are press releases from the schools for each day.
Air Force press release – Friday
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force men’s and women’s swimming teams swept dual meets on Friday, Jan. 16, in a meet at the Academy’s Cadet Natatorium. The men’s team (13-5 overall) beat Seattle (129.00-74.00) while the women’s team (5-6 overall) beat Seattle (152.00-80.00) and Northern Colorado (140.00-96.00).
Sophomore Genevieve Miller paced the women’s team by winning two events. She won the 1000 free (10:31.15) and the 200 free (1:53.09). Clara Heffernan was third in the 1000 free (10:53.50). Sara Menke was second (1:56.08)
Air Force swept the 50 free as three freshmen came within .28 seconds of each other. Jinan Andrews was first (24.42), Brianna Mount was second (24.43) and Elise Hart was third (24.70).
Menke won the 500 free (5:12.85). Andrews won the 100 free (53.13). Maria Schroeder was second in the 200 fly (2:10.79) while Kim Davis was third (2:13.55). Hart was second in the 200 backstroke (2:10.30)
In women’s diving, Jeanne Nolan was second in the three-meter (243.38) while Lainie Long was third (239.48). In the women’s one-meter, Jessica Horn was second (229.13) while Long was third (225.30).
On the men’s side, Kevin Jackson won the 1000 free (9:55.90) and Garrett Glaudini was second (10:13.39). Jordan Dahle won the 200 free (1:42.70) while Michael Hannigan was second (1:44.47). Ryan Dunne won the 50 free (20.78) while George Frank was second (21.55). Devon Davis won the 200 IM (1:56.17) and Michael Barnosky was second (1:56.43). Andrew Faciszewski won the 500 free (4:49.13) while Alex Strom was second (4:52.32). Air Force claimed the top two spots in the 100 free as Ryan Dunne won (45.07) and Jordan Dahle was second (45.96). Barnosky won the 200 breaststroke (2:06.30)
Both the men’s and women’s teams will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. at the Cadet Natatorium. The men’s team will host Seattle while the women will host Seattle and Northern Colorado.
Seattle women’s press release – Friday
Despite strong swims by several Seattle University swimmers, the Redhawk women’s swim team fell to Air Force, 152-80, and to Northern Colorado, 132-102, Friday night in a double dual meet at the Cadet Natatorium.
Madi Lydig (Spokane, Wash.) won the 200 backstroke by almost five full seconds with a time of 2:05.64, while Blaise Wittenauer-Lee (Portland, Ore.) earned an equally-dominating victory in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:21.49, over five seconds quicker than the next-fastest competitor in the event.
Wittenauer-Lee joined with Carlee Bock (Bellingham, Wash.), Jane Liggett (Portland, Ore.), and Kristin Hoffman (Mercer Island, Wash.) to finish second in the 400 medley relay with a time of 3:58.24, ahead of Northern Colorado’s top relay squad. The 200 freestyle relay quartet of Paige Treff (Orland, Calif.), Melissa Randolf (Everett, Wash.), Alexis Martinez (Granite Bay, Calif.), and Rachael Rodriguez (Round Rock, Texas) finished third in the last event of the meet with a time of 1:40.67.
Hoffman finished ahead of any Northern Colorado swimmer in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:57.79, as did Lydig with a mark of 1:58.42. Wittenauer-Lee placed second overall in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:12.14, with Annika Perry (Reno, Nev.) also finishing ahead of every Northern Colorado competitor with a mark of 2:16.29.
“We had some good performances tonight, but we also had opportunities for a better overall result, especially against Northern Colorado,” Seattle U head swim coach Craig Nisgor said. “There are some things we need to work on, and hopefully they realize it quick enough to put some of those adjustments into action tomorrow.”
Seattle University (2-9) will face the same two teams at the same venue in another double dual meet Saturday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. local time (10 a.m. Pacific time).
Seattle men’s press release – Saturday
The Seattle University men’s swim team lost to the U.S. Air Force Academy, 113-76, Saturday in a collegiate dual meet held at the Cadet Natatorium.
Bart Wanot (Federal Way, Wash.) picked up the team’s only event victory of the meet, finishing first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 52.12 seconds. He also posted the fourth-fastest time in the 50 freestyle at 21.82 seconds and led off the 200 medley relay, joining with Tanner Schelling (Boise, Idaho), Jack Baldoni (Applegate, Calif.), and Kyle Moline (Mercer Island, Wash.) for a third place finish with a time of 1:34.95.
Baldoni finished in second place in the 100 butterfly with a time of 51.38 seconds, while Gabe Wheeler (Round Rock, Texas) posted the third-fastest time in the 100 breaststroke with a mark of 59.56 seconds. Nick Connors (Richland, Wash.) finished fourth in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 10:18.59 before posting the fourth-fastest mark in the 500 freestyle at 5:03.62.
The meet concluded with Moline, Connors, Alec Barnard (Everett, Wash.), and John Fulmer (Kent, Wash.) posting a time of 3:18.61 in the 400 freestyle relay.
Seattle University (2-7) concludes the dual meet season by traveling north to Burnaby, B.C., to face long-time rival Simon Fraser University Saturday, Jan. 31, starting at 1 p.m. The Redhawks will then prepare for the Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, to take place in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 25-28.
Northern Colorado press release – Saturday
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo..- Head coach Kelly McClanahan and the Northern Colorado swim and dive team wrapped up their two day dual meet against Air Force and Seattle today. The Bears continued to dominate the diving side of things, but again fell to Air Force, 130-86. UNC fought off a late charge against Seattle, beating them, 112-106 to go 2-0 in WAC duals on the weekend. The Bears move to 8-8 on the season and 3-4 in conference.
“Truthfully, we did not swim up to our true potential both days,” said McClanahan. “There’s plenty of reasons we can use to support our lack of performance, but as a team we don’t work that way. We know that even under the worst circumstances we have to be on top of our game. As any coach knows, a win is a win and I am very confident they will get their head back in the game for CSU-Pueblo and CSU.”
The Bears would pick up their first, first place finish when freshman Valeria Mihhailova took to the blocks in the 100 yard backstroke. Mihhailova finished with a time of 59:43, one second faster than Seattle swimmer Carlee Bock. Mihhailova, also took second place in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 25:01.
Laura Ramirez earned a second place finish on the day swimming the 100 yard butterfly in a time of 59:36, losing to Air Force’s, Jenna Tasic who swam a, 58:43. Ramirez also contributed in the 200 yard medley relay team of Mihhailova, Courtney Chrzas, and Kim Kuni, taking third place with a time of 1:50.23.
Carleigh Barrett also continued her successful weekend taking second place in the 500 yard freestyle to Air Force’s own Genevieve Miller. Barrett swam a time of 5:21.54 in the race.
On the second day of diving the competition, the divers switched to the rare platform and Savanna Meadows increased her current school record. Meadows scored a 210.53 almost six points better than her own record. UNC’s Taylor Walsh dove a 166.65, good for third place.
“Any day we get to dive platform is a great day in my opinion,” said dive coach Mark Murdock. “Overall a decent weekend for the divers, but still there is much to do before conference.”
The Bears are back in the pool, Jan. 24, as the take on CSU-Pueblo on Senior Day. Action begins at 12:00 p.m.
