Table of Contents/quick facts Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Quick Facts/Media Information. . . . . . . 1
Meet The Falcons
The Academy
Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Athlete Bios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-21
The Staff
History
The Air Force Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Academy Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Director of Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Air Force Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Head Coach Rob Clayton. . . . . . . . . . 2-3 Asst. Coach Anthony Boettcher. . . . . . . 4 Diving Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 FAQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2014-15 Season Review. . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Air Force Swimming History. . . . . 23-24 Diving History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Honors & Awards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25-26 Air Force Top 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Service Academy Top 10 . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Letterwinners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29-30 WCAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Where are they now? . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33 Cadet Natatorium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Quick Facts
Media Guide
Post-Meet Procedures
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . USAFA, Colo. Colors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blue & Silver Nickname . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Falcons Enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,000 Founded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1954 Affiliation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NCAA Div. I Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Western Athletic Home Pool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cadet Natatorium Superintendent . . . . Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson Athletic Director . . . . . . . . . . . .Jim Knowlton
The 2015-16 Air Force men’s swimming and diving media guide is produced as a source of information for the media. Other materials may be obtained by contacting the athletic media relations office:
Head swim coach Rob Clayton and head diving coach Stan Curnow will be available 10 minutes following the end of the meet on the pool deck. Swimmers and divers will be available immediately after. The Air Force locker room and training room are closed to all media. Final results are available following the meet upon request.
Air Force Athletic Media Relations 2169 Field House Dr. USAF Academy, CO 80840 Phone: 719-333-2313 Fax: 719-333-3798
Coaching Staff Head Coach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rob Clayton Alma Mater/Year . . . . . . . . . . .Wyoming/1991 Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719-333-4726 E-mail. . . . . . . . . . . . . .rob.clayton@usafa.edu Career Record/Years . . . . . . . . . . 159-91-1/17 School Record/Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Same Head Diving Coach . . . . . . . . . . .Stan Curnow Asst. Coach . . . . . . . . . . . . Anthony Boettcher Asst. Diving Coach . . . . . Maj. Sarah Edwards
Working Press Credentials Press and Photograph credentials are issued to members of the working media only. These credentials may be obtained by contacting the athletic media relations office. Upon acceptance of applications, appropriate passes can be picked up at the athletic media relations office.
Press Parking
Team Information
There is no press parking available. The earlier you arrive, the better parking you’ll find.
2014-15 Dual Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-5 WAC Finish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2nd
Air Force Practices
Athletic Media Relations Swimming Contact. . . . . . . . . . . . .Dave Toller Office Phone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719-333-3478 E-mail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . dave.toller@usafa.edu Mailing Address . . . . Athletic Media Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2169 Field House Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . USAFA, CO 80840 Web Site . . . . . . . . . . GoAirForceFalcons.com
All Air Force practices, both home and on the road, are open to the media. Media members wishing to film practice must make arrangements with the athletic media relations office to attend practice. A representative from the athletic media relations office must accompany you.
In-Season Interviews All Air Force athletes and coaches are available for interviews with the following guidelines: All interviews must be set up through the athletic media relations office at 719-333-3478 or 719-333-2313. All interview requests must be made at least one day in advance so that the athlete or coach can be properly notified.
Credits The 2015-16 Air Force men’s swimming and diving guide was written and designed by media relations director Dave Toller. Editoral assistance provided by the Air Force athletic media relations office and the men’s swimming and diving staff. Photos courtesy of Team DMI.
Video Stream All Air Force home swimming meets will be streamed live. To access, please go to the swimming schedule on GoAirForceFalcons. com
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head swimming coach rob clayton After a sixth-place league finish his first season, Clayton led the Falcons to thirdplace finishes in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2007. In 2003, 2004 and 2009, the Falcons finished second at the Mountain West Championships. In addition, Clayton was named MWC Men’s Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2010.
Head coach Rob Clayton enters his 18th season as the Academy’s head men’s swimming coach. After 17 years, his enthusiasm for the Academy and Falcon swimming hasn’t diminished a bit. “I love coaching at the Air Force Academy,” Clayton said. “It is the perfect school for the young man who is serious about pursuing excellence in school, swimming and life. I’m thrilled to wake up and go to work in the morning,” Clayton has led the Falcons to a 159-911 overall dual record and 10 top-three finishes in the conference. He has led the Falcons to a third-place finish in the WAC Championships in 2014 and a second-place finish in 2015.
At USAFA, Clayton has coached men to 21 individual conference championships and two relay conference championships. Eight of his swimmers have competed in the Olympic Trials, including in 2008 when five former and current Falcons participated in the Trials. In addition to the team’s success in the pool, Clayton’s swimmers have earned more than 151 academic allconference honors and 25 MWC ScholarAthlete selections, while six others were both designated Scholar All-Americans by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. Clearly, Clayton expects excellence in the classroom as well as the pool. “The Academy is the number one undergraduate school in the country,” the coach said. “The men come here primarily to get the best education possible and to prepare for a fabulous career in the Air Force and beyond. While we desire success in the pool, we insist on success in the class-
room.” Not surprisingly, the Falcon swimmers and divers were the recipients of the Academy’s Team Excellence Award for the 2003-04 school year. Clayton is a 1991 graduate of Wyoming where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. While at Wyoming, Clayton was one of the premier swimmers in the Western Athletic Conference. A four-year letterman, Clayton swam in the NCAA Championships in the 200 freestyle, 200 IM and 400 IM. He stole the show at the 1991 conference championships, winning the 200 and 400 individual medley, becoming only the second Cowboy to ever win an IM conference title. His time in the 400 IM set a conference championship record. Clayton excelled outside the pool as well. His 3.75 grade point average in chemical engineering helped earn him Academic All-American honors. He received the WAC’s Stan Bates Award in 1991, as the league’s most outstanding student-athlete. The Bates Award is the most prestigious award an athlete in the conference can win. Following college, Clayton served as an age group coach for the Fort Collins Area Swim Team (FAST). In the fall of 1991, he began a six-year stint as the men’s assistant coach at Brigham Young University. While at BYU, Clayton was instrumental in building one of the most successful swimming programs in the region. The Cougars won the 1996 WAC title, their first since 1979. During Clayton’s tenure in Provo, BYU never finished below third at the WAC Championships. Clayton helped coach 11 individual WAC champions and several WAC champion relay teams at BYU. Additionally, he coached an NCAA finalist and an athlete to a spot on the U.S. National team in the summer of 1997. He was very active in USA Swim-
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head swimming coach rob clayton ming during his time in Utah, serving as a senior coach with Hilltop Aquatic Swim Team in American Fork, Utah. Clayton came to the Academy in 1997 and made an immediate impact on the program. He worked with women’s coach Casey Converse to coach the Academy’s first woman to qualify for the NCAA Division I Championships. Clayton then took over the reins of the men’s program for the 1998-99 season. In addition to his coaching duties, Clayton also instructs cadets in swimming and water survival classes. He was recognized for his teaching accomplishments by being named the 2003-04 Department of Athletics Civilian Instructor of the Year and was recently named the Aquatics Instructor of the Semester. Clayton comments on his teaching duties, “I enjoy teaching aquatics classes. It provides me with opportunity to interact with the rest of the cadets at the Air Force Academy.” Originally from Fort Collins, Colo., Clayton was a standout swimmer at Rocky Mountain High School where he was a four-year letterman. The 41-year-old Clayton is married to the former Kelly Costigan, a 1992 graduate of the Academy who competed for the women’s tennis team. They have three sons, Robert, Daniel Joshua, and three daughters, Noel, Anna and Faith. The Claytons are very active in their church, International Anglican Church, and live in Monument.
Inside the Numbers with Clayton Year W L T Pct. Place 1999 11 2 .846 6th 2000 8 3 .727 3rd 2001 9 4 .692 3rd 2002 6 4 .600 3rd 2003 12 2 .857 2nd 2004 8 4 .667 2nd 2005 13 7 .650 5th 2006 8 4 1 .654 3rd 2007 13 3 .813 3rd 2008 4 7 .364 4th 2009 7 12 .368 2nd 2010 3 4 .429 2nd 2011 11 6 .647 3rd 2012 8 9 .471 6th 2013 10 7 .588 6th 2014 13 8 .619 2nd 2015 15 5 .750 2nd Totals 159 91 1 .636
The Clayton File Full Name: Robert Clayton III Hometown: Fort Collins, Colo. High School: Rocky Mountain, four-year letterman in swimming. College: Wyoming, 1991 graduate with a bachelor’s in chemical engineering with a 3.75 GPA. Academic All-American, individual conference champion and winner of the 1991 Stan Bates Award as the league’s most outstanding student-athlete. Conference Champions Under Clayton 2000 Matt Ihlenfeld (200 Breast) Charlie Toth (100 free) 2001 Matt Ihlenfeld (100, 200 breast) 200 Medley Relay 2002 Paul Brehm (100, 200 back) 400 Medley Relay 2003 Paul Brehm (200 back) 2004 Chris Knaute (1650 free) 2005 Chris Knaute (400, IM, 500, 1650 free) 2006 Chris Knaute (400 IM, 500, 1650 free) Paul Parmenter (200 IM) 2007 Chris Knaute (400 IM, 500 free) Paul Parmenter (200 IM) 2009 Benjamin Gunn (200 IM) 2010 Benjamin Gunn (200 IM) 2011 Benjamin Gunn (200 fly) 2015 Michael Barnosky (100 breast) Michael Barnosky (200 breast)
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Assistant swimming coach anthony boettcher
Anthony Boettcher Assistant Swimming Coach Fifth Season Wyoming (1986)
Anthony Boettcher enters his fifth season as Air Force men’s swimming assistant coach. Boettcher is a lifelong resident of Colorado and brings nearly 30 years of experience as a club coach in the state. Boettcher came to the Academy most recently from Falfins Swimming, a USA Swimming club team in the Colorado Springs area, and has coached seasonally in the Denver area as the head coach for the Wheat Ridge Piranhas (1982-1990), and as a year round USA Swimming coach in the town of Evergreen. As the head coach for the Evergreen swim team from 1990- 2005, Boettcher built what has become known as a small town powerhouse, posting consistent top 10 finishes at the Colorado State Junior Olympics. His athletes there won over 60 individual state titles, five relay titles, and set numerous state records. Athletes from the Evergreen Swim Team have competed at Zones, Sectionals, Junior and Senior Nationals, and Olympic Trials, with 20-plus athletes going on to compete at NCAA Division I schools, and one representing the USA at the World University Games in 2000. While at Evergreen, Boettcher also coached the boy’s and girl’s high school teams at Evergreen High School. He began concentrating only on the boy’s team in 1995, and had unprecedented success there until leaving in 2005. His boys won 58 straight dual meets from 1995 through 2003, winning 9-of-11 Jefferson County
titles in the process, and finished in the top three at the Boys 4A state meet numerous times. Many athletes achieved all-conference, all-state and All-American status. He retired as the winningest coach in the history of Jefferson County men’s swimming. During his time at Evergreen, Boettcher was named the Colorado Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year in 1998, 2003 and 2005 for his work at the club level, and was the Colorado High School Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2002 as well. In 2003, the American Swim Coaches Association bestowed it’s Colorado Swim Coach of the Year on him. In addition, Boettcher won the Jefferson County High School Swim Coach of the Year 10 times, and the Jeffco League honored him with their 2001 Boy’s Coach of the Year Award for all sports. Moving on to a new challenge in 2005, as the age group coach at Falfins
Swimming in Colorado Springs, he continued to produce state champions and state record holders, and helped that club grow from 130 swimmers to over 200. Boettcher took the reins as the head coach in April, 2007 and has remained there until his recent move to the Academy. Boettcher has also invested 17 years as a volunteer for Colorado Swimming, Inc., and USA Swimming. Among his duties were stints as the Age Group Chair and Coaches Representative. He has attended the Western Zone Meet an unprecedented 13 times as a coach on the Colorado Staff, serving as head coach six of those times. He also served as head coach of the Colorado Swimming All Star team six times. In 1998 and again in 2003, USA Swimming gave Boettcher it’s Phillips 66 Outstanding Service Award for his role as a volunteer.
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diving coaches
Stan Curnow - Head Diving Coach 23rd Season (Brigham Young University, 1977) Stan Curnow begins his 23rd season with the Falcons as head diving coach, the longest tenure in Academy history for a diving coach. During his first 22 years, Curnow has continued Air Force’s proud tradition in diving. Curnow has been named conference diving coach of the year five times. He was named the Mountain West Conference’s diving coach of the year in 2001, 2002 and 2006 and the WAC diving coach of the year in 2014 and 2015. Curnow’s divers helped lead the men’s swimming and diving team a third-place finish in the WAC Championships in 2013-14 and and a second-place finish in 2014-15, tying the team’s highest conference finish ever at the Division I level. In 2014-15, junior Nathanael Zillweger won the WAC championship on the one-meter with 323.85 points and was also named the WAC Diver of the Year. Zillweger also finished third on the three-meter (306.6 points) and fifth on the platform (273.25 points). On the platform, the Falcons claimed three of the top five spots as Dominic Vallejo won the title while A.J. Eckebrecht was second and Zillweger was fifth. Vallejo also placed third on one-meter. On the women’s side, three women have earned firstteam All-American honors at the Division II level under Curnow’s leadership as Sara Saxer (class of 1993), Rebecca Currie (class of 1994) and Elly Bunzendahl (class of 1998) all earned All-Ameri-
can honors. Outside of the pool, Curnow has been an asset to the Academy as well, being named the 1998 athletic department Instructor of the Year. A former member of the NCAA Diving Rules Committee, Curnow came to Air Force from BYU, where he coached for 14 years. His record there was impeccable, including 26 conference titles, 17 All-Americans and two NCAA Division I champions. A native of Denver, Colo., Curnow was named a high school All-American in diving and was a champion performer on the trampoline. He attended BYU and graduated in 1977 with a degree in physical education. He completed his master’s degree in the same field in 1978. As a competitor at BYU, Curnow was the Western Athletic Conference diving champion three out of four years and earned All-American honors in 1972 and 1974. He was also a finalist in the 1972 Olympic Trials.
Maj. Sarah Edwards - Asst. Diving Coach 1st Season (USAFA, 2003) Major Sarah Edwards enters her first year as the assistant diving coach for both men’s and women’s diving teams at the Air Force Academy. In addition to coaching duties, Edwards teaches swimming and water survival in the physical education department. Edwards received her commission through the United States Air Force Academy in May 2003, earning a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering. Her first assignment was Eglin Air Force Base where she worked as an aircraft analyst for AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) testing. Edwards’ second assignment brought her back to Colorado Springs where she served a four-year tour in the 4th Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base, culminating as Section Chief of Future Operations. During this tour, she earned a master’s in business administration. Edwards
separated from active duty in 2009 and entered the Air Force Reserves as an Admissions Liaison Officer to the Air Force Academy. She has since become a project officer in Air Force TENCAP (Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities), while continuing to serve as a liaison officer and now in the USAFA athletic department. Edwards began her college diving career at Texas A & M but finished her last three years of eligibility at the Air Force Academy. As a USAFA diver, she won four Mountain West Conference titles, was a two-year team captain, and earned the Mountain West Conference Senior Leadership award in 2002. She earned the Most Valuable Swimmer/Diver for the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons, as well as the Academy’s Most Valuable Female Athlete for 2001-02. Edwards concluded her cadet career as the student assistant coach for the diving team. Formerly Sarah Law, she married Adam Edwards, a Falcon football player and 1996 graduate of the Academy. The couple has two children, ages six and eight.
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frequently asked questions • What is your training philosophy at Air Force? We are a military academy, so there is a balance between academics, athletics and military. However, we are a Division I program and train accordingly. We compete in the Western Athletic Conference against Cal State Bakersfield, Grand Canyon, North Dakota, Seattle, UNLV and Wyoming and continually strive to qualify guys for the NCAA Championships. • How many different coaches and trainers do your swimmers work with? I have been at the Academy for 18 years and assistant coach Anthony Boettcher enters his fifth year. We also have a strength and conditioning coach and a full-time athletic trainer assigned to our team. In addition, the women’s team has a head coach and an assistant coach but we generally train as men’s teams and women’s teams. • What is the team atmosphere like? (i.e. Does the team do random activities outside of swimming just to hang out with each other? Do swimmers room with other swimmers? etc.) The team atmosphere is a complete cohesive unit. The team goes to football games as a team, camping trips as a team and many other activities. Because of the challenges that are involved with a military academy, the team forms a very tight bond. The pool is the place where they come together, work hard and achieve goals together. In regards to the question about rooming together, each student is put into a squadron (roughly 100 students per squadron, 40 squadrons, total student body of approximately 4000) randomly, so most of the swimmers do not room with other swimmers. • What is an average week of training like in terms of practice time, yardage, dryland, etc.? We train every other morning (lift and swim) and every afternoon for roughly 2.5 hours (to include dryland). The distance varies by workout but usually it is about 6000 yards for our middle distance group. However, when we do power days, we swim much less. Our weight room training is designed especially for swimmers by our strength and conditioning coach. Additionally, we film nearly every other day. As far as our regimen is concerned, during our off-season, we generally train as one team but our distance guys frequently receive additional training. Then during the season, we have different groups (distance, middle distance, strokes, sprinters, IM) that will have individualized workouts.
• What is the commitment of the athletic department in terms of funding for travel, equipment, etc.? We have unsurpassed support from our athletic department. We normally travel 16-20 guys on our trips and everything is paid for. We also take a winter training trip (San Diego, Fort Lauderdale, Hawaii, Tucson, for example) every year and everything is paid for there as well. There is no cost put on the swimmers and there is NO fundraising. Additionally, we are sponsored by Nike, so every swimmer receives a good supply of Air Force Swimming gear every year. We swim in Nike suits during the season and then compete in best suit available for the Championship meets. • What is your team’s average GPA? Our team’s average GPA this year was 3.0 and usually hovers right around there. • Is there anything else that you would like to tell me about your program that I have failed to ask about above? I just wanted to explain the Academy and how things work. No one here is on an “athletic scholarship.” Everyone receives an appointment and everything is paid for while you are here (room, board, meals, etc). In fact, the students receive a monthly stipend in addition that starts at about $120/month as a freshman and goes up to about $800/month as a senior. All students are undergraduate students. There are 32 different majors that range in many possibilities. The big difference is that when you graduate, you are commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force. About half (about 500) of the graduates will go off to pilot training. The other half will go off to various other jobs to include additional schooling. Think of an Air Force base as a little community and all the jobs that are required. The Air Force requires doctors, civil engineers, meteorologists, police officers, etc. If you decide not to fly, the service commitment is five years; for flyers, the commitment is 10 years. You can think of that in one of two ways—as a service commitment, or as a guaranteed job that pays you a competitive salary and includes unsurpassed benefits.
