Lofton sweeps diving competition for sixth time this season

Meyers wins three races in Army's loss to Penn

By Chris macaluso
Athletic Media Relations Intern

Senior Lucas Meyers won three races and classmate Matt Lofton won both of his dives, but the Penn Quakers were still able to outlast the Black Knights, 134.5 - 108.5, in a tight meet Saturday afternoon at Sheerr Pool.

Meyers picked up individual wins for Army in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle races and had a hand in the Black Knights’ victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay race. Teaming with the Army co-captain were freshman Richard A. Babbitt, junior Ryan Parks and freshman Steve Miller.

The wins for Meyers ended a pair of short winless streaks for him. His victory in the 100 free was his first since October 27th vs. Bucknell, and his win in the 200 free was his best finish since he placed ahead of both Columbia and Harvard in a November triangular meet.

Lofton, who qualified for the NCAA Diving Regionals with his performance last month against the Princeton Tigers, did not disappoint his teammates as he racked up another pair of victories. Lofton’s scores of 299.78 on the 1-meter and 316.50 off the 3-meter were good enough to give him his 12th and 13th victories of the year.

Rounding out the winner’s circle for the Army Black Knights were junior Dan Downs who captured first place in the 200-yard individual medley and senior Mychajlo Eliaszewskyj who was victorious in the 200-yard breaststroke. Eliaszewskyj has yet to lose a race in the 200- breast, while Downs has only finished lower than first just once in the 200 IM this year.

"The team gave a very good effort today," said head coach John O’Neill. "All of them have been training very hard and are swimming extraordinarily well. The extra work they have been putting in has enabled us to stay competitive and it should pay off during the championship meets in February."