Nov. 12, 2005
Final Stats
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Navy men's swimming and diving team improved its record to 6-0 on the season with a pair of victories over Bucknell and Lafayette, Saturday afternoon in Lewisburg, Pa. The Midshipmen recorded a 193-107 victory over the Bison and a 149-101 win over the Leopards.
"Everyone swam and dove real well for us today," said Navy men's swimming head coach Bill Roberts. "Our goals for today were to drop some time and improve technically, and I feel we accomplished what we set out to do."
After placing second in the opening 200 medley relay, Navy posted victories in the next three events to build an early lead. Kevin Mukri (Jr., Silver Spring, Md.) recorded a 9:39.52 to lead a 1-2-3 Navy finish in the 1000 freestyle, then Joe Smutz (Sr., Marriottsville, Md.) posted a 1:42.58 to win the 200 free with teammates also placing second and third in the race. Mike Linn (Sr., Newhall, Calif.) picked up Navy's third victory in a row with a time of 52.99 to win the 100 back.
Ari Molina (Fr., Arlington, Va.) placed second overall for Navy in the 100 breast, as did Andrew Thorn (So., Elizabethtown, Pa.) in the 200 fly, then Smutz claimed victories in back-to-back events, the 50 free (21,26) and the 100 free (46.95). Sandwiched between the two Smutz victories was Kevin Teague (Jr., Lexington, Ky.) winning the one-meter diving event with a score of 304.72.
Navy swimmers would place second in the next two events - Daniel Mizelle (So., Rockville, Va.) in the 200 back and Molina in the 200 breast - before Mukri picked up his second victory of the day with a win in the 500 free (4:48.42).
Linn (51.71) and Thorn (52.67) placed first and second for Navy in the 100 fly, with Thorn following with a time of 1:56.68 to win the 200 individual medley. Teague posted a score of 359.47 to win the three-meter springboard in between the two races.
Navy closed the day by winning the 200 free relay in a time of 1:24.76.
"We had some real unsung heroes helping us out today," said Roberts. "There were a number of real strong second, third and fourth-place finishes which really helped carry us."
The Midshipmen will face their first Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League opponents of the season next Saturday when Navy plays host to Brown and Dartmouth in Lejeune Hall.