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2015-16 Men’s swimming & diving roster Name Andrew Antonetti Michael Barnosky Derek Brecht Jordan Dahle Devon Davis Erich Drollinger A.J. Eckebrecht Andrew Faciszewski Kevin Fanter Michael Fonteno George Frank Joey Gebhart Garrett Glaudini Collin Green Corey Gutierrez Michael Hannigan Kevin Jackson Zach Knoche Lars Knutson Blake Lawrie Sean Ledford Kevin Mitchell Steffan Mount Symen Ooms Nicholas Piontek Kevin Pollard Grant Temple Kristopher Tillery Matt Walls Nathanael Zillweger
Year So. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fr Sr. So. So. Fr. Fr. So. Sr. Jr. So. Fr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr.
Height 6-2 6-3 5-8 6-1 6-2 5-8 5-9 5-9 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-0 6-2 5-11 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-3 6-5 6-0 5-10 6-1 6-4 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-1 5-10
Event Mid-Distance Free Breast/IM Free/IM/Breast Sprint Free Back/Fly/IM Diving Diving Distance Free/IM Breast/IM Breast/Sprint Free Sprint Free Back/Fly Distance Free/IM Distance Free/IM Back/Sprint Free Sprint Free Distance Free/IM Breast Sprint Free Sprint Free Fly/IM Fly/Free/IM Sprint Free/Fly Sprint Free Diving Fly/IM Fly/Back Back/Free Back/Distance Free Diving
Hometown/High School Valparaiso, IN/Valparaiso Cedaredge, CO/Cedaredge Valley Center, CA/North County Christian Salt Lake City, UT/Cottonwood Colorado Springs, CO/Air Academy Salinas, CA/Salinas Mission Viejo, CA/Calif. Virtual Academies Bluffton, SC/Bluffton Boise, ID/Boise Jacksonville, FL/Bolles School/Prep School Jacksonville, FL/Bolles School Boulder City, NV/Boulder City Ramona, CA/Ramona Redlands, CA/Redlands San Jose, CA /Gunderson San Jose, CA/Lehigh Memphis, TN/Germantown Lee’s Summit, MO/Lee’s Summit Cedaredge, CO/Cedaredge Colorado Springs, CO/Discovery Canyon Sebastain, FL/Sebastain River London, England/TASIS Pensacola, FL/Booker T. Washington Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest Warrensburg, MO/Warrensburg Fairhope, AL/Fairhope Prescott, AZ/Prescott Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva Ellicott City, MD/Chapelgate Christian Phoenix, AZ/Willow Canyon
Head Coach: Diving Coach: Asst. Swim Coach: Asst. Diving Coach:
Rob Clayton (Wyoming 1991) 18th season Stan Curnow (BYU 1997) 23rd season Anthony Boettcher (Wyoming 1986) 5th season Maj. Sarah Edwards (Air Force, 2003) 1st season
Pronunciation Guide Andrew Antonetti: an-ton-EH-tee Michael Barnosky: BAR-nah-sky Jordan Dahle: DALLY Erich Drollinger - DRAWL-in-jerr A.J. Eckebrecht: ECK-uh-breckt Andrew Faciszewski: FACK-uh-sheff-ski Garrett Glaudini: glah-DEE-nee
Corey Gutierrez - goo-tee-AIR-ezz Zach Knoche: KUH-no-key Lars Knutson: KUH-newt-son Blake Lawrie - LAW-ree Symen Ooms - SIMON OOM-z Nicholas Piontek - PIE-un-teck Nathanael Zillweger: ZILL-wigger
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meet the falcons Michael Barnosky
George Frank
Sr. • 6-3 • Breast/IM Cedaredge, CO (Cedaredge)
Sr. • 6-1 • Sprint Free Jacksonville, FL (Bolles)
PERSONAL BESTS 100 Breast 52.77* 200 Breast 1:56.89* 200 IM 1:47.72# 400 IM 4:14.44 *School record # Academy Top 10 All-Time
PERSONAL BESTS 50 Free 20.31# 100 Free 44.62# 200 Free 1:37.53# 200 FR 1:19.51* 400 FR 2:55.17* 800 FR 6:29.34* *School record #Academy Top 10 All-Time
2014-15 (JUNIOR): Ranked No. 1 on the team in five different events…broke a six–year old record in the 100 breaststroke (53.06)…he won the WAC title in the 100 and 200 breaststroke...in the 200 breaststroke, he broke a 14-year old record by two seconds (1:56.89)… member of 200 medley relay that set a school record (1:27.31) and a member of 400 medley relay team with a school record of 3:11.69…No. 1 ranking on team in the 200 IM, No. 2 Academy Top 10 all-time…ranked No. 2 in WAC for 200 IM…achieved personal bests in five events. 2013-14 (SOPHOMORE): Spectacular sophomore season, ranking No. 1 on the team in five different events … in three of the five events, he set school records and in the other two events he ranked No. 2 at the Academy all-time … set the school record for the 100 breast (53.52) … No. 1 on the team in the 200 IM (1:48.48 / No. 2 Academy all-time) … No. 1 on the team in the 200 breast (1:59.49/ No. 2 Academy all-time) … member of the relay team that set the school record in the 200 medley relay (1:27.82) and also part of the team that set the school record in the 400 medley relay (3:12.95). 2012-13 (FRESHMAN): Second team All-MPSF in 100 breast...fastest time on team in 100 breast and second in 200 breast...100 breast time of 54.99 is fourth-fastest and 200 breast time of 2:02.53 is eighth-fastest in Academy history...voted team most inspirational. HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered four years in swimming...All-American...Scholastic All-American...National Honor Society member...high school swimming coach was Silas Almgren...swam club for the Montrose Marlins, also coached by Silas Almgren. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 3...owns private pilot license and is also a hot air balloon pilot...hobbies are flying and swimming...person in history he’d like to meet is Neil Armstrong...credits his dad as having the biggest influence on his sports career...pre-race/meet ritual is to play Holding Out For a Hero by Bonnie Tyler...favorite quote: “To give anything less that your best, is to sacrifice the gift.”...son of Joseph and Susan Barnosky.
2014-15 (JUNIOR): Competed in eight events and set two school records… No. 3 on team in the 50 free (20.31/No. 6 Academy all-time), 100 free (44.62/ No. 5 Academy all-time) and 200 free (1:37.53/No. 7 Academy all-time)… ranked in top 10 in the WAC in the 50 free and 100 free…ranked No. 8 in the 200 free for WAC…set school record as a member of the 200 free relay (1:19.51), the 800 free relay (6:29.34) and the 400 medley relay (3:11.69)… achieved personal bests in seven events. 2013-14 (SOPHOMORE): Outstanding sophomore season, competing in eight events and setting a school record … No. 1 on the team in the 200 free (1:38.48/ No. 7 Academy all-time) … member of the relay team that set the school record in the 400 free relay (2:56.96) … No. 2 on the team in the 50 free (20.53 / No. 9 Academy all-time) … No. 2 on the team in the 100 free (45.16 / No. 9 Academy all-time) … swam on the 200 free relay that posted the best time on the team (1:20.29) … member of the 800 free relay that posted the best mark on the team (6:34.42) … member of the No. 2 team in the 200 MR (1:31.84) … achieved personal bests in eight events. 2012-13 (FRESHMAN): Second-fastest 50 and 200 free on team...third-fastest 100 free time ... on fastest 200, 400 and 800 free and 200 medley relays. HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered four years in swimming...All-American...part of 2011-12 National Championship team...part of national record-setting 400 free relay...part of state record-setting 200 free relay...two-time team MVP...National Honor Society member...high school coach was Sergio Lopez...swam club for the Bolles School Sharks, also coached by Sergio Lopez...junior nationals champion and owned the state record in the 100 free for 13-14 year olds. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 31...has two older siblings...person in history he’d like to meet is Jesus...credits his sister as having the biggest influence on his sports career...favorite athlete is Lebron James...son of Jeffrey and Valerie Frank.
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meet the falcons Kevin Jackson
Sean Ledford
Sr. • 6-0 • Distance Free Memphis, TN (Germantown)
Sr. • 5-10 • Fly Sebastian, FL (Sebastian River)
PERSONAL BESTS 200 Free 1:37.14# 500 Free 4:20.66# 1000 Free 9:13.47# 1650 Free 15:14.56# 400 IM 3:54.82# 800 FR 6:29.34 # Academy Top 10 Time * school record
PERSONAL BESTS 100 Fly 48.96# 200 Fly 1:47.58# 200 IM 1:53.32 #Academy Top 10 All-Time
2014-15 (JUNIOR): Competed in seven events and earned five top five school ranking finishes…finished No. 1 on the team in both the 200 free (1:37.14/ No. 2 Academy all-time) and the 500 free (4:20.66/No. 3 Academy all-time)… ranking No. 5 in WAC for the 200 free and No. 2 for the 500 free…ranked No. 2 on the team in the 1650 free (15:14.56/No. 4 Academy all-time), ranking No. 3 in WAC…ranked No. 2 on the team for the 400 IM (3:54.82/No. 5 Academy all-time)…ranked No. 7 in the 400 IM for the WAC…was a member of the 800 free relay that set a school record (6:29.34/No. 1 Academy all-time)…achieved personal bests in six events...Was selected to compete in the 2015 National Open Water Select Camp. 2013-14 (SOPHOMORE): Solid sophomore season competing in seven events and earning six top five school rankings, to include four Academy top 10 all-time rankings … ranked No. 2 on the team in four events to include the 500 free (4:26.48 / No. 5 Academy all-time) 1000 free (9:13.47 / No. 4 Academy all-time) and the 1650 free (15:22.61 / No. 4 Academy all-time) and the 400 IM (3:56.46 / No. 6 Academy all-time) … ranked number four in the school for the 200 free (1:40.50) member of the team ranked third on the team in the 800 FR (6:42.73) … top 10 finish in the Academy in the 200 IM (1:58.68) … achieved personal bests in all seven events. 2012-13 (FRESHMAN): Second-team All-MPSF in 1650 free...second on team in 500, 1000 and 1650 free...500 free time of 4:30.89 is ninth-fastest and 1000 free time of 9:20.95 is eighth-fastest in Academy history...finished seventh in 1650 free at MPSF Championships. HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered four years in swimming...All-American in 500 free...school record-holder in 200 and 500 free...top five swimmer in 500 free all four years...Scholastic All-American...French National Honors Society...Third place winner of Battle of the Brains Science Competition...high school swimming coach was Scott Robinson...swam club for Germantown Swim Team, also coached by Scott Robinson...national qualifier.
2014-15 (JUNIOR): Competed in four events, ranking top 10 on the team in three…in the 100 fly he ranked No. 3 on the team (48.96/No. 9 Academy alltime)… No. 2 on the team in the 200 fly (1:48.44/No. 7 Academy all-time) and No. 7 in the WAC…earned personal bests in all events he competed. 2013-14 (SOPHOMORE): Placed top five in two events … ranked No. 1 on the team in the 200 fly (1:48.56 / No. 6 Academy All-time) ranked No. 5 on the team in the 100 fly (49.42) … earned a top 10 Academy finish in the 200 IM (1:53.70) and the 100 back (52.76) … earned personal bests in each event that he competed in. 2012-13 (FRESHMAN): Fastest 200 fly on team...sixth on team in 100 fly and 200 IM. HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered three years in swimming...team captain and team MVP...owns three school records (100, fly, 100 back, 200 IM)...graduated in top 10 percent of class...Gilliam academic award recipient...high school swimming coach was Scott Barlow...swam club for Treasure Coast Swimming Conquistadors, also coached by Scott Barlow. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 29...has three younger brothers... hobbies are paintball, scuba diving and swimming...favorite food is brisket... favorite movie is The Avengers...something most people don’t know about him is that he has two extra ribs...credits his father as having the biggest influence on his sports career...favorite athlete is Brenden Hansen...pre-race/ meet rituals are deep breathing, loosening up and visualizing...favorite quote: “Suffer now and live the rest of your life a champion.”... son of Patrick and Carolyn Ledford.
PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 20...has a younger sister...hobby is hanging out with friends and anything outdoors...favorite food is Hu Hot ... favorite movie is Pulp Fiction...most noteworthy thing about his hometown is that it is the home of Justin Timberlake and Elvis...pre-race/meet ritual is listening to music and talking with teammates...son of Richard and Karen Jackson.
10 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 10
meet the falcons Kevin Mitchell
Matthew Walls
Sr. • 6-1 • Free/IM London, England (The American School in England)
Sr. • 6-1 • Back/Free Ellicott City, MD (Chapelgate Christian Academy)
PERSONAL BESTS 100 Free 200 Free 100 Fly 200 Fly 200 IM 200 FR 400 MR
PERSONAL BESTS 100 Back 50.82 200 Back 1:46.97# 50 Free 21.15 200 Free 1:41.30 500 Free 4:31.56 1650 Free 16:10.10 #Academy Top 10 All-Time
47.04 1:42.13 48.80# 1:52.20 1:50.95 1:19.51* 3:11.57*
*School record #Academy Top 10 All-Time 2014-15 (JUNIOR): Competed in two events, finishing with two Academy top 10 finishes…ranked No. 6 on the team in the 100 fly (51.62)…was No. 7 on the team for the 200 fly (2:00.47). 2013-14 (SOPHOMORE): Competed in seven events with six Academy top five finishes and one school record… ranked No. 3 on the team in the 100 fly (49.05 / No. 8 Academy all-time) and the 200 fly (1:52.20) … member of the 200 medley relay team that set the school record (1:27.82) … achieved seven personal best times during this season. 2012-13 (FRESHMAN): Fifth on team in 200 IM and 100 free...eighth on team in 200 free...also fourth on team in 200 breast and fifth in 100 breast. HIGH SCHOOL: Swam club for Bracknell & Workingham Swim Club, coached by Nigel Willis...team captain as a senior...Junior Nationals qualifier...10 time British National qualifier. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 31...Group 3 athletics officer… greatest moment in sports is swimming the English Channel and setting the three-person channel swimming world record...had two younger siblings... hobbies are photography, hiking, playing FIFA soccer...favorite food is Chicken Tika Marsala...favorite movie is Gladiator...person in history he’d like to meet is Ronald Reagan...enjoys listening to Blink 182...son of Russ and Susan Mitchell.
2014-15 (JUNIOR): Competed in nine events…Academy top 10 finishes in seven of the nine events…ranked No. 4 on team in 100 back (50.82)… ranked No. 6 in 50 free for the team (21.15)…ranked No. 7 on team for the 1000 free (10:04.02)…achieved personal best in three events this season. 2013-14 (SOPHOMORE): Competed in nine events … Posted the best time on the team in the 200 back (1:46.97 / No. 5 Academy all-time) … ranked No. 4 on the team in 100 back (50.76) … No. 5 on the team in the 500 FR (4:31.56) … achieved personal bests in eight events during the season. 2012-13 (FRESHMAN): Third on team in 200 back and fourth in 100 back...fifth on team in 500 and 1650 free. HIGH SCHOOL: Swam club for Retriever Aquatic Club, coached by Chris Gibeau...set club team record in 100 and 200 back...multiple state, zone and region winner...won the New England Senior Championship winner in the 200 back. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 11...squadron honor officer… nickname is Matt...has a younger brother...hobbies are cooking, rock climbing and archery...favorite foods are chocolate donuts, buffalo chicken pizza and zebra cakes...favorite movie is Monty Python and the Holy Grail... person in history he’d like to meet is George Washington...favorite athlete is Aaron Piersol...pre-race/meet rituals are kicking everything out of his mind and just relaxing all his muscles...favorite quote: “The harder the conquest, the more glorious the triumph.”... son of Stephen and Linda Walls.
11 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 11
meet the falcons Nathanael Zillweger
Jordan Dahle
Sr. • 6-0 • Diving Phoenix, AZ (Willow Canyon)
Jr. • 6-1• Free/IM Salt Lake City, UT (Cottonwood)
PERSONAL BESTS 1M 345.20 3M 338.30 Platform 328.55
PERSONAL BESTS 50 Free 100 Free 200 Free 200 FR 400 FR 800 FR 200 IM 400 IM 200 FR 400 MR
2014-15 (JUNIOR): Team captain… won WAC title in 1M with 323.5… named WAC diver of the year…competed in the NCAA Zone E Diving Regionals…earned academic All-WAC honors…led team in the 1M and 3M dive…ranked No. 2 in platform…first on the team in the 1M dive (345.20) and 3M dive (338.30)…second on the team in platform (328.55)…achieved personal best in all three events. 2013-14 (SOPHOMORE): Solid diving season ranking second on the team in all three of his events … Second on the team in the 1M dive (330.10), 3M dive (319.28), and the platform dive (317.85) … achieved personal bests in all events … placed first on 1M, fourth on platform, and was second team all-conference on 3M in WAC Diving Championships … competed in the NCAA Zone E Diving Regionals in all three events… earned academic AllWAC honors 2012-13 (FRESHMAN): Second-team All-MPSF in 1Mdiving...second on team in 3M and fourth in 1M and platform...competed in the NCAA Zone E Diving Regionals in all three events … earned academic all-MPSF honors. HIGH SCHOOL: High school diving team was coached by Melynda Fenn...dove for AZ Heat Diving Club, coached by Jeff Kunselman. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 22...squadron director of operations…has two siblings... son of Cliff and Mary Zillweger…major is aeronautical engineering...will attend pilot training after graduation.
20.19# 44.19# 1:37.40# 1:19.51* 2:55.11* 6:29.34* 1:52.42 4:01.80 1:19.51* 3:11.57*
#Academy Top 10 All-Time *School Record 2014-15 (SOPHOMORE): Competed in nine eventS, with six top five finishes all time at Academy including three school relay records…taking the No. 1 ranking in five of his nine events…in the 50 free, he posted a 20.19, ranked No. 6 overall in the WAC…in his other four No. 1 rankings he was a member of the 200 FR (1:19.51), the 400 FR (2:55.11), the 800 FR (6:29.34) and the 200 medley…ranked No. 2 on the team in the 100 free (44.19) and the 200 free (1:37.40…earned a personal best in seven of his nine events. 2013-14 (FRESHMAN): Competed in nine events, earning four top five finishes on the team… No. 5 on the team in the 100 free (45.97) … member of the third-best time on the team in both the 200 FR (1:25.22) and the 400 FR (3:02.00). HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered four years in swimming and water polo...100, 200 and 500 free state champion...school record holder in the 200 IM, 100, 200 and 500 free...graduated with 3.99 GPA...high school swim coach was Brian Sorensen and Ron Lockwood...swam club for Cottonwood Heights Aquatics, coached by Todd Etherington...holds club record in 200 IM and was the 100 free state champion. PERSONAL: Member of squadron 19...first sergeant in squadron..son of Rob and Joni Dahle...has two older sisters...sister, Jill, swims at Loyola Marymount...favorite book is The Power of One...people in history he’d like to meet are the Wright brothers...something not many people know about him is that he loves history...favorite quote: `You must be the change you wish to see in the world.’ --Gandhi.
