Army Men’s Swimming & Diving Dominates Lafayette in Conference Opener

Army’s unbeaten men’s swimming and diving team captured 10 of the first 11 events, including five sweeps, en route to defeating host Lafayette, 159-120, in the Patriot League opener for both Saturday afternoon. Efri Ruthenberg, Mark Lesak and Zach Disbrow each swam a leg on the 200 medley relay along with winning an individual event to set the pace.

The Black Knights (2-0, 1-0 PL) won the first six events, with sweeps in three along with a one-two finish in two others, to take a commanding lead.

Army’s foursome of Lesak, Spencer Kelly, Disbrow and Ruthenberg teamed to take the opening 200-yard medley relay in a time of 1:38.18, beating the Black Knight’s “B” squad of John Kreitler, James McLaughlin, Jeff Tolbert and Mike Soderburg by 0.55 seconds in taking a quick 15-2 lead over their host.

Chuck Ciliske led an Army sweep of the top three places in the 1000-yard freestyle with a season-best time of 9 minutes, 49:14 seconds. Jeff Tolbert followed with a season best when he touched the wall first in the 200 freestyle behind a 1:45.94 clocking to lead a one-two Black Knight finish in that event.

Lesak was first in the 100 backstroke (54.57) and Tom Maddux clocked a season best when he beat the field in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.10) as each led sweeps in their events.

Disbrow won the 200 butterfly in 1:55.78 before Lafayette won its first event, the 50 yard freestyle. Army swept the next three places in the 50-free with Lesak turning in a team best 22.43 in that event in a second-place finish.

Greg Sievers and Zach McClain went one-two on the three-meter board with Sievers setting a career mark in compiling 324.60 points.

After Army swept the 200 back and 200 breaststroke events along with a win by Ruthenberg in the 100 freestyle (48.08), the Black Knights swam exhibition for the final five events. Quentin Walsh beat the field in the 200 back (1:59.25) and James McLaughlin touched first in the 200 breast (2:11.70).

Army makes its home debut Wednesday, Nov. 8, when it hosts Patriot League rival Holy Cross at Crandall Pool.

Pictured above: Zach Disbrow