Army Blanks Holy Cross

WEST POINT, New York, November 9. THE Army men's swimming and diving team got off to a hot start claiming wins in the first 11 events to easily defeat Holy Cross, 164-105, in a Patriot League meet Wednesday at West Point's Crandall Pool. Greg Sievers and Jeff Tolbert doubled to highlight the Black Knights' (3-0, 2-0 PL) performance over the Crusaders (0-3, 0-2 PL). The women downed Holy Cross, 161-108. The Black Knights (1-2, 1-1 PL) captured the first 10 events, and 11 overall, to easily pick up their first win of the season against the Crusaders (1-3, 0-2 PL).

In the men's meet, Sievers opened the night with a new personal-best on the 3-meter board. The junior sprang to a score of 327.60, to lead an Army sweep in the event. Zach McLain and Jay Felder placed second and third, respectively, to complete the sweep.

The Black Knights got things started in the lanes when they touched the wall first and second in the 200-yard medley relay. Mark Lesak, Spencer Kelly, Tolbert, and Will Eggers splashed in with a winning time of 1 minute, 37.50 seconds, while Zach Disbrow, Drew Michaelson, Cameron Rice, and Efri Ruthenberg finished second with a clocking of 1:37.62.

Tolbert collected his first individual win of the night in the 200 freestyle, touching the wall in 1:48.13. Camm Garrett placed second in the event in 1:50.85.

Next in the 50 backstroke, Army claimed the second of its six event sweeps. Lesak led the charge with a time of 24.94, while Matt Schiller (26.67) and Drew Michaelson (27.29) placed second and third.

Tom Maddux captured the 50 breast by edging teammate John Kreitler. Maddux touched first in 27.93, while Kreilter was right behind him in second with a clocking of 27.95.

Tolbert collected his second victory of the evening in the 100 butterfly, winning with a time of 54.50, while in a close second and third were Gordan Cooper (54.55) and David Ulrey (56.01), respectfully.

Army logged a set of season bests in sweeping the 50 free. Ruthenberg touched first in 21.82. Eggers clocked a time of 21.92 to place second, and Dave Richards finished third in 22.45.

Sievers completed his second straight sweep of the boards by taking the 1-meter with a winning score of 288.38. Feldner and McLain finished second and third, swapping places from the 3-meter board.

Jake Mentele grabbed his team leading sixth first-place finish of the season in the 100 free, leading Army's sweep with a time of 48.56. Chuck Ciliske and David Ulrey completed the sweep placing second and third respectively.

In the last of Army's six event sweeps, Matt Schiller paced the way in the 100 back touching the wall in 56.33. Patrick O'Malley finished a very close second with a time of 56.34, with Will Eggers next in 56.39.

Spencer Kelly capped the Black Knights' dominating performance with a top finish in the 100 breast. The Edina, Minn., native splashed in with a time of 59.67 to complete Army's scoring for the night.

"I was pleased with the way we swam tonight," stated Army head coach Mickey Wender. "We came out here and took care of business, and are definitely headed in the right direction."

For the women's meet, Lindsay Adao and Amanda Otto doubled to lead the Army women's swimming and diving team.

Adao started Army's dominance on the 1-meter board with her second straight victory of the season in the event. The freshman scored a 264.70 to best the field by more than 42 points.

The Black Knights next took their show to the blocks by capturing first-place in the 200-yard medley relay. Liz Johnson, Erin Hanley, Amy Tang and Caroline O'Sullivan paced the event with a season-best team clocking of 1 minute, 51.16 seconds.

Ann DiDomenico and Sylvia Beck finished one-two, respectfully, for Army in the 200 freestyle. DiDomenico touched the wall in 2:01.54, while Beck was just behind her with a time of 2:02.70.

In the 50 backstroke, Blair Miller and Chelsey Freeman logged the second consecutive one-two finish for the Black, Gold and Gray. Miller splashed in at 29.00, with Chelsey Freeman close behind at 29.11.

Kim DeFiori won the 50 breaststroke to extend Army's event winning streak to five. The Kingwood, Texas, native posted a time of 31.15 to claim the victory.

Cora Freeman and Tang logged the Black Knights' third one-two finish of the evening in the 100 butterfly. Cora Freeman posted a season-best time of 59.39, while Tang established a new personal standard of 59.72.

Paige Dellavalle led a sweep of the top three places in the 50 free, narrowly beating teammates Cora Freeman and Miller. Dellavalle swam a season-best 25.33, while Cora Freeman and Miller touched in 25.38 and 25.77, respectfully.

Adao completed her second sweep of the boards this season with a new personal-best on the 3-meter board. The New City, N.Y., native notched a 264.00 to capture the event by more than 27 points.

Following the final diving session, Otto claimed her first win of the evening in the 100 free. The senior team captain touched the wall in 54.56 to beat teammate Sylvia Beck who finished second in 55.25.

In the last of the Black Knights' opening 10-event winning streak, Chelsey Freeman placed first in the 100 back. The junior splashed in with a season-best time of 1:02.20.

Otto tallied her second victory of the evening in the 500 free, Army's last scored event of the night. The West Seneca, N.Y., native bested the field by nearly 22 seconds, with a time of 5:15.92.

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