12 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 12
meet the falcons Devon Davis
AJ Eckebrecht
Jr. • 6-2 • Fly/Breast/Back Colorado Springs, CO (Air Academy)
Jr. • 5-11 • Diving Mission Viejo, CA (CA Virtual Academies)
PERSONAL BESTS 100 Back 47.13# 100 Fly 48.22# 50 Free 20.36 100 Free 44.89# 200 IM 1:50.19 200 MR 1:26.37* 200 FR 1:19.51* 400 MR 3:11.57* #Academy Top 10 All-Time *School Record
PERSONAL BESTS 1M dive 277.50 3M dive 293.20 Platform dive 294.35
2014-15 (SOPHOMORE): Competed in nine events, with top 10 team finishes in all nine…six of his nine events were Academy Top 10 All-Time… was a member of the 400 FR (2:55.11), the 200 MR (1:27.31) and the 400 MR (3:11.69) all new records for the Academy….ranked No. 3 at the Academy in the 100 back (48.40)…ranked No. 4 at Academy in the 100 fly (48.22)…earned his personal best in seven of his nine events. 2013-14 (FRESHMAN): Well-rounded season competing in 10 events, … ranked No. 2 on the team in the 100 back (49.08 / No. 5 Academy all-time), ranked fourth on the team in the 100 fly (49.13 / No. 10 Academy all-time), ranked third on the team in 200 IM (1:50.19) … No. 4 on the team in the 200 back (1:57.61) and fifth on the team in the 200 breast (2:05.92) … member of the third ranked Academy team in 400 MR (3:25.72). HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Two-time Colorado state champion in the 100 fly and 100 breast stroke, leading Air Academy to back-to-back Class 4A state titles...set state meet record in the 100 breast in 2012...high school swim coach was Scott Newell...swam club for the Falfins, coached by Mike Stromberg.
2014-15 (SOPHOMORE): Competed in three diving events, ranking top three on the team in all three events…earned a personal best in 1M dive (277.50) and in the platform dive (294.35). 2013-14 (FRESHMAN): Competed in three diving events, ranking top five on the team in all three events … number three on the team in the 1M dive (269.75), number four on the team in both the 3M dive (293.20) and the platform dive (276.10). HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Competed for the Mission Viejo Nadadores Swim and Dive Team, coached by Mike Hilde, Janet Ely and Derek Starks...2011-13 National Team Member...junior nationals competitor. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 2...squadron MWR NCO…son of Gary and Allison Eckebrecht...has a younger sister...hobbies are skiing, hiking, surfing and eating...favorite food is poppy seed muffins...favorite movie is Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol...enjoys reading sports books...person in history he’d most like to meet is Jackie Robinson...something most people don’t know about him is that he was on ABC’s reality diving show Splash... credits his best friend Mark Anderson as having the biggest influence on his sports career...favorite athlete is Michael Phelps...pre-meet rituals are to listen to music, get pumped up and visualize his dives...if he could be on any reality TV show, it would be What would Ryan Lochte do...favorite song is On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons...favorite quote: `Pain is temporary but quitting is forever.’
PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 7...son of Courtney Davis...has two siblings...father is a retired Air Force chief master sergeant
13 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 13
meet the falcons Andrew Faciszewski
Kevin Fanter
Jr. • 5-9 • Utility Bluffton, SC (Bluffton)
Jr. • 6-3 • Breast/IM Boise, ID (Boise)
PERSONAL BESTS 200 Free 1:40.58 500 Free 4:22.83# 1000 Free 9:12.71# 1650 Free 15:14.16# 800 FR 6:29.34* 200 IM 1:55.44 400 IM 3:53.52# #Academy Top 10 All-Time *School Record
PERSONAL BESTS 100 Breast 54.81# 200 Breast 2:00.37 200 IM 1:49.74 400 IM 4:00.54 #Academy Top 10 All-Time
2014-15 (SOPHOMORE): Competed in nine events, ranking No. 1 on the team in three events…swam the 1,000 free (9:29.72), the 1650 free (15:14.16/No. 3 Academy all-time) and the 400 IM (3:53.82/No. 4 Academy all-time)…member of the 800 FR team that set a school record (6:29.34)… earned his personal best in six of his events. 2013-14 (FRESHMAN): Outstanding freshman season, competing in eight events, … swam the fastest time on the team in four events … team-best time in the 500 free (4:22.83 / No. 3 Academy all-time), the 1000 free (9:12.71 / No. 3 Academy all-time), the 1650 free (15:15.35 / No. 3 Academy all-time) and the 400 IM (3:55.16 / No. 4 Academy all-time) … member of the 800 free relay team that post the third-best time on the team (6:42.73). HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Earned four letters for six years of swimming in high school...school record-holder in the 200 and 500 free...two-time team MVP...2012 and 2013 South Carolina All-State...high school swim coach was Eric Kemeny...swam club for Fins Swim Team, coached by Eric Kemeny...club record holder in seven events...junior nationals qualifier in the 1650 free and 400 IM and winter nationals qualifier in the 1000 free. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 3...son of Edward and Nanette Faciszewski...had three younger siblings...father is a 1986 USAFA graduate... hobbies are drawing and playing the trumpet...credits his club coach as having the biggest influence on his sports career...pre-race rituals are stretching, listening to music and shaking hands with the competitor in the next lane... favorite quote: `The best pace is suicide pace and today is a great day to die.’ --Steve Prefontaine.
2014-15 (SOPHOMORE): Competed in four events…No. 2 on team in both 100 breast (55.39/No. 6 Academy all-time), the 200 breast (2:00.37/No. 3 Academy all-time) and the 200 IM (1:50.55)…earned his personal best in all four of his events. 2013-14 (FRESHMAN): Competed in four events … second on the team in the 100 breast (56.12 / No. 9 Academy all-time) … third-best in the 200 breast (2:03.07), fourth on the team in the 400 IM (4:07.35). HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered four years in swimming...state champion in the 100 breast...set state record in the 100 breast in 2012...also part of record-setting 200 medley relay...scholastic All-American and YMCA AllAmerican...high school swim coach was Jeff Erwin...swam club for Boise Y Swim Team, coached by Todd Marsh...placed 11th in the 100 breast and 13th in the 200 breast at YMCA Nationals...summer nationals qualifier. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 16...academic NCO…honor NCO…son of Charles and Kim Fanter...has a younger sister...father ran track at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo...hobbies are long boarding, mountain biking, water skiing, wakeboarding and surfing...favorite food is Asian...favorite books are the Eragon series...credits his father as having the biggest influence on his sports career...most noteworthy things about his hometown are the amazing potatoes and outstanding outdoor opportunities...favorite athlete is Brendan Hanson...pre-race ritual is to shake it out...if he could be on any reality TV show, it would be White Collar... favorite quote: `The voices of fear and doubt only get louder as you do work that matters.’ --Jon Acuff.
14 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 14
meet the falcons Zach Knoche
Kevin Pollard
Jr. • 6-3 • Breast Lee’s Summit, MO (Lee’s Summit)
Jr. • 6-2 • Fly Fairhope, AL (Fairhope)
PERSONAL BESTS 100 Breast 200 Breast
PERSONAL BESTS 100 Back 100 Fly 200 Fly 200 IM
55.19 1:59.67
2014-15 (SOPHOMORE): Competed in four events…No. 3 on the team in the 100 breast (55.56/No. 8 Academy all-time) and the 200 breast (2:00.73/ No. 4 Academy all-time)…earned his personal best in all four events of this season. 2013-14 (FRESHMAN): Competed in five events … fourth on the team in the 100 breast (56.83), and 200 breast (2:04.45), member of the secondfastest time in the 200 medley relay (1:31.84). HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered four years in swimming...lettered three years in swimming, two in golf and one year in track...three-time all-conference, three-time conference champion, two-time all-metro and four-time all-state...2013 Missouri State Champion in the 100 breast...Academic All-American...owns two school records...National Honor Society member... high school swim coach was Bruce Holder...swam club for the Kansas City Blazers, coached by C.J. Roberts...sectional and junior national qualifier. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 13...son of Scott and Lori Knoche...has an older sister...hobbies are golf, skiing and mountain biking... favorite movie is Forrest Gump...favorite books are the Berenstain Bears series...person in history he’d like to meet is John Wooden...something not many people know about him is that he ripped his speedo at his first-ever swim meet...credits his dad as having the biggest influence on his sports career...favorite athlete is Bo Jackson...pre-race rituals are to mentally and physically prepare and eat oatmeal the morning of...if he could be on any reality TV show, it would be Survivor...enjoys listening to Eminem...favorite quote: `Nobody makes me bleed my own blood...nobody.’ -- Ben Stiller.
51.93 49.20 1:48.27# 1:51.71
2014-15 (SOPHOMORE): Competed in five events…No. 1 on the team in 200 fly (1:48.27/No. 6 Academy all-time)…earned personal best in four of his five events. 2013-14 (FRESHMAN): Competed in five events … fourth on the team in the 200 fly (1:52.40). HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered six years in swimming...all-state, county champion and holds school record in 100 fly and 200 free...National Honor Society member and is a Scholastic All-American...high school swim coach was Cathy Hudson...swam club for Southern Waters Aquatic Team, coached by Rich Suhs...was a junior nationals qualifier. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 37...son of Philip and Kimberly Pollard...has a older sister...hobbies are video games, juggling and swimming...favorite food is seafood...favorite movie is Anchorman...favorite book is The Junction Boys...person in history he’d most like to meet is Paul “Bear” Bryant...credits his parents as having the biggest influence on his sports career...favorite athlete is Tim Duncan...pre-race ritual is to relax, deep breathing and listing to music...if he could be on any reality TV show, it would be Storage Wars...favorite quote: `Nobody succeeds beyond his or her wildest expectations, unless they begin with some wild expectations.’
15 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 15
meet the falcons Kristopher Tillery
Andrew Antonetti
Jr. • 6-0 • Back/Free Albuquerque, NM (La Cueva)
So. • 6-2 • Mid-Distance Free Valparaiso, IN (Valparaiso)
PERSONAL BESTS 100 Back 48.99 200 Back 1:46.63 1650 Free 16:18.37
PERSONAL BESTS 100 Free 200 Free 500 Free 1000 Free 1650 Free
2014-15 (SOPHOMORE): Competed in six events…No. 1 on team in the 200 back (1:46.63/No. 5 Academy alltime)…No. 2 on team in 100 back (48.99/No. 5 Academy all-time)…earned his personal best in all six events...placed top eight in both backstroke events at the 2015 WAC Championships. 2013-14 (FRESHMAN): Competed in seven events … third on the team in both the 100 back (50.54) and the 200 back (1:49.22) … member of team’s second-fastest 200 medley relay (1:31.84) … member of the fifth fastest time on the team in the 400 medley relay (3:26.76). HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered four years in swimming...eight-time Albuquerque Metro Champion, leading La Cueva to back-to-back New Mexico State Championships...state record-holder in the 400 free relay...team captain as a senior...high school swim coach was Vince Sanchez...swam club for Vipers of Albuquerque Swim Team (VAST), coached by Gordy Westerberg... NCSA junior nationals qualifier. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 12...son of Gary and Julie Tillery...has three siblings.....person in history he’d most like to meet is Ronald Reagan...something not many people know about him is that he’s a triplet... credits his family as having the biggest influence on his sports career... most noteworthy thing about his hometown is it hosts the biggest balloon fiesta...pre-race ritual is to wear his lucky shoes...favorite quote: “To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.’ - Ralph Waldo Emerson
45.28 1:39.11 4:30.84 9:59.70 16:08.05
2014-15 (FRESHMAN): Competed in five events…top 5 team finishes in three events. HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered three years in varsity swimming … two-year team captain, three-time Scholastic All-American, all-state, five top-8 finishes, three individual school records, two relay school records … 2013 Valparaiso High School male athlete of the year, AP Scholar, National Honor Society … swam for coach Adam Nellessen at Valparaiso HS, also swam for Valparaiso Swim Club with the same coach. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 11 … son of Steve and Pam Antonetti, with two older siblings … his grandmother has basket art on display in the Smithsonian Museum … considering systems engineering as a major … one day wants to be USAF special tactics officer or pilot … greatest moment in sports was winning the 500 free at HS sectionals … hobbies include cars, biking, eating, photography and mandolin … Porter County fifth-grade spelling bee champion … greatest influence on sporting career are coaches Manny Perez and Adam Nellessen … favorite athlete is Peter Vanderkaay … favorite quote “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill.
16 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 16
meet the falcons Derek Brecht
Erich Drollinger
So. • 5-8 • Breast/IM/Free Valley Center, CA (North County Christian)
So. • 5-8 • Diving Salinas, CA (Salinas)
PERSONAL BESTS 100 Breast 57.45 200 IM 1:50.97 400 IM 4:00.78
PERSONAL BESTS 1M 238.15 3M 240.30 Platform 204.38
2014-15 (FRESHMAN): Competed in seven events…top five team finishes in five events…ranked fourth on the team
2014-15 (FRESHMAN): Competed in three events…fourth on the team in 1M (224.63), 3M (219.30) and platform
in 200 IM (1:50.97).
(204.38).
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Swam for coach Dan Peck and the Pacific Swim Club … records in 200 breast, 200 IM, 400 IM short course and 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM, 400 IM long course … attended North Country Christian HS but did not swim for high school team.
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Competed for coach Todd Spohn at Santa Clara Diving
PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 12… element NCO … son of Thomas and Diane Brecht with five siblings … older brother Peter swam for Concordia University … seeking a major in business management … aspires to become a pilot after graduation … personal greatest moment in sports was breaking four minutes in the 400 IM … greatest impact on athletic career is his father who taught him that his attitude in every race is everything and that if he wants his goal enough that he will chase it down until he achieves it … favorite athlete is Aaron Piersol … favorite quote “Is this the world you want, you’re making it every day you’re alive” John Foreman, Switchfoot.
PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 26…standardization and evaluation clerk…son of Alex and Richelle Drollinger…foreign area studies major with German minor…Lieutenant Commander Gon has had the greatest influence on his diving career…likes learning languages in his spare time.
17 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 17
meet the falcons Joey Gebhart
Garrett Glaudini
So. • 6-0 • Back/Fly Boulder City, NV (Boulder City)
So. • 6-2 • Free/IM Ramona, CA (Ramona)
PERSONAL BESTS 50 Free 21.21 100 Back 48.88# 200 Back 1:48/08 100 Fly 49.61 #Academy Top 10 All-Time
PERSONAL BESTS 500 Free 1000 Free 1650 Free 400 IM
2014-15 (FRESHMAN): Competed in four events…ranked second on the team in 200 back (1:49.03)…No. 3 on the team in 100 back (49.60/No. 8 Academy all-time). HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered four years in varsity swimming … team record holder in 100 back, state champion team all four years … individual state champion in 100 back and 100 fly during senior season … swam for coach Sara Carroll on Boulder City HS team and also swam for coaches Mike Polk and Bob Hommel on the BCH Heatwave … HS valedictorian, AP scholar, National Honor Society vice president…national team member in club swimming. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 30…security clerk…son of Chuck and Katie Gebhart with two siblings…interested in an electrical engineering major… future plans are to be a pilot or combat rescue officer…hobbies include the guitar and video games…favorite book is the Postman by David Brin…favorite song is I Don’t Want to be in Love by Good Charlotte and Neon Moon by Brooks and Dunn.
4:26.16 9:21.49 15:28.46 3:52.78
2014-15 (FRESHMAN): Competed in eight events…No. 3 on the team in 1000 free (9:35.80), 1650 free (15:28.46) and 400 IM (3:58.13). HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered four years in varsity swimming … 2012 qualifier for the Olympic trials in the 1500 free … school records in 500 free, 200 free, 200 IM, 100 back, 200 MR, and 400 F(4th) … swam for coach Jolyn Yanez on the Ramona HS team and also swam for coach John Patrick Tope on the Hearland Swim Association team. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 11…son of Tim and Shannon Glaudini with a younger sibling…mother Shannon Glaudini swam at the collegiate level…aspires to be a pilot after graduation…hobbies include surfing and a part time DJ…favorite food is Mexican…favorite movie is the Dark Knight trilogy…greatest influence on athletic career accredited to his coaches because they always kept him going…favorite athlete is Tyler Clary because of his exceptional swim fly…favorite quote “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Harvey Dent
18 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 18
meet the falcons Michael Hannigan
Lars Knutson
So. • 6-1 • Freestyle San Jose, CA (Leigh)
So. • 6-5 • Sprint Free Cedaredge, CO (Cedaredge)
PERSONAL BESTS 50 Free 100 Free 200 Free 200 FR 400 FR
PERSONAL BESTS 50 Free 20.77 100 Free 45.79 200 Free 1:40.80
20.63 45.07 1:38.38 1:19.51 2:55.11
2014-15 (FRESHMAN): Competed in five events …No. 4 team ranking in 200 free (1:38.38/No. 9 Academy all-time)…member of the 200 FR (1:19.51/No. 1 Academy all-time) and the 400 FR (2:55.11/No. 1 Academy all-time). HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Swam for coach Ben Bethune at Leigh HS … also swam for coach Andre Salles-Cunha on the Quicksilver Swimming. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 3 … son of John and Terri Hannigan with two younger siblings … plans to be a pilot or combat rescue officer after graduation.
2014-15 (FRESHMAN): Competed in three events…No. 5 team ranking in 50 free (20.77). HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered in varsity swimming three years, and varsity cross country two years … Scholastic All-American … Honor roll, National Honor Society … swam for coach Silas Almgren at Cedaredge HS … also swam for the Montrose Marlins club team under the same coach. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 26 … son of John and Sara Knutson with three younger siblings … relative, Brant Weidner, played a season in the NBA … hobbies include biking, reading, and skiing … favorite food is lasagna and favorite movie is Lord of the Rings … greatest influence on his sporting career is accredited to his high school coach because he would not have continued swimming without his support … favorite athlete is Louis Zamperini … favorite musical group is Def Leppard.
