Swim & Dive Returns with Home Meet Against Penn State

Friday, January 12

West Point, NY

5:00 PM

Army West Point

143.5

156.5

Penn State University

Swim & Dive Returns with Home Meet Against Penn State

January 13, 2024 | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

WEST POINT, NY - Army West swimming & diving returned following a month-long hiatus to host Penn State from Crandall Pool on Friday evening.

The men fell by a final score of 143.5-156.5 while the women were topped 183-117 in the team scoring. The men reached a team score of at least 143 three times across the past two seasons against power-five opponents, and improved the team score from 111 last season against the Nittany Lions while the women nearly doubled its score from last season in the same meet.

FULL RESULTS

Clara Williams paced the women in three events including a pair of second-place finishes in the 100 free (51.39) and 200 free (1:50.00) while tabbing fourth in the 100 fly (54.46). Grace Wagner also had a strong showing in the 100 free, landing in third (52.77).

Catriona Gilmore was the lone Black Knight on the women's side to win multiple events, claiming first in both the 200 IM (2:04.45) and 100 breast (1:02.69). Army remained on top in the men's 200 IM, with Alex Edwards pacing the field with a 1:49.87 finish with Kalvin Hahn just behind at 1:49.98. Kohen Rankin added another event win to his ledger in the 100 breast (54.04), with Hahn in third (56.31).

Minh Donnell and Isaac Newman continued to lead the way for the diving team, with Newman landing in second-place in both the 1M (319.80) and 3M (321.15). Adam Elahmadi posted third-place in both, while Donnell also logged a silver (3M, 281.40) and bronze (1M, 269.18) finish on the women's side.

The Firstie duo of Aurelie Migault and Melinda Zhang each registered first-place finishes as well, with Migault winning the 200 breast (2:17.12) while Zhang claimed the top spot in the 200 fly (2:01.81). Migault finished just behind Gilmore in the 100 breast, giving Army a one-two finish in the event.

The 200 free on the men's side saw Wes Tate claim the top spot, coming in with a 1:38.01 mark, while Jackson Pogue kept the first-place finishes coming with a win in the 200 fly (1:47.90). Tate also placed second in the 500 free (4:29.20) to lead the Black Knights.

Army remained strong in the sprint events, with Meghan Cole (23.84) and Owen Harlow (20.21) each tabbing second-place finishes, while Thomas Hadji placed second in the 100 free (44.82) followed by Harlow in third.

ARMY TOP FINISHERS
1M diving: Minh Donnell (269.18) - 3rd
1M diving: Isaac Newman (319.80) - 2nd
3M diving: Minh Donnell (281.40) - 2nd
3M diving: Isaac Newman (321.15) - 2nd
W 200 medley: Layne Peterson, Aurelie Migault, Melinda Zhang, Meghan Cole (1:44.05) - 2nd
M 200 medley: Alex Edwards, Kohen Rankin, James Pinter, Owen Harlow (1:29.14) - 2nd
W 200 free relay: Meghan Cole, Molly Webber, Clara Williams, Aurelie Migault (1:33.37) - 2nd
M 200 free relay: Owen Harlow, Ben Vorthmann, Kohen Rankin, Thomas Hadji (1:21.13) - 2nd
1650 free: Molly Webber (17:00.67) - 2nd
1650 free: Ian Tansill (15:31.13) - 2nd
200 free: Clara Williams (1:50.00) - 2nd
200 free: Wes Tate (1:38.01) - 1st
100 back: Layne Peterson (56.82) - 3rd
100 back: Joey Kling (50.53) - 5th
100 breast: Catriona Gilmore (1:02.69) - 1st
100 breast: Kohen Rankin (54.04) - 1st
200 fly: Melinda Zhang (2:01.81) - 1st
200 fly: Jackson Pogue (1:47.90) - 1st
50 free: Meghan Cole (23.84) - 2nd
50 free: Owen Harlow (20.21) - 2nd
100 free: Clara Williams (51.39) - 2nd
100 free: Thomas Hadji (44.82) - 2nd
200 back: Layne Peterson (2:00.96) - 1st
200 back: Joey Kling (1:49.64) - 3rd
200 breast: Aurelie Migault (2:17.12) - 1st
200 breast: Kohen Rankin (1:59.45) - 1st
500 free: Molly Webber (4:58.69) - 2nd
500 free: Wes Tate (4:29.20) - 2nd
100 fly: Clara Williams (54.46) - 4th
100 fly: Riley Groves (49.17) - 3rd
200 IM: Catriona Gilmore (2:04.25) - 1st
200 IM: Alex Edwards (1:49.87) - 1st

POST-MEET REACTIONS
"I'm very proud of the way our teams competed tonight against a very good B1G program in Penn State. We swam them last year on this very same weekend at their pool and were run out of the building - this year we went toe to toe with them from the start to the final relay. We are in the thick of our final tough training block and have put together some of our best training of the season over the last month. The team is feeling it but still brings the confidence and toughness to step up and race/dive against whoever, whenever. We certainly need to clean up some race details that weren't as sharp as they should have been and we need focus on bring the energy and excitement on deck a bit more. We welcome Bucknell to our pool tomorrow, so we get a chance to improve upon what we did here tonight! I'm excited for our Firstie Ceremony tomorrow and to have a chance to recognize our amazing Firstie Class and all that they mean to our program. But, first, it's muscle milks, dinner, stretching, hydrating, and a great night sleep." - Head Coach Brandt Nigro

"Our divers did really well going up against a Power-five team. We now have seven qualified for NCAA Zones which is the most in program history. The goal now is keeping the efforts and attitudes high even as the pressures from championship season begin to mount." - Head Diving Coach Connor Dorff

"This dual meet is definitely a good indicator of major progress and improvement for the Army team. Comparing the score to last year is like comparing two entirely different teams racing Penn State. While tonight may not have resulted in a win, I think both teams left the pool extremely impressed with themselves and more confident in our ability to be competitive on a new level." - Clara Williams

"The team fought hard every race and brought the energy until the very end! We love to battle against tough opponents but it was just a warmup for tomorrow. Like Coach Brandt always says, 'It's always darkest before the dawn,' and tomorrow's a new opportunity to swim fast." - Jackson Pogue

Pogue and the Black Knights will be back in action tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. versus Bucknell for senior day. The action can be streamed live on ESPN+.