1/8/2005 - Men's Swimming
Harvard Tops Navy in Swimming
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy men's swimming and diving team opened the 2005 calendar year with a 187-113 loss to Harvard, Saturday afternoon at Blodgett Pool in Cambridge, Mass. The loss is just the second of the season in 11 meets for the Mids, while the Crimson improved to 5-0 on the season.
Despite the loss, Navy head swimming coach Bill Roberts was pleased with the times recorded by his squad.
"In this, our first meet since our winter training trip ended, our goal was for everyone to post at least one time near or better than their previous best in-season time," said Roberts. "We accomplished that goal across the board. In addition to the overall team success, Kevin Teague (So., Lexington, Ky.) had a great meet against some top-flight competition, and Joe Smutz (Marriottsville, Md.) was great in the sprint events."
Teague ran his record to a combined 21-1 this season by winning both diving events. He posted a 321.15 to edge Danil Rybalko by less than eight points on the one meter, then recorded a 344.70 to top Lucas Sanders by 17 points on the three meter.
As a freshman last year, Teague won both events at the Patriot League Championship, placed first on the three meter and fourth on the one meter at the Eastern Sprints Championship and competed in both events at the NCAA Championship.
Smutz posted a 20.96 to win the 50-yard freestyle by one-quarter of a second, then recorded a 45.92 to claim the win in the 100-yard freestyle by one second. Both times for Smutz were the best he has recorded during a regular season meet, while the wins also were the first of his two-year career in either event.
Navy's lone additional victory came from Kevin Mukri (So., Silver Spring, Md.) who recorded a 1:53.69 to post a 3.5-second victory in the 200-yard backstroke. He now has recorded eight wins and two second-place showings in the event this season.
The Mids will be back in action Jan. 15 when Navy plays host to Cornell and Yale in a double-dual meet starting at 12 noon in Lejeune Hall.