19 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 19
meet the falcons Nick Piontek
Grant Temple
So. • 6-1 • Diving Warrensburg, MO (Warrensburg)
So. • 6-2 • Back/Fly Prescott, AZ (Prescott)
PERSONAL BESTS 1M 197.10 3M 214.85 Platform 190.70
PERSONAL BESTS 100 Back 51.70 100 Fly 49.96 200 Fly 1:50.96
2014-15 (FRESHMAN): Competed in three events...No. 5 on the team in 3M (214.85).
2014-15 (FRESHMAN): Competed in three events…No. 5 on the team in the 200 fly (1:55.44).
PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 16… son of Flip and Stacy Piontek…father is the head volleyball coach at University of Central Missouri and he also served in the Air Force… credits his parents to being the biggest influence on his sports career…majoring in aeronautical engineering…this past summer he soared solo in an AM-251…he completed ESET survival training…member of the Dean’s and Commandant’s lists for both semesters of his freshman year…his hobbies include tennis, soccer, other sports and outdoor activities.
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered four years in varsity swimming … set school records in nine events to include 200 MR, 200 free, 200 IM, 50 Free, 100 butterfly, 100 free, 500 free, 100 back, 400 FR … 2013 AZ club short course state champ in 100 fly…Division I Academic All-American 100 fly USA swimming … school honor flag, AFJROTC wing commander … swam for coach Brigid Bunch at Prescott HS and also swam for coach Cody Ditzler and the Prescott Pirates. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 8 … son of Gregory and Wendy Temple with two younger siblings … plans to be a pilot after graduation … hobbies include motorcycles, video games, working out, and getting lost … favorite food is Chinese ... favorite book is The Last Lecture … greatest influence on sporting career is Tim Hendrick who was his first coach and helped him find his love for the sport … favorite quote “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand” Randy Pausch
20 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 20
meet the falcons Michael Fonteno
Blake Lawrie
Fr. • 6-2 • Breast/Sprint Free Jacksonville, FL (Bolles School/USAFA Prep)
Fr. • 6-1 • 50/100 Freestyle Dayton, OH (Andover Central) (Discovery Canyon)
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered four years in swimming...his team won state four times with two national championships…was team captain his senior year. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 24… attended Air Force Prep School…son of Michael and Susan Fonteno…has one older sister…both his parents are retired Marines…his sister, Megan, went to the 2012 Olympics for American Samoa…winning their first national title his sophomore year is his greatest team sports moment.
Collin Green Fr. • 6-0 • 500/1650 Freestyle 200/400 IM Redlands, CA (Redlands) HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Four-year varsity letter winner…swam for Mike Yearwood at Redlands swim team…holds three school relay records…top eight in the nation for 400 free relay…four-time All-American…CIF finalist/champion…state finalist…club team record holder…top 16 in southern California in numerous events… junior national qualifier…former national leader in IMX points. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 18 … son of Dwayne and Lani Green…father is a biomedical lab technician…mother is a microbiologist… has an older sister…greatest team moment was winning CIF as a senior… hobbies include longboarding, bodysurfing, playing piano and anything to do with cars.
Corey Gutierrez Fr. • 6-1 • Back San Jose, CA (Gunderson) HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered four years in swimming…academic All-American and All-American…recipient of the superintendents award…senior athlete of the year… third place in junior national relay…Pac swim athletic representative zone 1 and 2. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 36…son of Stephen and Janet Gutierrez…has two older siblings…majoring in legal studies…he credits his family with having the biggest influence on his sports career…hobbies include playing hockey, building legos, watching Star Wars and playing board games with his family.
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Swam for coach Dave Burgess at Discovery Canyon…swam for coach Ryan Hogan at Rocky Mountain Rapids…four-year varsity letter winner in football…two-year varsity letter winner in swimming…lettered one year in track…holds school records in 50, 100 and 200 free, 200 medley relay, and the 400 freestyle relay…was team captain for swim team…junior national qualifier. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 2…son of Stan and Karen Lawrie…father is USAF pilot and Colonel select…mother is graphic designer… has two younger siblings…majoring in astronautical engineering…would like to become Air Force pilot and then move on to becoming an astronaut… hobbies include swimming, reading, listening to many different kinds of music and hanging out with family and friends.
Steffen Mount Fr. • 6-4 • Pensacola, FL (Booker T. Washington) HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Lettered four years in varsity swimming…six pool records… two state titles…”Mr. Swimmer” for Florida 2014…five club team records…national qualifier…five Southeastern Swimming titles. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 25… son of Jeremy and Elissa Mount…father is a special forces chaplain…three siblings…greatest individual moment was winning state…hobbies include Netflix, hanging out and competing in meets.
Symen Ooms Fr. • 6-0 • 50 Free/100 Free Lake Forest, IL (Lake Forest High School) HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Swam for high school coach Cindy Dell…swam for club coach Carolyn Grevers at Scout Aquatics… four-year varsity letter winner in swimming. PERSONAL: Member of cadet squadron 17…son of Edwin and Brenda Ooms…has a younger brother…mechanical engineering major…greatest team moment was placing 12th at state in 200 medley relay senior year of high school.
21 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 21
2014-15 sEASON RECAP Record: 15-5 WAC Championships Finish: 2nd,
200 Free Kevin Jackson Jordan Dahle George Frank Michael Hannigan
1:37.14 1:37.40 1:37.53 1:38.38
11/21/14 2/27/15 2/27/15 2/27/15
#2 #4 #7 #9
500 Free Kevin Jackson Alex Strom
4:20.66 4:23.04
3/5/15 2/26/15
#3 #5
1650 Free Andrew Faciszewski Kevin Jackson Garrett Glaudini Alex Strom
15:14.16# 15:14.56 15.28.46 15:30.37
11/22/14 2/28/15 2/28/15 2/28/15
#3 #4 #7 #9
100 Back Devon Davis Kris Tillery Joey Gebhart
48.40# 48.99 49.60
11/21/14 2/27/15 2/27/15
#3 #5 #8
200 Back Kris Tillery
1:46.63
2/28/15
#5
100 Breaststroke Michael Barnosky Kevin Fanter Zach Knoche Sam Wieser
53.06* 55.39 55.56 55.77
3/6/15 2/27/15 2/27/15 2/27/15
#1 #3 #4 # 10
200 Breaststroke Michael Barnosky Kevin Fanter Zach Knoche Derek Brecht
1:56.89* 2:00.37 2:00.70 2:02.44
2/28/15 11;22/14 2/28/15 2/28/15
#1 #3 #4 # 10
WAC All-Academic Sam Wieser Jordan Dahle Andrew Faciszewski George Frank Nathaniel Zillweger
100 Butterfly Ryan Dunne Devon Davis Sean Ledford
47.38* 48.22 48.96
2/27/15 2/27/15 2/27/15
#1 #4 #9
200 Butterfly Kevin Pollard Sean Ledford
1:48.27 1:48.44
2/28/15 2/28/15
#6 #7
School Records (8)
200 Individual Medley Michael Barnosky
1:47.72
2/26/15
#2
400 Individual Medley Andrew Faciszewski Kevin Jackson
3:53.82 3:54.82
11/21/14 11/21/14
#4 #5
Men’s Swimming & Diving MVP: Michael Barnosky Diving MVP: Nathaniel Zillweger Season Highlights * Stan Curnow - WAC Diving Coach of the Year * Nathaniel Zillweger - WAC 1-Meter Champion * Nathaniel Zillweger - WAC Diver of the Year * 8 school records, including all five relays * 35 AFA Top 10 swims. * Seven all-conference swimmers and two divers Team Awards Class 2018 Most Inspirational: Joey Gebhart Class 2017 Most Inspirational: Jordan Dahle Class 2016 Most Inspirational: Michael Barnosky Class 2015 Most Inspirational: Alex Strom TEAM Most Inspirational: Michael Barnosky Senior Contributing Most to AFA Swimming: Ryan Dunne Team Captain Award: Sam Wieser All-WAC (top three at WAC Meet) Nathaniel Zillweger, three meter, third; one meter, first Dominic Vallejo, one-meter, third Kevin Jackson, second, 500 free, second 1650 free Alex Strom, second, 500 free Michael Barnosky, third, 200 IM; first, 200 breast Michael Hannigan, second, 200 free relay George Frank, second, 200 free relay Jordan Dahle, second, 200 free relay
100 Breaststroke: Michael Barnosky, 53.06, 3/6/15 200 Breaststroke: Michael Barnosky, 1:56.89, 2/28/15 100 Butterfly: Ryan Dunne, 47.38, 2/27/15 200 Free Relay: Dunne, Hanningan, Frank, Dahle, 1;19.51, 2/28/15 400 Free Relay: Dunne, Hannigan, Davis, Dahle, 2:55.11, 2/28/15 800 Free Relay: Jackson, Frank, Dahle, Faciszewski, 6:29.34, 2/25/15 200 Medley Relay: Davis, Barnosky, Dunne, Dahle, 1:27.31*, 2/25/15 400 Medley Relay: Davis, Barnosky, Dunne, Frank, 3:11.69, 2/27/15 Air Force Academy All-Time Top 10 Swims (35) 50 Free Time Date Jordan Dahle 20.19 2/26/15 George Frank 20.31 2/26/15
Top 10 Rank #4 #6
100 Free Jordan Dahle George Frank Devon Davis
#3 #6 #9
44.19 44.62 44.89
2/28/15 2/28/15 2/28/15
22 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 22
2014-15 sEASON RECAP Other Honors Three members of the Air Force men’s swimming team competed at the U.S. Open Water National Championships, April 24-26, in Miromar Lakes, Fla. In the 5K open water event, junior Kevin Jackson placed 18th (1:01:14.58), sophomore Andrew Faciszewski was 32nd (1:03:17.37) and freshman Garrett Glaudini was 37th (1:04:27.13). In the 10K, Faciszewski was 27th (2:07:23.59) and Jackson was 29th (2:07:52.72). Two members of the Air Force men’s swimming team placed in the top eight at the American Short Course Championships, Saturday, March 7, at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas. Senior Ryan Dunne placed fourth in the 100 free with an NCAA “B” time of 44.29. Junior Kevin Jackson placed sixth in the 1650 free with an NCAA “B” time of 15:20.02. WAC Diver of the Week Nathaniel Zillweger, Oct. 21, 2014 and Feb. 3, 2015 Men’s Swimming & Diving 2014 WAC Championships Recap The Air Force men’s swimming & diving team capped off a successful 201415 season at the 2015 WAC Swimming & Diving Championships in San Antonio, Texas. The Falcons finished second with 705.5 points. The second-
place finish tied as the best conference finish ever for the Falcons. Air Force was just 10 team points behind champion UNLV, and the team title came down to the final relay. The Falcons set eight school records and had 35 swims crack the school top 10 list. Junior Nathaniel Zillweger won the WAC championship on the onemeter with 323.85 points. Junior Michael Barnosky won the WAC title in the 200 breaststroke with an NCAA “B” time of 1:56.89. All five relay teams broke school records at the WAC Championship meet. The 200 yard free relay team of Ryan Dunne, Michael Hannigan, George Frank and Jordan Dahle placed second with a time of 1:19.51. The men’s 200 medley relay team of Devon Davis, Michael Barnosky, Ryan Dunne and Jordan Dahle finished third with a time of 1:27.31. The men’s 800 free relay team of Kevin Jackson, George Frank, Jordan Dahle and Andrew Faciszewski finished third with a time of 6:29.34. In the final race of the WAC Championship meet, the Falcon team of Ryan Dunne, Michael Hannigan, Devon Davis and Jordan Dahle took third with a time of 2:55.11 in the 400 free relay.
Final Record: 15-5 WAC Finish: 2nd Date Oct. 3
Oct. 4
Oct. 17 Oct. 18 Oct. 24 Oct. 25 Nov. 8 Nov. 20-22 Dec. 29 Jan. 16 Jan. 17 Jan. 24 Jan. 30 Jan. 31 Jan. 31 Feb. 25-28 Mar. 9-11 Mar. 26-28
Opponent/Meet Location Colorado Intermountain Shootout Colorado Mesa Univ. Colorado Mesa Club Utah BYU Colorado Intermountain Shootout Colorado Mesa Univ. Colorado Mesa Club Utah BYU North Dakota South Dakota North Dakota South Dakota Colorado Mines Colorado Mesa Wyoming Grand Canyon Nike Cup UCSD Incarnate Word (S) Seattle Seattle UNLV AFA Diving Invite (D) AFA Diving Invite (D) Colorado Sprint Champ. vs. Denver (S) WAC Championships NCAA Zone E Diving (D) NCAA Championships
Place/Score W 133.00-36.00 W 143-7.00 L 55.00-113.00 L 177.00-197.00 W 302.00-70.00 W 317.00-13.00 L 113.00-259.00 L 177.00-197.00 W 138.00-99.00 W 161.00-76.00 W 151.00-86.00 W 164.00-73.00 W 126.00-101.00 W 124.00-109.00 W 154.00-146.00 W 161.50-131.50 4th (1373) W 173-115 W 192-96 W 129-74 W 113-76 L 137-161 NTS NTS W 218.00-142.00 San Antonio, Texas USAFA, Colo. Iowa City, Iowa
HOME GAMES IN BOLD / Dates and times subject to change / All times are local to site (D) denotes diving only; (S) denotes swimming only
23 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 23
Record 1-0 1-1 1-2 2-2 2-3 2-4 3-4 4-4 5-4 6-4 7-4 8-4 9-4 10-4 11-4 12-4 13-4 14-4 14-5
15-5 2nd NTS NTS
AIR FORCE MEN’S SWIMMING HISTORY The Falcon swimming program had its beginnings in 1955 with the first Air Force Academy class. The Academy in Colorado Springs was not yet built and the cadets attended school in Denver at Lowry AFB. Dr. M.M. MacKenzie was the first head coach and compiled a 15-11 record during the first four years. The Cadet Natatorium was completed in 1959 and the Falcons hosted their first home meet that fall. The 1960s were an exciting decade for the Falcons as Air Force swimmers qualified for the NCAA Championships eight out of 10 years. Capt. Paul Cleland was head coach for three years, achieving a 25-10 record. Capt. Bob Nugent took over in 1963 and went 23-19 in a three-year stint. Backstroker Barry Beilinski became the swimming program’s first All-American in 1963. In 1966, the NCAA brought the Division I championships to the Academy. Swimming World Magazine complimented the meet organization: “The Academy, nestled in an 18,000 acre site at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, matched its architectural grandeur with outstanding organizational efficiency to make the championships one of the greatest ever held.” Nugent and Colonel E.A. Rafalko, the Falcons’ athletic director and meet director, were commended for their contributions, especially for securing electronic timing. Later, this proved that the equipment should be mandatory for all important meets. The “7,000 plus feet above sea level” conditions created comment and controversy as coaches predicted and evaluated their swimmers’ performance at the high altitude. That year, breaststroker Steven Seigler was the swimming team’s second All-American. He repeated in 1967, the year Maj. Paul Arata began his tenure as head coach. The final year of the 1960s was one of the highlight years of the decade as the Falcons were 19-0 in dual meets. One of the most exciting dual meets came against Colorado State. The meet came down to the last relay. If the Falcons won, they would win the meet by a point. The packed stands cheered Bob Nieman, Warren Flaherty, D.K. Martin and Bryan Rye to a victory and an NCAA qualifying time of 3:12.02 (fast-
Bryan Rye All-America, 1969
est in the country up to that point) , four seconds ahead of the Rams. The Air Force team took nine to the NCAAs that year and the same relay team placed 10th, good for AllAmerican status. Rye, a transfer from Colorado State, would go down in Falcon history after that year. In the meet versus the Rams, he won the 50 and 100 free and anchored the 400 free relay team with a 45.6 split, one of the fastest splits in the country. Rye also beat CSU’s All-American sprinter, Dennis O’Connor, three times that day. After graduation, Rye flew helicopters and served in Vietnam where he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for a successful rescue mission. Rye was killed in action in 1975 and posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain. The Most Valuable Swimmer Award is named in his honor and given each year at the Annual Individual Awards Banquet. In 1970, Nieman was an All-American in two events as he won the consolation heat in both the 100 and 200 freestyle at the NCAAs. A few years later, Nieman would become the Academy’s first Olympian as he competed in the 1976 Games in modern pentathlon. He would qualify for the team again in 1980. The men entered the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 1981 and a period of adjustment followed. The men had the depth to win dual meets as they were 4-0 in WAC contests that first year but had a tough time at the WAC Championships. In 1981, John Sayre was the program’s first WAC champion (200 IM) as he also qualified for the NCAAs. Mike Brown qualified for the Olympic trials in the 200 meter butterfly, after placing ninth (2:03.71) at the NCAAs in 1984. Arata, after 16 years at the helm, retired after the 1983 season. His record was 188-10 for the men and 113-5-1 for the women, a combined total of 30115-1, an unreal winning percentage of 95 percent. The men also had an undefeated home victory streak of 108, covering 16 years beginning in 1967. During Arata’s reign, there were six All-Americans in eight events and one national champion on the men’s team. On the women’s side there were six national champions in 12 events with 27 different women achieving All-America honors in 112 different events. Maj. Kelly Kemp was the next head coach and remained in that position until 1987. Maj. Jim Hogue took over in 1988,
while Lt. Col. Mikki King returned to coach the diving team. The next few years were diving dominant, as Hogue was Division II coach of the year in both 1987 and 1988. In the fall of 1988, Keith “Casey” Converse began his first year as head coach. In 1990, the Falcons beat WAC rivals BYU and Utah in home dual meets. That same year, Drew Whitting became the team’s second WAC champion by winning the 500 and 1,650 free and qualifying for the NCAAs. The 1991 WAC Championships saw the Falcons ascend to a second-place finish behind Utah, their highest WAC finish ever. The team garnered four WAC individual titles, Whitting again in the 500 and 1650 free, Bucky MacLaughlin in the 50 free and Tony Bamsey in the 100 breaststroke. The team also won its firstever relay championship (200 free relay comprised of Bamsey, MacLaughlin, Sheesley and Squires). For this remarkable finish, Converse was named WAC Coach of the Year. Whitting also became the first All-American (HM) on the men’s team since 1975 as he placed 13th in both the 500 and the 1650 free at the NCAA Division I Championships. The men continued to fare well, going 7-2 in dual meets in 1992 with Bamsey winning another WAC title (50 free). Joining him in the winner’s circle was Sam Chestnut (1650 free) as the Falcons placed fifth at the WAC Championships. The following year brought an end to one great swimmer’s career but the beginning of another’s. Whitting won his third WAC title by winning a title in the 500 meter free. His time of 4:20.09 is still the WAC record. Freshman Matt Davis also won a WAC championship in the 400 IM as the men went 6-3 in dual meets. Davis continued his excellence, as the Falcons’ only WAC champion in 1994, repeating in the 400 IM. Jon Kalberer (distance freestyle) joined Davis on the All-WAC team. Davis won a total of three WAC championships during his career (400 IM in 1993 and 1994 and 200 fly in 1995). The 1998-99 season saw Rob Clayton take over as head coach. He replaced Converse, who moved over to coach the women’s program full-
24 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 24
AIR FORCE MEN’S SWIMMING HISTORY time. The team continued to climb up the ranks in the conference standings. After finishing 11-2 in dual meets, the team improved to a fifth-place finish at the WAC Championships. With 11 dual wins, Air Force reached the double-figure mark in victories for the second consecutive year and only the second time since 1986. The effort at the WAC Championships was one of the best ever for the Falcons, with seven records being established, three of them in individual events and four in relay events. In the fall of 1999, the Academy joined the Mountain West Conference as a founding institution. Charlie Toth became the Academy’s first MWC champion in any sport when he won the 100 freestyle at the 2000 MWC Championships. Matt Ihlenfeld added an individual title in the 200 breast, as the team moved up again in the conference standings to finish third. The highlight of the 2001 MWC Championships was the team’s victory in the 200 medley relay. Paul Brehm, John Dayton, Nate Amidon and Toth brought home the title in record-setting time to claim the Academy’s first relay championship in 10 years. Ihlenfeld swept the breaststroke events, establishing new MWC records of 54.70 and 1:58.67. The Falcons also sent two swimmers to the NCAA Championships (Toth and Ihlenfeld) for the first time since 1995. At the 2002 MWC Championships, the Falcons won the 400 medley relay (Brehm, Dayton, Eric Pounds, Amidon). After a 12-2 season (3-1 in MWC) in 200203, the Falcons finished as conference runners-up at 2003 MWC Championships. It marked just the second time in Academy history that the program had finished this high. Brehm again led the effort, as he successfully defended his championship in the 200 backstroke. At the 2004 Championships, the Falcons repeated as runners-up. This came on the heels of finishing the regular season with an 8-4 record in dual meets. Freshman Chris Knaute capped off a stellar rookie campaign by winning the 1650 free with a time of 15:28.21, then an MWC record and second-fastest mark in school history. As a sophomore, Knaute dominated the 2005 MWC Championships, winning the 500 and 1650
free and 400 IM. His accomplishments led to his being named MWC Swimmer of the Year. He became the first in the history of the program to receive Conference Swimmer of the Year Honors. Joining him on the All-MWC team were sophomore Justin Lapin and senior Evan Parr. In 2006, the Falcons took third place at the MWC Championships, setting four school records in the process. Knaute defended his titles in the 500 and 1650 free and 400 IM, while Paul Parmenter won the 200 IM and Brady Lindberg won the platform diving event. Stan Curnow was named co-diving coach of the year. Knaute also participated in the NCAAs, earning honorable mention All-America honors in the 400 IM and 500 free. Once again, the Falcons finished third in the MWC in 2007. Knaute was named the MWC Men’s Swimmer of the Year for the second time, winning two more conference titles in the 400 IM and 500 free. Parmenter and Lindberg defended their titles in the 200 IM and platform dive, respectively, while Rob Clayton was honored as the men’s swimming coach of the year. In addition, the 800 free relay team of Bryan Avery, T.J. Cowling, Parmenter and Knaute set a new school record, shattering the previous mark by three seconds. Knaute went on to compete at the NCAA Championships for a second year. Knaute and Parmenter also competed at the U.S. Open, both qualifying for the Olympic Trials. The Falcons, who lost conference champions Knaute, Lindberg and Parmenter, were forced to rebuild in 2008, but still finished fourth at the conference championships. Sophomore Kyle Van Valkenburg was the MWC champion in the platform dive, giving the Falcons the title in the event for the third-straight season. In addition, Avery set a new school record in the 100 fly, while he, fellow junior Justin Day and freshman Benjamin Gunn all earned qualifying marks for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials. Air Force managed to put together one of its best-ever MWC Championship finishes in 2009, placing second behind UNLV. The Falcons claimed two individual titles, with Gunn winning the 200 IM in school-record fashion and Van Valkenburg defending his championship in the platform. In addition, a total of eight school records (four individual, four relay) were set during the conference meet. Gunn led the way by turning in Academybest marks in the 200 IM, 100 fly and 200 fly, while
Day set the new standard in the 100 breast. The Falcons also set new school records in the 400 and 800 freestyle relays and the 200 and 400 medley relays. In 2010, the Falcons followed up the stellar 2009 season with another second-place finish at the MWC Championships. Gunn won his second 200 IM title, setting a new conference and school record. Gunn also set a school record in the 100 back. Nine individuals earned all-conference honors across 21 events. In addition, Clayton was named MWC Coach of the Year for the third time in his career. In 2011, Air Force graduated a stellar senior class, led by Gunn. Gunn was the 200 fly champion at the MW Championships, in addition to setting school records in the 100 fly and 100 and 200 back events. Gunn also earned the MW Senior Recognition award. In addition to Gunn, Corydon Butler and Paul Leonhardt earned all-MW honors. The 800 free relay group of Gunn, Leonhardt, Tim Martinelli and Butler also earned all-MW honors. In addition, senior Eric Robinson was named MW Scholar Athlete of the Year, becoming the third Falcon men’s swimmer to earn the honor. The 2012 team made the jump to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, going 8-9 on the season and finishing sixth at the championships. The Falcons had six all-conference swims, led by senior Corydon Butler. Butler earned first-team honors in the 500 free and second-team in the 200 and 1650 free. Senior Cody Deacon qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200 breast and was also a First-team Academic All-American. The 2013 team took sixth place again at the MPSF championship. The Falcons went 10-7 in dual competition. The Falcons posted 12 allconference swims, including a runner-up finish in the platform diving by freshman Dominic Vallejo. Senior Matt Millikin was named team MVP. The Falcons capped off a successful 2013-14 season at the WAC Swimming & Diving Championships, finishing third third with 625 points. The Falcons set six school records and had 27 swims crack the school top 10 list. Air Force claimed two diving champions in sophomore Nathaniel Zillweger in the 1-meter and sophomore Dominic Vallejo in the platform. In 2014-15, the Falcons finished second at the WAC Championships with 705.5 points. The second-place finish tied as the best conference finish ever for the Falcons. Air Force was just 10 team points behind champion UNLV, and the team title came down to the final relay. The Falcons set eight school records and had 35 swims crack the school top 10 list. Junior Nathaniel Zillweger won the WAC championship on the one-meter with 323.85 points. Junior Michael Barnosky won the WAC title in the 200 breaststroke with an NCAA “B” time of 1:56.89. All five relay teams broke school records at the WAC Championship meet.
25 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 25
AIR FORCE MEN’S SWIMMING & Diving records 50 FREESTYLE 1. Charlie Toth (01) 2. Ryan Dunne (15) 3. Jordan Dahle (18) 4. Trevor Kildare (97) 5. Bucky MacLaughlin (91) 6. George Frank (16) 7. John Dayton (03) 8. Devon Davis (17) 9. Tim Paschke (00) 10. Robert Dawson (11)
19.99 20.11 20.19 20.17 20.28 20.31 20.32 20.36 20.37 20.44
2001 2014 2015 1995 1991 2015 2001 2015 1998 2009
1,650 FREESTYLE 1. Chris Knaute (07) 2. Drew Whitting (93) 3. Andrew Faciszewski (17) 4. Kevin Jackson (16) 5. Max Evans-Nolan (15) 6. Sean O’Keefe (10) 7. Garrett Glaudini (18) 8. Sam Chesnut (92) 9. Alex Strom (15) 10. Corydon Butler (12)
2005 1991 2014 2015 2013 2009 2015 1991 2015 2010
100 BACKSTROKE 1. Devon Davis (17) 2. Ben Gunn (11) 3. Angus MacDonald (14) 4. Paul Brehm (04) 5. Joey Gebhart (18) 6. Kris Tillery (17) 7. Matt Millikin (13) 8. Kai Yamashiro (09) 9. Corey Gutierrez (19) 10. Charles Lebeau (06)
47.13 48.13 48.34 48.85 48.88 48.99 49.02 49.29 49.74 49.76
2015 2011 2013 2003 2015 2015 2013 2009 2015 2003
100 FREESTYLE 1. Ryan Dunne (15) 2. Charlie Toth (01) 3. Jordan Dahle (18) 4. Steffen Mount (19) 5. Bucky MacLaughlin (91) 6. Tim Martinelli (13) 7. George Frank (16) 8. Tim Paschke (00) 9.Robert Dawson (11) 10. Micah Newmann (14)
43.50 43.79 44.19 44.23 44.50 44.53 44.62 44.67 44.73 44.84
2014 2001 2015 2015 1991 2013 2015 1998 2010 2011
200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY 1. Ben Gunn (11) 1:47.22 2. Michael Barnosky (16) 1:47.72 3. Paul Parmenter (07) 1:48.72 4. Nick Burton (07) 1:48.87 5. Matt Davis (97) 1:49.07 6. Chris Morin 1:49.58 7. Cody Rasmussen (99) 1:49.68 8. Paul Leonhardt (14) 1:49.67 9. Kevin Fanter (17) 1:49.74 10. Chris Knaute (07) 1:49.86
2010 2015 2006 2006 1997 2010 1999 2013 2015 2006
200 BACKSTROKE 1. Ben Gunn (11) 2. Matt Millikin (13) 3. Paul Brehm (04) 4. Kai Yamashiro (09) 5. Kris Tillery (17) 6. Matthew Walls (16) 7. Matt Horner (02) 8. Justin Lapin (07) 9. Angus MacDonald (14) 10. Paul Young (13)
1:45.60 1:45.81 1:46.27 1:46.44 1:46.63 1:46.97 1:47.19 1:47.21 1:47.28 1:48.05
2011 2013 2003 2009 2015 2014 2001 2006 2014 2010
200 FREESTYLE 1.Chris Knaute (07) 2. Kevin Jackson (16) 3. Bryan Avery (09) 4. Jordan Dahle (18) 5. Drew Whitting (93) 6. Sean O’Keefe (10) 7. George Frank (16) 8.Ben Gunn (11) 9. Ryan Dunne (15) 10. Michael Hannigan (18)
1:36.98 1:37.14 1:37.22 1:37.40 1:37.49 1:37.51 1:37.53 1:38.18 1:38.25 1:38.38
2006 2014 2008 2015 1993 2009 2015 2011 2013 2015
400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY 1. Chris Knaute (07) 3:48.98 2. Matt Davis (97) 3:51.82 3. Garrett Glaudini (18) 3:52.78 4. Andrew Faciszewski (17) 3:53.52 Justin Lapin (07) 3:53.52 6. Kevin Jackson (16) 3:54.82 7. Drew Whitting (93) 3:56.44 8. Paul Parmenter (07) 3:57.45 9. Matt Horner (02) 3:57.64 10. Cody Rasmussen (99) 3:57.72
2006 1994 2015 2015 2006 2014 1991 2006 2001 1999
100 BREASTSTROKE 1. Michael Barnosky (16) 2. Justin Day (09) 3. Matt Ihlenfeld (01) 4. Kevin Fanter (17) 5. John Dayton (03) 6. Zach Knoche (17) 7. Cody Deacon (12) 8. Joshua Hammervold 9. Greg Edmonds (10) 10. Sam Wieser (15)
52.77 53.87 54.70 54.81 54.98 55.19 55.37 55.54 55.76 55.77
2015 2009 2001 2015 2003 2015 2011 2009 2010 2015
500 FREESTYLE 1. Chris Knaute (07) 2. Drew Whitting (93) 3. Kevin Jackson (16) 4. Andrew Faciszewski (17) 5. Alex Strom (15) 6. Sean O’Keefe (10) 7. Corydon Butler (12) 8.Garrett Glaudini (18) 9. Tom Hansen (11) 10. Jon Kalberer (96)
4:20.00 4:20.09 4:20.66 4:22.83 4:23.04 4:24.80 4:25.14 4:26.16 4:26.70 4:29.07
2006 1993 2015 2014 2015 2009 2012 2015 2009 1994
100 BUTTERFLY 1. Ryan Dunne (15) 2. Ben Gunn (11) 3. Chris Morin (10) 4. Devon Davis (17) 5. Bryan Avery (09) 6. Tim Martinelli (13) 7. Kevin Mitchell (16) 8. Paul Leonhardt (14) 9. Nick Burton (07) 10. Eric Pounds (04)
47.38 47.64 48.08 48.22 48.38 48.53 48.80 48.88 48.90 48.91
2014 2011 2009 2015 2008 2013 2014 2014 2006 2003
200 BREASTSTROKE 1. Michael Barnosky (16) 2. Matt Ihlenfeld (01) 3. Zach Knoche (17) 4. Kevin Fanter (17) 5. Cody Deacon (12) 6. Joshua Hammervold (11) 7. Greg Edmonds (10) 8. Sam Wieser (15) 9. Shanon Anderson (99) 10. Kaleb Jenkins (13) Justin Day (09)
1:56.89 1:58.67 1:59.67 2:00.37 2:00.90 2:01.13 2:01.85 2:01.89 2:02.20 2:02.46 2:02.46
2015 2001 2015 2014 2011 2010 2010 2015 1999 2013 2009
1,000 FREESTYLE 1. Drew Whitting (93) 2. Kevin Jackson (16) 3. Chris Knaute (07) 4. Andrew Faciszewski (17) 5. Sean O’Keefe (10) 6. Max Evans-Nolan (15) 7. Sam Chesnut (92) 8.Alex Strom (15) 9.Garrett Glaudini (18) 10. Collin Green (19)
9:07.72 9:09.67 9:11.98 9:12.71 9:15.14 9:17.79 9:19.24 9:21.00 9:21.49 9:22.05
1991 2015 2006 2014 2009 2013 1991 2013 2015 2015
200 BUTTERFLY 1. Ben Gunn (11) 2. Matt Davis (97) 3. Cody Rasmussen (99) 4. Sean Ledford (16) 5. Mike Brown (86) 6. Eric Pounds (04) 7. Kevin Pollard (17) 8. Nick Dixon (09) 9. Paul Leonhardt (14) 10. Chris Knaute (07)
1:45.57 1:46.71 1:47.06 1:47.58 1:47.65 1:48.14 1:48.80 1:48.81 1:48.90 1:49.31
2010 1994 1999 2015 1984 2003 2015 2009 2013 2006
15:09.15 15:10.13 15:14.16 15:14.56 15:24.04 15:24.41 15:28.46 15:30.33 15:30.37 15:31.09
26 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 26
AIR FORCE MEN’S SWIMMING & diving Awards Team MVP (Sponsored by the family of Captain Bryan Rye, Class of ‘71) 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Academy Awards Athletic Leadership 1960 Derry Adamson 1968 John Graham 1969 Chris Curtis
Bob Nieman Bob Nieman Bruce Fisher Jim Thompson Rick McAlister, Diver Rick McAlister, Diver Rick McAlister, Diver Frank Snyder Frank Snyder Doug Poorman Steve Waters Steve Waters John Sayre John Sayre Garrett Thompson Garrett Thompson James Boegman James Boegman Tom McGinnis Bucky MacLaughlin Bucky MacLaughlin Drew Whitting Drew Whitting Sam Chesnut Matt Davis Matt Davis Matt Davis Jon Kalberer Matt Davis Tim Paschke Cody Rasmussen Charlie Toth Charlie Toth Paul Brehm Paul Brehm Chris Knaute Chris Knaute Chris Knaute Chris Knaute Bryan Avery Benjamin Gunn Benjamin Gunn Benjamin Gunn Corydon Butler Matt Millikin Ryan Dunne Michael Barnosky
Scholar Athlete 1966 Ronald Grabe 1967 Gary Reid 1979 Frank Synder 1980 Dirk Jordan 2003 John Dayton 2006 Matt Karmondy 2011 Eric Robinson Athletic Excellence 1975 Rick McAlister 2001 Charlie Toth 2007 Chris Knaute Outstanding Athletic Achievement 2006 Chris Knaute
Olympic Team Bob Nieman 1976 Modern Pentathlon 1980 Modern Pentathlon, fencing 1988 Modern Pentathlon Eli Bremer 2008 Modern Pentathlon
U.S. Olympic Trials Drew Whitting 1992 400 Freestyle 2000 1,500 Freestyle Matt Davis 1996 200 Butterfly Matt Horner 2000 200 Backstroke Matt Ihlenfeld 2000 100 Breaststroke 2000 200 Breaststroke Charlie Toth 2000 50 Freestyle 2000 100 Freestyle Bryan Avery 2008 100 Butterfly Justin Day 2008 100 Breaststroke Benjamin Gunn 2008 100 Butterfly Chris Knaute 2008 200 IM 2008 400 IM Paul Parmenter 2008 100 Backstroke 2008 100 Butterfly 2008 200 IM
U.S. World Championships Trials Chris Knaute 2005 200 Freestyle 2005 400 Freestyle Diving National Champions Rick McAlister 1974 Three-meters
Swimming All-Americans Barry Bielinski 1963 100 Backstroke Stephen Seigler 1966 200 Breaststroke 1967 200 Breaststroke Warren Flaherty 1969 400 Freestyle Relay Douglas Martin 1969 400 Freestyle Relay Bob Nieman 1969 400 Freestyle Relay 1970 100 Freestyle 1970 200 Freestyle Bryan Rye 1969 400 Freestyle Relay Drew Whitting 1993 500 Freestyle Matt Davis 1995 200 Butterfly Chris Knaute 2006 400 IM 2006 500 Freestyle Diving All-Americans Daniel McLean 1965 One-meter 1965 Three-meters Rick McAlister 1973 Three-meters 1974 One-meter 1974 Three-meters 1975 One-meter WAC Swimming Coach of the Year Casey Converse, 1991
MWC Swimming Coach of the Year Rob Clayton, 2007, 2010 MWC Diving Coach of the Year Stan Curnow, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2015 MWC Men’s Swimmer of the Year Chris Knaute, 2005, 2007 WAC Diver of the Year Nathanael Zillweger, 2015 MWC Senior Recognition Award Matt Horner, 2002 Paul Brehm, 2004 Matt Karmondy, 2006 Chris Knaute, 2007 Benjamin Gunn, 2011 MWC 10th-Anniversary Team Chris Knaute MWC Scholar-Athlete of the Year John Dayton, 2003 Matt Karmondy, 2006 Eric Robinson, 2011
27 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 27
AIR FORCE MEN’S SWIMMING & diving Awards Conference Champions** John Sayre 1981 200 IM 1982 200 IM Tony Bamsey 1991 100 Breaststroke 1992 50 Freestyle Bo Bloomer 1991 Three-meters Bucky MacLauglin 1991 50 Free 1992 50 Free Drew Whitting 1991 500 Free 1991 1,650 Free 1993 500 Free Bamsey, MacLaughlin, Sheesley, Squires 2001 200 Medley Relay Sam Chesnut 1992 1,650 Freestyle Matt Davis 1993 400 IM 1994 400 IM 1995 200 Butterfly Matt Ihlenfeld 2000 200 Breast 2001 100 Breast 2001 200 Breast Charlie Toth 2000 100 Free Brehm, Dayton, Amidon, Toth 2001 200 Medley Relay Paul Brehm 2002 100 Backstroke 2002 200 Backstroke 2003 200 Backstroke Brehm, Dayton, Pounds, Amidon 2002 400 Medley Relay Chris Knaute 2004 1650 Free 2005 1650 Free 2005 500 Free 2005 400 IM 2006 1650 Free 2006 500 Free 2006 400 IM 2007 500 Free 2007 400 IM Brady Lindberg 2006 Platform Diving 2007 Platform Diving Paul Parmenter 2006 200 IM 2007 200 IM Kyle Van Valkenburg 2008 Platform Diving 2009 Platform Diving Benjamin Gunn 2009 200 IM 2010 200 IM 2011 200 Fly Nathaniel Zillweger 2014 1-meter Diving 2015 1-meter Diving Dominic Vallejo 2015 Platform Diving Michael Barnosky 2015 200 breast
** Western Athletic Conference (1981-1999) Mountain West Conference (2000-11) Mountian Pacific Sports Federation (2011-2013) Western Athletic Conference (2014-Present) NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Bill Lauritzen, 1973 Shawn Whitson, 1982 Charlie Toth, 2001 John Dayton, 2003 Matt Karmondy, 2006 Eric Robinson, 2011 College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-American John Dayton, 2000-03 Tim Paschke, 2000 Charlie Toth, 2000 Paul Brehm, 2001 Paul Parmenter, 2007 Eric Robinson, 2009 (honorable mention) Eric Robinson, 2010 Cody Deacon 2010 Eric Robinson, 2011 Rhodes Scholar Ken Davison, 1984 Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete John Dayton, 2003 Matt Karmondy, 2003-06 Rory Peterson, 2003-04 Matt Sievers, 2004-07 Spencer Liedl, 2005-08 Paul Gannett, 2007 Eric Robinson, 2008-11 Johnathan Cox, 2009 Cody Deacon, 2009-12 Sam Wieser, 2012-13 Academic All-Conference Andrew Antonetti (2015) Andrew Badgett (1999, 00) James Bales (1998, 99, 00, 01) Andrew Bergman (2004, 05, 06, 07) Casey Bowen (2001, 02, 03, 04) Paul Brehm (2001, 02, 03, 04) Spencer Butt (2006, 08, 09) Ben Chapman (2001, 04) Peter Cialkowski (2011) Greg Copeland (2014) T.J. Cowling (2005, 06, 07) Johnathan Cox (2009) Jordan Dahle (2014, 15) John Dayton (2000, 01, 02, 03) Cody Deacon (2009, 10, 11, 12) Dave Devemark (1997) Erich Drollinger (2015) Matt Dunker (1997) Matt Durkin (1995, 96, 97) Dave Dutcher (1995, 96) Nathan Erickson (2009) Jonathan Eng (2012) Andrew Faciszewski (2014, 15) John Fitzsimmons (1991, 92) Mike Foster (1997, 98, 99)
George Frank (2015) Steve Frank (1994) Paul Gannett (2007) Gebhart, Joey (2015) Nathaniel Gilbert (2008, 09, 10, 11) Nathan Glandon (2008) Benjamin Gunn (2011) Josh Hammervold (2008) Tom Hansen (2008, 09, 11) Andrew Hauffe (2006) Justin Hauffe (2004) Marshall Haylett (2000, 01, 02) Matt Horner (2000, 01, 02) Scott Hudson (1997, 98, 99) Matt Ihlenfeld (2000, 01) Matt Karmondy (2003, 04, 05, 06) Alex Keller (2014) Greg Kraus (1995) Coby Leslie (1996) Spencer Liedl (2005, 06, 07, 08) Brady Lindberg (2007) Sean Londrigan (1991, 92) Rolf Lundemark (1993, 95) Angus MacDonald (2012, 13, 14) James Marion (2000) James McCroan (2001, 02) Karl Mohrmann (2008, 09) McKay Morgan (2000) Chris Morin (2007, 08) Ryan Moss (2004, 05, 06, 07) John Olson (2000) Paul Parmenter (2004, 05, 06. 07) Evan Parr (2002, 03, 04, 05) Tim Paschke (1998, 99, 00) Eric Patten (1991) Alex Pecci (2011, 12, 13) Scott Percival (1998, 99, 00, 01) Rory Peterson (2001, 02, 03, 04) Nicholas Piontek (2015) Mason Phelps (2001, 02, 03, 04) Eric Pounds (2001, 02, 03, 04) Cody Rasmussen (1997, 98, 99) Beau Reibe (2010) Eric Robinson (2008, 09, 10, 11) Nate Rump (1991) Matt Shipstead (1998, 99, 00) Matt Sievers (2004, 05, 06, 07) Tim Songster (1992, 93) Race Steinfort (2000, 01, 02) Andrew Stolee (2001) Shawn Strabley (2001) Alex Strom (2013) Derek Tharaldson (1997) Charlie Toth (2000, 01) Nick Uzelac (2005, 06, 07) Patrick Vandam (2003) Kyle Van Valkenburg (2008, 09, 10) Mike Vetter (1991, 92) Sam Wieser (2012, 13, 14, 15) Brent White (2010, 11, 12, 13) Layne Wilson (2006, 07, 08) Paul Young (2010, 11) Nathanael Zillweger (2014-15)
28 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 28
AIR FORCE MEN’S SWIMMING & diving Records Year 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
W 3 4 8 10 9 6 5 5 7 6 6 12 19 12 13 13 12 11 12 6 10 9 12 13 13 13 15 14 13 12 4 6
L 4 5 2 1 3 6 6 6 2 5 7 1 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 4 5 3
Coach Dr. M.M. MacKenzie Dr. M.M. MacKenzie Dr. M.M. MacKenzie Capt. Paul Cleland Capt. Paul Cleland Capt. Paul Cleland Capt. Bob Nugent Capt. Bob Nugent Capt. Bob Nugent Capt. Bob Nugent Capt. Paul Arata Capt. Paul Arata Maj. Paul Arata Maj. Paul Arata Maj. Paul Arata Maj. Paul Aehnlich Maj. Paul Arata Lt. Col. Paul Arata Lt. Col. Paul Arata Lt. Col. Paul Arata Lt. Col. Paul Arata Lt. Col. Paul Arata Lt. Col. Paul Arata Lt. Col. Paul Arata Lt. Col. Paul Arata Lt. Col. Paul Arata Lt. Col. Paul Arata Capt. Kelly Kemp Capt. Kelly Kemp Maj. Kelly Kemp Capt. Jim Hogue Maj. Jim Hogue
Year 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
W L Coach 7 3 Casey Converse 9 3 Casey Converse 9 4 Casey Converse 7 2 Casey Converse 6 3 Casey Converse 5 5 Casey Converse 7 5 Casey Converse 6 4 Casey Converse 3 6 Casey Converse 10 1* Casey Converse 11 2 Rob Clayton 8 3 Rob Clayton 9 4 Rob Clayton 6 4 Rob Clayton 12 2 Rob Clayton 8 4 Rob Clayton 13 7 Rob Clayton 8 4* Rob Clayton 13 3 Rob Clayton 4 7 Rob Clayton 7 12 Rob Clayton 3 4 Rob Clayton 11 6 Rob Clayton 8 9 Rob Clayton 10 7 Rob Clayton 13 8 Rob Clayton 15 5 Rob Clayton 541-199-2 (73.0 % winning percentage) * season record includes a tie
29 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 29
Service academy top 10 50 freestyle 1 Dain Bomberger 2 Noah White 3 Christopher Szekely 4 Riley Webber 5 Charlie Toth 6 Mike Linn 7 Clinton Cornell 8 Brandon McCredie 9 Ryan Dunne 10 Joe Novak
Navy Navy Army Navy Air Force Navy Navy Army Air Force Army
19.73 19.74 19.88 19.96 19.99 20.04 20.07 20.10 20.11 20.12
2014 2004 2013 2013 2001 2005 2001 2015 2014 1998
100 Backstroke 1 Devon Davis 2 David Carlson 3 Joseph Lane 4 Brendan Walsh 5 Ben Gunn 6 Angus MacDonald Gage Trotter 8 Josh Sembrano 9 Kevin Mukri 10 Andrew Hetzner
Air Force Navy Navy Navy Air Force Air Force Navy Army Navy Navy
47.13 47.59 48.04 48.12 48.13 48.34 48.34 48.56 48.61 48.69
2015 2015 2014 2014 2011 2013 2012 2015 2007 2009
200 IM 1 Adam Meyer 2 Ben Gunn 3 Ben Bondurant 4 Michael Barnosky Young Tae Seo 6 Conor Campbell 7 Joseph Stark 8 Paul Parmenter 9 Marlin Brutkiewicz 10 Nick Burton
Navy Air Force Navy Air Force Navy Navy Navy Air Force Navy Air Force
1:44.49 1:47.22 1:47.60 1:47.72 1:47.72 1:48.22 1:48.23 1:48.72 1:48.81 1:48.87
2009 2010 2012 2015 2015 2014 2013 2006 2015 2006
100 freestyle 1 Ryan Dunne 2 Zach Ingold 3 Christopher Szekely 4 Charlie Toth 5 Dain Bomberger 6 Mike Linn 7 Joseph Smutz 8 Joe Novak 9 Jordan Dahle 10 Steffen Mount
Air Force Navy Army Air Force Navy Navy Navy Army Air Force Air Force
43.50 43.61 43.77 43.79 43.92 43.96 44.08 44.12 44.19 44.23
2014 2012 2015 2001 2014 2006 2006 1998 2015 2015
200 Backstroke 1 David Carlson 2 Joseph Lane 3 Andrew Hetzner 4 Ben Gunn 5 Matt Millikin 6 Conor Campbell 7 Kevin Mukri 8 Joseph Stark 9 Paul Brehm 10 Kai Yamashiro
Navy Navy Navy Air Force Air Force Navy Navy Navy Air Force Air Force
1:43.78 1:45.07 1:45.35 1:45.60 1:45.81 1:45.81 1:45.62 1:46.19 1:46.27 1:46.40
2015 2014 2009 2011 2013 2013 2007 2013 2003 2009
400 IM 1 Chris Knaute 2 Justin Vagts 3 Erik Hunter 4 Matt Davis 5 Adam Meyer 6 Garrett Glaudini 7 Young Tae Seo 8 Andrew Faciszewski 9 Justin Lapin 10 Billy Vey
Air Force Navy Navy Air Force Navy Air Force Navy Air Force Air Force Navy
3:48.98 3:49.75 3:51.24 3:51.82 3:52.76 3:52.78 3:52.82 3:53.52 3:53.52 3:53.60
2006 2013 2009 1994 2008 2015 2015 2015 2006 2009
200 freestyle 1 Thomas Duvall 2 Hugh Davison 3 Mac Anthony 4 Riley Mita 5 Joseph Jaime 6 Aaron Aiken 7 Chris Knaute 8 Christopher Szekely 9 Kevin Jackson 10 Bryan Avery
Navy Navy Navy Navy Navy Navy Air Force Army Air Force Air Force
1:35.20 1:36.00 1:36.29 1:36.46 1:36.69 1:36.80 1:36.98 1:37.01 1:37.14 1:37.22
2015 2013 2011 2013 2015 2009 2006 2013 2014 2008
100 Breastroke 1 Michael Barnosky 2 Sean Murphy 3 Marlin Brutkiewicz 4 Justin Day 5 Ben Grove 6 Morgan DeJong 7 Mathias Porter 8 Matt Ihlenfeld 9 John VanSandt 10 Kevin Fanter
Air Force Navy Navy Air Force Navy Navy Navy Air Force Army Air Force
52.77 52.88 52.98 53.87 54.45 54.47 54.68 54.70 54.73 54.81
2015 2013 2015 2008 2013 2015 2015 2001 1987 2015
500 freestyle 1 Thomas Duvall 2 Noah Martin 3 Erik Hunter 4 Mac Anthony 5 Chris Knaute 6 Drew Whitting 7 Justin Vagts 8 Kevin Jackson 9 Alex Nickell 10 Andrew Faciszewski
Navy Navy Navy Navy Air Force Air Force Navy Air Force Navy Air Force
4:15.86 4:18.40 4:18.56 4:19.75 4:20.00 4:20.09 4:20.23 4:20.66 4:21.48 4:22.83
2014 2015 2009 2009 2006 1993 2013 2015 2015 2014
200 Breastroke 1 Luke Hoffer 2 Sean Murphy 3 Marlin Brutkiewicz 4 Michael Barnosky 4 Adam Meyer 6 John VanSant 7 Ian Johnston 8 Matt Ihlenfeld 9 Colin Kanzari 10 Ben Grove
Navy Navy Navy Air Force Navy Army Navy Air Force Army Navy
1:54.31 1:55.64 1:56.00 1:56.89 1:57.26 1:57.65 1:58.51 1:58.67 1:59.20 1:59.43
2013 2014 2015 2015 2009 1987 1996 2001 2014 2013
1000 freestyle 1 Erik Hunter 2 Alex Nickell 3 Thomas Duvall 4 Drew Whitting 5 Justin Vagts 6 Kevin Jackson 7 Chris Knaute 8 Thomas Ottman 9 Andrew Faciszewski 10 Sam Ciocco
Navy Navy Navy Air Force Navy Air Force Air Force Army Air Force Navy
8:59.52 9:02.65 9:04.69 9:07.72 9:08.07 9:09.67 9:11.98 9:12.02 9:12.71 9:12.97
2009 2015 2014 1993 2013 2015 2006 2015 2014 2015
100 Butterfly 1 Adam Meyer 2 Ryan Dunne 3 Jonathan Debaugh 4 Ben Gunn 5 Jonathan Debaugh 6 Hayes McCullagh 7 Steve Duklueth 8 Ben Bondurant 9 Chris Morin 10 Michael Dustin Ryan Bailey
Navy Air Force Navy Air Force Navy Navy Navy Navy Air Force Army Navy
47.33 47.38 47.56 47.64 47.56 47.71 48.01 48.02 48.08 48.19 48.19
2009 2015 2015 2011 2015 2015 2012 2012 2008 2015 2015
1650 Freestyle 1 Erik Hunter 2 Thomas Duvall 3 Justin Vagts 4 Chris Knaute 5 Drew Whitting 6 Andrew Faciszewski 7 Kevin Jackson 8 Alex Nickell 9 Sam Martinette 10 Max Evans-Nolan
Navy Navy Navy Air Force Air Force Air Force Air Force Navy Navy Air Force
14:58.72 15:00.99 15:04.11 15:09.15 15:10.13 15:14.16 15:14.56 15:15.42 15:19.61 15:24.04
200 Butterfly 1 Adam Meyer 2 Jonathan Debaugh 3 Mark Meyer 4 Ben Gunn 5 Ben Bondurant 6 Sean Regan 7 Matt Davis 8 Patrick Veltmann 9 Cody Rasmussen Jesse Cohen
Navy Navy Navy Air Force Navy Army Air Force Navy Air Force Navy
1:42.54 1:44.08 1:44.80 1:45.57 1:46.00 1:46.67 1:46.71 1:46.90 1:47.06 1:47.06
2009 2015 2011 2010 2013 2015 1994 1987 1999 2009
2009 2014 2011 2005 1991 2014 2015 2015 2011 2013
200 Freestyle Relay 1 Navy-Smutz, Linn, Fenningham, White 1:18.92 2004 2 Air Force- Dunne, Hannigan, Frank, Dahle 1:19.51 2015 3 Army-Sowell, Szekely, Sjoholm, Dustin 1:20.73 2015 400 Freestyle Relay 1 Air Force-Dunne, Hannigan, Frank, Dahle 2:55.11 2015 2 Navy-Ingold, Bomberger, Davison, Anthony 2:56.27 2012 3 Army-McCredie, Szekely, McCall, Rude, Evin 2:57.28 2015 800 Freestyle Relay 1 Navy-Duvall, Nickell, Martin, Mita 6:28.20 2015 2 Air Force-Jackson, Frank, Dahle, Faciszewski 6:29.34 2015 3 Army-Viana, Rude, McCall, Woudenberg 6:36.54 2015 200 Medley Relay 1 Navy-Walsh, Murphy, Debaugh, Bomberger 1:26.25 2014 2 Air Force- Davis, Barnosky, Mitchell, Dahle 1:26.37 2015 3 Army- Mo, Hart, Dustin, Szekely 1:27.80 2013 400 Medley Relay 1 Navy- Walsh, Murphy, Debaugh, Bomberger 3:09.84 2014 2 Air Force- Davis, Barnosky, Mitchell, Dahle 3:11.57 2015 3 Army-Sembrano, Kanzari, Dustin, Szekely 3:13.89 2015
30 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 30
letterwinners Letterwinners are listed as following: Name, graduation year in parentheses, and years letters were earned.
Abbott, Robert L. (64) 62 63 64 Abramson, Richard S. (68) 65 66 68 Abrigo, Joseph (88) 85 86 87 88 Adamson, Derry (60) 57 58 59 60 Alexander, James (Gary)(99) 96 97 Alfred-Ockya, John (04) 01 02 03 04 Alkire, Joe (97) 94 95 96 97 Alonzo, Chuck (00) 97 98 Amidon, Nate (03) 00 01 02 03 Anderson, David K. (85) 82 Anderson, Shanon (99) 96 97 98 99 Anderson, Tom (91) 88 89 90 91 Ans, Aleks (12) 09 Antonetti, Andrew (18)15 Arata, Alan (83) 80 81 82 83 Arlington, David (10) 07 08 09 10 Arnholt, Mark (93) 90 91 92 93 Ashe, Jesse (86) 83 84 85 86 Avery, Bryan (09) 06 07 08 Ayres, Auston (07) 04 Baake, Paul (95) 92 93 Baber, Eric (04) 01 02 Badgett, Andrew (01) 98 99 Bailey, Steven D. (68) 66 Bales, James (01) 98 99 00 01 Barnosky, Michael (16) 13 Bamsey, Tony (92) 89 90 91 92 Bandow, Mike (90) 87 Barnett, Robert (95) 92 Barnosky, Michael (16) 13 14 15 Barraza, Daniel T. (80) 77 Bates, Stanley (84) 82 83 Baudendistel, Joseph M. (77) 75 76 77 Becker, Kurt (89) 86 87 89 Benson, Gerald (93) 90 91 92 93 Bergman, Andrew (07) 04 05 06 07 Bertmaring, Tyson (05) 02 Bicknell, Jesse (12) 09 10 Biederman, Joshua (02) 99 Bielinski, Barry T. (63) 61 62 63 Blaisdell, Michael P. (62) 60 61 62 Bloomer, Bo (T.B.) (92) 89 90 91 Boegman, James (86) 83 84 85 86 Bohn, Chris (01) 98 Bolt, Russell T. (72) 70 72 Bone, Michael J. (73) 71 Bouma, Dirk (90) 87 88 89 90 Bourland, Walter B. (78) 76 77 78 Bowen, Casey (04) 01 02 03 Boyd, John E., Jr. (70) 68 Braun, Jeff (94) 91 Brecht, Derek (18) 15 Brehm, Paul (04) 01 02 03 04 Bremer, Eli (00) 97 98 Brigman, Ryan (13) 10 11 12 13
Brower, Douglas R. (72) 70 Brown, Jeffrey H. (73) 70 71 72 Brown, Kevin (89) 86 87 88 Brown, Michael L. (86) 83 84 85 86 Bruskewitz, James W. (74) 71 Buchanan, Robert J. (88) 85 86 87 88 Burton, Nick (07) 03 04 06 07 Burwell, John C. (63) 61 62 63 Butler, Corydon (12) 09 10 11 12 Butt, Spencer (09) 06 07 08 09 Callaway, Bernard B. (73) 73 Cannon, Lovick E. (68) 66 Canterbury, Alfred L. (60) 58 59 60 Carnes, Gary J. (81) 81 Carpenter, Thomas J. (77) 74 75 76 Carrier, Michael H. (69) 67 68 Carrington, George W. (74) 71 72 73 74 Casias, Kyle (15) 12 13 Castro, Kyle (16) 13 Chaney, Blake (98) 95 96 97 Chapman, Ben (04) 01 02 04 Chesnut, Sam (92) 89 90 91 92 Chiaro, Anthony (13) 10 11 12 13 Chun, Mark C. (73) 70 71 72 73 Chung, Tommy (05) 02 Cialkowski, Peter (14) 11 12 13 Clark, Cheyne (12) 09 10 Clark, Howard, III (90) 87 88 89 90 Cleary, James (89) 86 Clegg, Charles S. (72) 69 70 71 Cline, Clinton E. (73) 70 71 Cole, Phillip (09) 06 Collier, Mark (96) 93 Congdon, Norman B. (60) 58 Cook, Christopher A. (81) 78 79 80 81 Cooper, Ralph C. (68) 66 Copeland, Greg (15) 12 13 Corbett, Jason (99) 96 Cormier, Hank (91) 88 Coryn, Charles E. (61) 59 Cotton, Daniel (85) 82 Covington, Gary N. (70) 68 69 Cowling, Trebor (T.J.) (08) 05 06 07 08 Cox, Johnathan (12) 09 Curtis, Christopher L. (69) 67 68 69 Dahle, Jordan (17) 14 15 Davis, Devon (17) 14 15 Davis, Matt (97) 94 95 96 97 Davison, Kenneth (84) 82 83 Dawson, Robert (11) 08 09 10 11 Day, Justin (09) 06 07 08 09 Dayton, John (03) 00 01 02 03 Deacon, Cody (12) 09 10 11 12 Deardorf, Erick W. (85) 82 83 Deeley, William F. (72) 69 70 Derrick, Marvin J. (77) 74 75 Devemark, Carl (99) 96 97 98 99 Dixon, Matthew (84) 82 83 Dixon, Nick (09) 06 07 08 09 Doolittle, John (92) 89 90 91 92 Dow, John W. (73) 70
Dunker, Matt (98) 95 96 97 98 Dunne, Ryan (15) 12 13 14 15 Durkin, Matt (97) 94 95 96 97 Dutcher, David (96) 93 94 95 96 East, Jack (94) 93 94 Eaton, Ellis (93) 90 91 92 93 Eberthardt, James A. (69) 67 Eckebrecht, A.J. (17) 14 15 Edmonds, Gregory (10) 07 08 09 10 Edwards, Matt (98) 95 Eng, Jonathan (14) 12 Erickson, Nathan (12) 09 10 Evans, Kyle (14) 11 Evans-Nolan, Max (15) 12 13 Everard, Joel (98) 95 Faciszewski, Andrew (17) 14 15 Fairlamb, Richard C. (61) 59 60 Faley, Jeff (89) 86 87 88 89 Falk, Eric (04) 01 02 Fanter, Kevin (17) 14 15 Farquhar, Jerry (60) 58 59 60 Fay, Robert (59) 57 Feaster, Stephen J. (70) 68 Fedel, Gary A. (67) 65 67 Ferguson, Michael L. (63) 61 62 63 Fiechtner, Robb (01) 98 Fields, Philip (92) 89 90 91 92 Finch, Josh (01) 98 99 00 01 Finch, Samuel P., III (64) 63 64 Fisher, Bruce D. (71) 69 70 71 Fitzgerald, Ryan (05) 02 03 04 05 Fitzsimmons, John (93) 90 91 92 93 Flaherty, Warren T. (70) 68 69 70 Fletcher, Derek (90) 87 88 Flores, Frank (92) 89 90 91 92 Foster, Michael (99) 96 97 98 99 Foutch, Mike (95) 93 94 95 Francis, John J., Jr. (63) 61 62 Frank, George (16) 13 14 15 Frank, Steve (96) 93 94 95 96 Gannett, Paul (10) 07 Gebhart, Joseph (18) 15 Gee, Matt (86) 83 84 85 86 Gempler, Gregory J. (73) 70 71 72 73 Gentice, Nicholas (90) 87 Gilbert, Nathaniel (11) 08 09 10 11 Gillaspie, Tim (95) 92 94 95 Glandon, Nathan (08) 07 08 Glaudini, Garrett (18) 15 Grabe, Ronald J. (66) 64 65 66 Grace, Stephen (10) 07 08 Grados, Mike (01) 98 99 00 01 Graham, John G. (72) 69 70 71 Graham, John, Jr. (68) 66 67 68 Graham, Patrick (04) 01 02 Graves, Robert (16) 13 14 15 Greer, Davey (08) 05 Griffith, William M. (69) 67 68 69 Gunn, Benjamin (11) 08 09 10 11
31 - Air Force men’s Swimming and diving - 31
letterwinners Haas, Ryan (15) 12 Hackbarth, Gary (78) 75 76 77 78 Hackbarth, Joey R. (79) 76 77 78 79 Hagelin, Richard H., III (69) 67 68 69 Hale, Aaron (01) 96 98 99 Hale, Ira D. (77) 74 75 Hall, Matt (96) 93 94 95 96 Hall, Zach (98) 95 96 Hallman, Wes (90) 87 88 89 90 Halvorsen, Steven A. (79) 76 77 78 79 Hamlin, Richard P., Jr. (79) 76 77 78 79 Hamme, Doug (87) 84 85 86 Hammervold, Joshua (11) 08 09 10 11 Hampson, Robert J. (72) 70 71 72 Hannigan, Michael (18) 15 Hansen, Mark (13) 10 11 12 Hansen, Thomas (11) 08 09 10 11 Happ, William K. (70) 68 69 Harris, Rufus D. (63) 61 62 Hatelid, Carl M. (65) 63 64 65 Hauck, Les (98) 95 97 98 Hauffe, Andrew (09) 06 Hauffe, Justin (05) 03 04 05 Haylett, Marshall (02) 99 00 01 02 Heath, Kevin (04) 01 02 03 Heitmeyer, Paul (96) 93 94 95 96 Hembrough, William M. (68) 66 67 68 Henry, Tom (91) 88 89 Hepburn, Philip R., Jr., (62) 60 62 Hepler, William (98) 95 96 97 98 Hickok, John (88) 86 87 88 Higham, James L. (66) 64 65 66 Hill, Lincoln (95) 92 93 94 95 Hillen, Kimberly E. (82) 79 80 81 Hogan, Dan (96) 94 Hogue, James E. (76) 73 74 75 76 Holloway, Charles D. (75) 72 Horner, Matthew (02) 99 00 01 02 Hourin, James J. (61) 59 60 61 Hudson, Scott (99) 96 97 98 99 Hughes, John S. (75) 72 73 Hulse, Douglas S. (04) 99 00 04 Hutchinson, Karl T. (70) 69 70 Ihlenfeld, Matt (01) 98 99 00 01 Jackson, Don E. (67) 65 66 67 Jackson, Kevin (16) 13 14 15 Jaep, William F., Jr. (67) 65 Jaime, Jared (11) 09 Jamerson, James L. (63) 61 62 63 Jenkins, Kaleb (12) 09 11 12 13 Jett, Andrew (97) 94 95 96 97 Johns, Brad (87) 84 85 86 Johnson, Eric M. (89) 86 Johnson, Richard K. (62) 60 61 62 63 Jones, Brad (87) 85 85 86 87 Jones, Francis V. (63) 61 Jones, Jon (13) 10 11 12 13 Jordan, Jarrett D. (80) 77 78 79 80 Jurcak, Matt (09) 06 07 08 09
Kalberer, Jon (96) 93 94 95 96 Kane, Timothy E. (82) 79 80 Karmondy, Matt (06) 03 04 05 06 Kattau, Richard (97) 94 Kechter, Todd (90) 87 89 Keddington, David (84) 82 83 Keller, Charles (17) 14 Keltner, Tyler (06) 03 Kemp, Kelvin P. (74) 71 72 Kennon, John W., III (75) 72 73 74 75 Kildare, Trevor (97) 94 95 96 Kincaid, David (95) 92 93 Kirch, Robert K. (65) 63 64 65 Kitko, Paul (02) 01 Knaute, Chris (07) 04 05 06 07 Knoche, Zach (17) 14 15 Knutson, Lars (18) 15 Koraly, Steven C. (74) 72 73 74 Korsedal, Brian (98) 95 Korsedal, John (97) 94 95 96 Krauss, Greg (97) 94 95 96 Kux, Steven A. (68) 66 Kyrazis, Theodore G., II (83) 80 Lansford, Lars (90) 89 Lapin, Justin (07) 04 05 06 07 Laughrey, Wallis (98) 95 96 Lauritzen, William G. (73) 70 71 72 73 Lazarus, Karim (95) 94 95 LeBeau, Charles (06) 03 04 Ledford, Sean (16) 13 14 15 Lee, Steve (05) 05 Leek, Warren J. (66) 64 65 66 Leighton, Alex (16) 13 Lennon, Jay (90) 87 88 89 Leonard, Michael C. (67) 65 66 Leonhardt, Paul (14) 11 Leopold, Richard A. (76) 73 Leslie, Coby (99) 95 96 98 99 Leverett, David H. (63) 63 Lewandowski, Ronald (85) 82 83 Liedl, Spencer (08) 05 06 07 08 Limbird, Keith G. (82) 79 80 Lindberg, Brady (07) 03 04 06 07 Linder, Cameron (08) 05 Lindgren, Jason (95) 92 93 94 95 Lipp, John R. (70) 68 69 Livingood, John M. (82) 80 81 Locke, Jackson (17) 14 Londrigan, Sean (92) 89 90 91 92 Lorenz, Mark J. (82) 80 Losey, Brian L. (83) 80 81 82 83 Lowe, Chris (88) 85 86 87 88 Lowe, Garrett M. (95) 92 93 94 95 Lowell, Jay (90) 87 88 Luette, Glen J. (84) 81 82 Lundmark, Rolf (95) 92 93 94 95 MacDonald, Angus (14) 11 12 13 Mackow, John (99) 96 MacLaughlin, Bucky (91) 88 89 90 91 Magee, Donald W. (77) 74 75 76 77 Mallard, John (95) 94 95
Marion, James (00) 97 98 99 00 Marshall, David L. (71) 69 70 Marshall, Jeff (94) 91 92 94 Marshall, William C. (77) 74 75 77 Martignetti, Edward (89) 86 Martin, Douglas K. (69) 67 68 69 Martin, Timothy S. (76) 73 74 75 76 Martinelli, Tim (13) 10 11 12 13 Masin, John L. (69) 67 Mason, William M. (84) 81 Massey, John P. (73) 71 72 73 Matchefts, Marco J. (87) 84 85 86 87 May, Mike (95) 94 McAlister, Richard W. (75) 72 73 74 75 McCall, Grant (01) 98 McCorkle, Ben (09) 06 McCorry, Daniel C., Jr. (75) 72 73 74 75 McCoy, Andy (91) 88 89 91 McCrackin, Thomas M. (63) 62 63 McCroan, James (03) 00 01 02 McGarrity, John (86) 83 84 85 86 McGinnis, Tom (87) 84 85 86 87 McKeon, Matthew P. (83) 80 81 McLain, George E. (70) 68 69 70 McLean, Daniel P. (66) 64 65 66 McLeod, William C., II (65) 64 65 McSwain, Donald L. (69) 67 Merrell, John C. (69) 67 Merrill, David L. (76) 73 74 75 Meyers, Jeff (87) 84 85 86 Miller, Robert F. (69) 67 Millikin, Matt (13) 10 11 12 13 Mitchell, Andrew (01) 98 99 00 01 Mitchell, Kevin (16) 13 14 15 Mohrmann, Karl (11) 08 09 Morgan, Mark E (79) 76 77 78 79 Morgan, Matthew (85) 82 Morin, Christopher (10) 07 08 09 10 Morse, Bob (87) 84 85 86 87 Moss, Ryan (07) 04 05 06 07 Mueller, Allan E., Jr. (67) 65 Murra, Craig L. (77) 74 75 76 77 Murray, Ronald W. (65) 64 65 Muttilainen, Mark A. (78) 75 76 Needham, Theodore E. (79) 76 77 78 79 Nelson, Bruce M. (76) 73 74 75 76 Nelson, George J. (82) 79 80 81 Newmann, Micah (14) 11 Nguyen, Quoc-Nam (02) 99 Nichols, David C. (81) 78 79 80 81 Nield, George C., IV (72) 72 Nieman, Robert L. (70) 68 69 70 Nofziger, Ryan (99) 96 97 O’Donnell, Terrence (66) 64 65 66 Offutt, Frederick W. (75) 72 73 74 75 O’Keefe, Richard D. (60) 58 59 60 O’Keefe, Sean (10) 07 08 09 10 Oliver, Carl W. (63) 63 Olson, Matt (88) 86 87 88 O’Neal, James W., III (70) 68 69 70 Outlaw, Mike (89) 86 87 88
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letterwinners Paige, Tyler (01) 98 99 00 01 Paquette, Michael P. (77) 77 Parker, David (06) 03 Parker, Robert H. (62) 60 61 62 Parker, Stewart (02) 99 00 01 Parmenter, Paul (07) 04 05 06 07 Parr, Evan (05) 02 03 04 05 Paschke, Tim (00) 97 98 99 Patten, Eric (91) 88 89 90 91 Paulson, Ralph W. (68) 66 Paxton, Aerick (97) 94 95 96 Pecci, Alex (14) 11 12 13 Pendergast (97) 94 Percival, Scott (01) 98 99 00 01 Perich, Ty (11) 08 Perkowski, Raymond P. (65) 63 64 65 Peterson, Rory (04) 01 02 03 04 Phelps, Mason (04) 01 02 03 04 Phenicie, Dan (07) 04 05 Phillips, Benjamin W., Jr. (75) 72 73 Pickrell, Robert L. (85) 82 Pilling, Richard A. (74) 72 Plescha, Franz (87) 84 85 86 87 Poehler, Marcus (11) 08 Pollard, Kevin (17) 14 15 Poole, James C., Jr. (61) 60 Poorman, Douglas A. (78) 75 76 77 78 Pounds, Eric (04) 01 02 03 04 Prior, Rich (86) 83 84 85 86 Rasmussen, Cody (99) 96 97 98 99 Rechsteiner, Roger W. (76) 73 74 Reed, David J. (60) 58 Reid, Jarve G. (670 65 66 67 Riba, Bryan T. (84) 81 Riebe, Beau (13) 10 Roberson, Jeff (03) 00 01 02 03 Robertson, Greg (92) 89 90 91 92 Robinson, Eric (11) 08 09 10 11 Roesler, Nathaniel (12) 09 10 11 12 Rogas, Peter N. (79) 77 Rogers, Randy (09) 06 07 08 09 Ross, Billy (14) 11 Rough, Matt (90) 87 88 Rump, Nathan (91) 88 89 90 91 Ryan, Thomas M. (83) 80 Rye, Bryan A. (71) 69 70 Saitz, Ted (09) 06 Sayre, John R. (84) 81 82 Schenck, Roswell M. (67) 65 Scherm, Todd (95) 92 93 95 Schiffl, Louis (97) 94 Schmidt, Paul M. (72) 69 Scholtz, Joe (98) 95 Schrott, John W., III (67) 66 Schulenberg, Michael S. (85) 82 83 Scott, Christopher S. (71) 69 70 Seamster, Robert A. (79) 76 77 Seigler, Stephen S. (67) 65 66 67 Selz, Scott (92) 89 90 91 92 Shaffer, Timothy A. (76) 74 75 76
Sharif, Khalil (04) 01 03 04 Sharpe, Steve (91) 88 89 90 91 Sheehan, Stephen D. (65) 64 Shelbourne, Peter (15) 12 13 Sheridan, Jim (91) 88 Shinnick, Joseph T. (85) 82 Shipstead, Matt (01) 98 99 00 01 Sievers, Matt (07) 04 05 06 07 Simmons, Barry N. (81) 81 Simpson, James R. (82) 79 80 81 Simpson, Wendell P., III (80) 78 79 80 Sittig, Ryan (13) 10 11 Skillman, Thomas C. (75) 72 73 74 75 Sloan, Sam (15) 12 13 14 15 Smiley, Floyd M., Jr. (70) 68 Smiley, Jeffrey L. (69) 67 68 69 Smith, Andrew (00) 97 98 99 Smith, Brian C. (81) 78 Smith, Peter (89) 86 Smith, Warren (Cole) (12) 09 10 11 12 Snyder, Francis E. (79) 76 77 78 79 Songster, Timothy (93) 90 91 92 93 Soukup, Greg (92) 89 90 91 92 Specht, David J. (83) 80 81 Spees, Jason (95) 92 Spires, Dan (88) 85 86 87 88 Squires, Dave (94) 91 92 93 94 Steadman, Drew (00) 97 Stedman, Randall S. (81) 78 79 80 81 Stein, Eugene (93) 90 91 92 93 Steinfort, Edward (02) 99 00 01 Steipp, Chad (01) 98 Steward, Parker (02) 99 Stinson, Robert W. (75) 72 Stoddard, Jeffrey J. (84) 81 82 Stolee, Andrew (04) 01 Stronko, Samuel (17) 14 Strabley, Shawn (03) 00 Straw, William E. (67) 65 Strom, Alex (15) 12 13 14 15 Stronko, Jake (13) 10 11 Stump, Hugh D. (65) 63 64 Sullivan, Paul B. (81) 78 79 80 81 Sumrall, Rich (86) 83 84 85 86 Swinburn, Jaron (16) 13 Symens, Terry M. (75) 72 73 74 75 Talbott, Donald R. (65) 63 64 65 Temple, Grant (18) 15 Tharaldson, Derek (98) 95 96 97 98 Thompson, Garrett J. (84) 81 82 83 Thompson, James M. (73) 70 71 72 73 Thompson, Jeffrey G. (81) 78 79 80 Thurber, Alan (90) 85 86 89 90 Tibbitts, Stephen W. (75) 73 74 75 Tillery, Kristopher (17) 14 15 Tipton, Aaron (16) 13 Toepfer, Michael W. (89) 85 86 87 88 Toner, Shane (15) 12 Toth, Charles (01) 98 99 00 01 Treason, Thomas A. (65) 64 65 Trimble, Eric (03) 00 03 Trimble, Jack R. (70) 68 69 70
Tritico, Hans (99) 96 Umberger, Ryan (13) 10 Uzelac, Nick (07) 04 05 06 07 Vance, Brian A. (73) 70 71 Vallejo, Dominic (16) 13 14 15 Vandam, David K. (77) 74 75 76 77 Vandam, Patrick (06) 03 Van Valkenburg, Kyle (10) 07 08 09 10 Vetter, Mike (92) 89 90 91 92 Vivadelli, J.H. (13) 10 Walker, Weston (13) 10 11 Walls, Matt (16) 13 14 15 Walsh, Brian J. (83) 80 Ward, Timothy J. (83) 80 Warner, John J. (69) 67 68 69 Waters, Steven C. (80) 77 78 79 80 Watson, Charles D. (66) 64 65 66 Weber, David B. (71) 71 Weinberg, Norman A. (76) 74 75 76 Weiser, Sam (15) 12 13 14 15 Welling, Karol R. (83) 80 Whinnery, Cyrus C. (88) 85 86 87 88 White, Bishop, III (64) 62 63 White, Brent (13) 10 11 12 13 White, Gordon (06) 03 05 White, Richard H. (69) 67 Whitted, James M. (62) 60 Whitting, Drew (93) 90 91 93 Wiegman, Stanley F. (80) 77 78 79 80 Wierzbanowski, Jason (95) 92 93 94 95 Wilcoxon, Robert B. (82) 79 80 Willhite, Brian (10) 07 Williams, David L. (82) 79 80 Williams, Earl R. (67) 65 Williams, John (83) 82 83 Williams, Thomas A. (80) 77 78 79 80 Wilson, Layne (09) 06 07 08 Wise, Richard M. (78) 75 Woodward, Jasper S. (82) 79 80 81 Wooton, Joseph (81) 78 79 80 81 Yamashiro, Kai (09) 06 07 08 09 Yamashiro, Kimo (06) 03 05 Yee, Alex (10) 07 Young, George O., III (65) 64 65 Young, Paul (13) 10 11 Zappia, Michael A. (80) 77 Zillweger, Nathaniel (16) 13 14 15 Zuber, Jay (89) 86 Zwyer, James (95) 92 93 94 95
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World Class AthletE Program World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) The Air Force World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) is a two-year program that provides active duty, national guard and reserve Air Force personnel the opportunity to train and compete at national and international sports competitions with the ultimate goal of selection to the United States Olympic team. The WCAP is not a developmental program; it targets athletes who have achieved world class status in their sport. If selected, the athlete will be assigned to Headquarters Air Force Services Agency, San Antonio, Texas, with a duty location near elite coaches and/or world class training facilities. Candidates must remain competitive for a U.S Olympic team position to remain in the program, which ends with the Olympic Trials or after competing with the national team at the Olympics. Capt. Eli Bremer, a 2000 gradute, competed in the Beijing Olympics.
James Bales, a 2001 graduate, is currently training in Colorado Springs under the WCAP “The Air Force WCAP has alin an attempt to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in the lowed me to continue to swim triathlon. and compete to pursue my athFormer Air Force swimmers that letic goals, while I still get to pursue my long-term goal of have served as members of the WCAP in 2008 include becoming a pilot.” -2nd Lt. Capt. Eli Bremer, 2nd Lt. Chris Knaute and 2nd Lt. Paul Parmenter. Bremer, a 2000 graduate of the AcadChris Knaute, class of 2007 emy, competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the modern pentathlon. Meanwhile, Knaute and Parmenter, both 2007 graduates, participated in the U.S. Olympic Trials in swimming in 2008. Both spent a year in Charlotte, N.C., training at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Center, mentored by former Auburn head coach Dave Marsh.
James Bales (two photos above), a 2001 graduate, trained for the 2012 Olympics.
Currently, 2nd Lt. Ryan Dunne (‘15) is training for the 2016 Olympic Trials.
Lt. Chris Knaute (left) and Lt. Paul Parmenter (right) both trained for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials at the Mecklenburg (N.C.) Aquatic Center, a USA Swimming Center of Excellence.
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World Class AthletE Program
Maj. Evan Parr (‘05) F-22 Pilot, 19th Flight Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
Maj. Matt Ihlenfeld (’01) USAF Reserves KC-135 Pilot The Pentagon
Capt. Mike Foster (‘99) Physicist
Matt Dunker (’98) JP Morgan Executive Director, Emerging Markets Trading MBA - Johnson School, Cornell University London, UK
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World Class AthletE Program Capt. Matt Karmondy (‘06) Received Master’s Degree in F-22 Pilot Aviano, Italy
Maj. Eric Pounds (‘04) C-17 Pilot, USAFA, AOC Candidate U.S. Air Force Academy, CO
Capt. Stewart Parker (‘02) Air Force Special Tactics
Capt. T.J. Cowling (‘08) Flight Commander Offutt, Neb.
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cadet natatorium
Newly Refurbished Cadet Natatorium The Air Force Academy Cadet Natatorium underwent a complete renovation during the 2010-11 season and re-opened during the summer of 2011. The upgrades make the Cadet Natatorium one of the premier and state-of-the-art on-campus swimming venues in college athletics. - All new pool with ability to practice and compete at short-course and long-course lengths. - Starting blocks on both ends of pool. - New platform diving tower. - Added pool deck space during practices and competition. - Stairways leading up to stands (previously ladders). - One of the nation’s finest Swimming Fitness Rooms located adjacent to the Natatorium. - New team rooms. - New lockers for both teams. - LED video board. - Updated lighting. - New roof design.
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THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY The United States Air Force Academy offers a four-year program of instruction and experience designed to educate, train and inspire men and women to become officers of character, motivated to lead the United States Air Force in service to our nation. Each cadet graduates with a bachelor of science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.
Course of Study Cadets are exposed to a balanced curriculum that provides the knowledge, skills and responsibilities essential to a career Air Force officer. The entire USAFA experience is integrated and mapped to achieve a set of desired outcomes in every graduate. The core academic curriculum includes courses in basic sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities. Cadets take additional elective courses to complete requirements for one of 32 major areas of study. About 50 percent of the cadets complete majors in science and engineering; the remainder graduate in the social sciences and humanities. Some of the most popular majors include management, aeronautical engineering, foreign area studies, history, behavioral science, civil engineering, astronautical engineering, electrical engineering and engineering mechanics.
Faculty Composition The majority of the Academy’s faculty members, more than 500 total, are Air Force officers. They are selected primarily from career-officer volunteers who have established outstanding records of performance and dedication. Each has at least a master’s degree and more than 55 percent have doctorates or other terminal degrees in their field of study. About 30 percent of the faculty are civilians who bring great depth of disciplinary and educational expertise and provide academic stability and continuity. Faculty members are intensely focused on cadet learning as an integral part of their officer development. The Air Force Academy has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for the most accessible and involved faculty. To provide greater contributions by a diverse faculty, the Academy has several distinguished visiting professors and endowed professors who serve one or more years. Officers from other services, as well as officers from allied countries are also members of the faculty. Distinguished civilian and military lecturers also share their expertise with the cadets during the academic year.
Athletic Program The Academy’s athletic program is designed to improve physical fitness, teach athletic skills and develop leadership qualities. To achieve its goals, the Academy offers some of the most extensive physical education, intramural sports and intercol-
legiate athletic programs in the nation. Cadets take at least three different physical education courses each year.
Military Education and Training An air, space and cyberspace-oriented military education, training and leadership program begins with basic cadet training and continues throughout the four years. Seniors are responsible for the organizational leadership of the cadet wing, while juniors and sophomores seek to develop team and interpersonal leadership and instructional skills. Cadets are projected into as many active leadership roles as possible to prepare them to be effective Air Force officers. Fundamental concepts of military organization -drill, ethics, honor, Air Force heritage and physical training -- are emphasized the first summer during basic cadet training. Freshmen then study the military role in United States society as well as the mission and organization of the Air Force. Sophomores receive instruction in communication skills and juniors study the combat and operational aspects of the Air Force. The Academy offers courses in flying, navigation, soaring and parachuting, building from basic skills to instructor duties. Some cadets may fly light aircraft with the Cadet Flying Team. Summer training for cadets is divided into three, three-week training periods. There are a variety of programs available and each cadet is required to complete two training periods each summer with leave during the other period. All new cadets take six weeks of basic cadet training in their first summer. Combat survival training is a required threeweek program during cadets’ second summer. For other second-summer training periods, cadets have options such as working with Airmen in an operational unit at an Air Force installation, airborne parachute training, soaring or basic free-fall parachute training. During their last two summers, all cadets are offered leadership training as supervisors or instructors in the summer programs listed above. Extracurricular activities also are an integral part of the education program. The cadet ski club, drum and bugle corps, cadet chorale and forensics are a few of the programs available.
Nominations Nominations to the Academy may be obtained through a congressional sponsor or by meeting eligibility criteria in other categories of competition established by law. For information on admission procedures, write to HQ USAFA/RRS; 2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 200; USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025 or go to:
www.usafa.edu
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History of The Academy In 1948, a board of leading civilian and military educators was appointed to plan the curriculum for an academy that would meet the needs of the newly established Air Force. The board determined that Air Force requirements could not be met by expanding the other service academies and recommended an Air Force Academy be established without delay. In 1949, then Secretary of the Air Force W. Stuart Symington appointed a commission to assist in selecting a site and on April 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized creation of the United States Air Force Academy. After considering 580 sites in 45 states, the commission narrowed the choice to three locations. The summer of 1954, Secretary of the Air Force Harold Talbott selected a site near Colorado Springs, Colo. Colorado contributed $1 million toward purchase of the property. In July 1955, the first Academy class entered interim facilities at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, while construction began. It was sufficiently completed for occupancy by the cadet wing in late August 1958. Initial construction cost was $142 million. Women entered the Academy on June 28, 1976, as members of the class of 1980.
ACADEMY SENIOR LEADERS Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson is Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. She directs a four-year academic, military training, athletic and character development program leading to a bachelor’s degree and commission as an Air Force officer. The general is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Class of 1981. After graduating from the Academy, she completed graduate studies as a Rhodes Scholar before earning her pilot wings in 1984. Johnson has held numerous command positions at the
Vice Superintendent Colonel Doug Lamberth
Commandant of Cadets Brig. General Stephen C. Williams
group, wing and numbered Air Force level, and came to the Academy after serving as the Deputy, Chief of Staff, Operation and Intelligence, Supreme Headquarters Allies Powers Europe, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Casteau, Belgium. She has served in various assignments in air mobility, airlift and tanker flying operations and training, academic instruction and personnel. A command pilot, the general has more than 3,600 flying hours in the C-141, T-41, KC-10, C-17, C-5 and the KC-14 aircraft. The general’s military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze star and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Dean of Faculty Brig. General Andrew Armacost
Commander, 10th Air Base Wing Col. Troy Dunn
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Command Chief CMSgt Max Grindstaff
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS JIM KNOWLTON Jim Knowlton joined the Air Force Academy as the director of athletics on March 22, 2015. In this capacity he oversees 27 intercollegiate varsity sports, physical education, intramurals and all physical testing and evaluation at the Academy. Prior to the Air Force Academy, Knowlton served as the director of athletics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and was responsible for overseeing the Institute’s 12 men’s and 11 women’s NCAA intercollegiate varsity teams and three junior varsity squads, involving more than 600 student-athletes, as well as intramurals. In his time in Troy, Knowlton helped develop the strategic vision for the athletic department, implemented a new athletics branding initiative, increased two-way communication with the student-athletes, created and filled many key positions, and facilitated renovations to the Houston Field House as well as the construction of the $102M first phase of Rensselaer’s East Campus Athletic Village. Prior to joining Rensselaer, Knowlton served as the director of the Center for Enhanced Performance at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. In that position, he led a staff of 50 professionals who deliver training for peak performance in athletics, academics, and military endeavors to cadets, soldiers, and athletes both on and off the West Point campus. From 2003 to 2006 Knowlton served as both deputy and interim director for the athletics department at West Point, where he led a staff of more than 200 people and supervised 25 intercollegiate athletic programs with more than 1,000 student-athletes. During his tenure, West Point set the stage to earn its first NCAA national championship in more than 50 years.
Jim Knowlton addresses crowd at AFA Hall of Fame Banquet
Knowlton received a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1982 from West
Jim Knowlton at press conference introducing head women’s basketball Chris Gobrecht Point, where he was a four-year letterwinner and captain of the varsity hockey team. After 10 years of organizational leadership positions of increasing responsibility in the U.S. Army, Knowlton received a master’s in civil engineering from Cornell University. He returned to West Point in 1992 to teach in the civil and mechanical engineering department. He was selected to lead and manage larger and more complex organizations within the Army, ultimately leading a battalion of 750 men and women while stationed at Ft. Carson, Colo., before deploying to Iraq. Knowlton is a registered professional engineer in the state of Virginia. His awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, the Air Assault Badge, and the Senior Parachutist Badge. Knowlton and his wife, Corey, have five sons: Jimmy, Patrick, Christopher, Mark and Shawn.
Jim Knowlton helping celebrate award winners at the Air Force fencing team banquet
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AIR FORCE ATHLETICS Few schools in the country have an athletic program as extensive as the Air Force Academy’s. The goals of the athletic program are to enhance the physical conditioning of all cadets, to develop the physical skills necessary for officership, to teach leadership in a competitive environment and to build character. There are three divisions of the athletic program: intercollegiate athletics, intramurals and physical education. The intercollegiate program has 17 men’s and 10 women’s NCAA-sanctioned teams, facing some of the top competition in the nation. Men’s teams are football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, cross-country, fencing, golf, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track, lacrosse, rifle, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, water polo and wrestling. The Academy fields women’s teams in basketball, cross-country, fencing, gymnastics, rifle, indoor and outdoor track, swimming and diving, soccer, tennis and volleyball. In addition, the Academy sponsors two non-NCAA programs; boxing and cheerleading. The majority of the Academy’s men’s and women’s programs compete at the NCAA Division I level in the Mountain West Conference. The Falcons compete in this conference against teams from Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawai’i (football only), Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State and Wyoming. All sports also compete against non-conference opponents, including many nationally ranked teams. The football team competes annually for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, which is emblematic of service academy football supremacy. The Falcons have won the trophy 19 times, which is more than any other academy. The USAFA Cadet Field House is one of the most impressive athletic facilities in the country. It’s a modern, versatile structure with seemingly endless uses. The $5.6 million building is five stories high and 396 feet by 426 feet, the size of three football fields laid side by side. The structure is divided into three areas--basketball arena, ice hockey arena and multipurpose area. The three sections have a combined seating capacity of more than 9,000.
Col. Brian A. Hill
Vice Director of Athletics Col. Brian A. Hill is the vice athletic director at the Air Force Academy. A 1991 Academy graduate, he began his current assignment in June, 2015. Hill was the Vice Commander, 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., from July 2013-June 2015. The 92nd ARW provides KC-135 aircraft and aircrews to support world-wide aerial refueling and airlift missions in support of the Department of Defense. Prior to this assignment, he was a student at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Colonel Hill also served as Commander, 96th Air Refueling Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Prior to his command assignment, Colonel Hill was the Deputy Executive Assistant to the Commander, Headquarters United States Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. A veteran of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Southern Watch, Joint Forge and Joint Endeavor, Hill earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1991. He is a command pilot with more than 3,100 hours in the T-1, T-3, T-37, T-38, C-130E/H and the KC-135R/T aircraft. Hill earned his master’s degree in physical education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1995 and a master’s in strategic studies from Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Ala. A three-year letterman on the Air Force football team, Hill was a team captain and second-team all-conference selection at inside linebacker in 1990. He was the Air Force Academy male MVP for the 1990-91 academic year. Hill and his wife, Suzette, have one son, Brayden, who is a junior at the Academy.
Clune Arena seats 5,858. The Cadet Ice Rink has a seating capacity of 2,470, while the multipurpose area seats 1,000 fans for track and field competitions. The $4.1-million renovation to the Cadet Track Stadium, the outdoor home of the Air Force track and field team, was completed in the fall of 2011 and is one of the premier track and field facilities in the nation. The Holaday Athletic Center, a $15.5 million completely donor funded indoor training facility, was completed in July 2011. The Cadet Fitness Center is a $9.5 million, Military Construction project, home of the Air Force Academy’s fencing practice facility and aerobics/weight lifting facility that contains a nearly 33-foot climbing wall, opened in May 2012.
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