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AARs from Previous Weekend

15 April 2009

Þ Team Handball Men – 2009 National Champions!!!

Army Wins Collegiate National Championship

The Army Men’s Team Handball program won the 2009 Collegiate National Championship this weekend at the Air Force Academy by going undefeated in pool play and defeating the University of North Carolina, 38-26, in the gold medal match. Army continued its dominance at the collegiate level with its third straight title. In addition, Army’s developmental team, Army Gold, completed its best tournament of the year and finished in 4^thplace.

Army combined stingy defense with frantically-paced fast breaks, often started by the court vision and pin-point passing from goalkeeper Dexter Wise, to open up a ten goal lead on North Carolina within the first 15 minutes of play in the championship game. North Carolina would not go away that quickly, though, as the playmaking ability of Scott Knox, the tournament’s MVP, helped UNC to cut the lead to 16-10 with under ten minutes to play in the first half. However, Army’s experience, speed, and skill proved to be too much for the overmatched Tar Heels. Led by seniors Brian Walsh, Justin Key, and Jake Abramowitz, Army pushed its lead to 23-12 at halftime and all but buried the team from UNC. The second half was a mere formality as UNC never cut the deficit to single digits. Army utilized a formula of a balanced offensive attack, relentless fast breaks, physical and often rough defense, and stellar goalie play to find success in the 2009 Collegiate Championships. They began the tournament with a victory over a College Select team, consisting of players from across the nation, 21-14. They grinded out a victory in their next game, a championship preview against North Carolina, 21-19.

On Saturday afternoon, Army battled its military rival Air Force in the Service Academy Cup. As if the rivalry would not provide enough drama, USA Team Handball and the US Olympic Committee televised the event live on the website www.TeamUSA.org and a spot in the championship game was on the line. The game, like almost any matchup between the two teams, featured high intensity, fast-paced play, and plenty of emotion. In the end, though, Army came out on top 29-26.

Army’s work for the season is not done, however. The club seeks to build upon this momentum for the Open National Championship in Chicago, May 8-10, which will feature the nation’s 16 best teams, most of which feature players with a lifetime of experience in both the U.S. and Europe.

Champs 2

Þ Volleyball Men - 8-12 Apr 09

The Men’s Volleyball Team traveled to Kansas City, MO, for the National Tournament. The team entered into Division II and joined a 48-team field. The Army team played its best volleyball of the year. The team went 2-1 on Thursday defeating Augustana, St. Johns (Minnesota), and lost a tough 3-game match against St. Louis University. The team then had a challenge match on Friday morning against University of Maryland Baltimore County where the team took control early and maintained it throughout the match. This victory placed the team in a 3-team pool for the afternoon with the top two teams moving on to the Gold Bracket for Saturday. The team again showed great composure rebounding from a 3-game loss to Millersville to defeat a solid and rowdy team from the College of New Jersey. This win put Army in the gold bracket for Saturday, accomplishing one of the goals the team had set out to reach at the beginning of this season. On Saturday morning, the team faced Messiah, the defending Division II National Champion. The teams were equal as both sides responded to the other with big blocks and kills. The match went into the tie-breaking 15-point third game. Army held a 13-11 lead but could not hold on as Messiah won the match 16-14. The team left their heart on the court and although it was a difficult loss, by the next morning the team was satisfied with the effort and level of play. A number of observing coaches and players commented on the quality of the team. Throughout the tournament, it was obvious that setter Kevin Habick and Scott Browne, the two firsties on the team, had been playing together for four years now as their timing seemed effortless, ending in big kill after big kill. The offense ran smoothly all around with the timing of faster sets finally clicking for outsides Paul Roeder and Scott Howe. The team also had its best blocking all year led by Mike Kim and Sal Minopoli. Libero Mike Campbell excited the team and the crowd with some awesome defensive ups and some full lay-outs doing anything possible to prevent the ball from hitting the ground. The team was supported by 2007 grad and ex-Army volleyball player 1LT Kyle Storjohann and his wife. The Army team acquired more and more fans throughout the tournament, representing themselves and the Academy with the tough and disciplined play the team has shown all year. The team has improved exponentially since its first practice in September and is somewhat satisfied finishing 9th in the nation.

Natls Kansas City 1 Natls Kansas City 2

Þ Climbing – 11-12 Apr 09

The competition started late at 1730 and the team began to climb at a carefully paced rate. Competitors had four hours to climb any combination of boulder problems and top rope routes to make up their top five climbs. Competitors from Tuffts University, Yale, and University of Connecticut as well as many climbers not affiliated with a school, were present. Time was called at 2130 and the dyno competition began while results were being tallied. Christina Veney, Scott Mead and James Whitler all presented solid performances in the dyno comp. The team took an overall 3rd place behind Yale and UCONN and Margaret Susman led the women’s intermediate division. Many West Point competitors climbed above their originally intended level and were bumped in the bottom of the next category, precluding any chance at a division win. Awards ended at 2330 and the weary team arrived back at West Point at 0140 Easter morning.

OS_Gunks-Baby SM_CCS CT 4-11

Þ Cycling - 11 Apr 09

Saturday, the USMA Cycling team traveled to Yale. Saturdays racing began bright and early with the Individual Time Trial. In cold temperatures, wind, and rain, the cycling team showed why it is consistently one of the top teams every week this season. In a tough 4.3 mile individual time trial that went through a neighborhood area before climbing to the top of the rock for the finish, Jess Davis (11) took fifth in the Women’s B Category, and Greg Keith (12) took ninth in the Men’s D category, Blake Hawthorne (09) won in the Mens C category, Courtney Rehwoldt (09) finished in 3rd place for the Women’s A category, and Steve Pingree (09) finished in 8th in the Men’s A category. The second race that day was the circuit race ending at the same grueling hill as the time trial. Despite a mechanical failure and a small accident in the Men’s D category, all riders finished safely; Greg Keith (12) once again gave a standout performance finishing in 3rd. Easter Sundays Criterium began bright and early with much better weather but a howling wind. In the Mens A field, Derek Merkler (09) finished top for Army with a 7th place finish; Eric Wilburn (10) had been a favorite to win the race but had a nasty crash on the final lap. In the women’s A race, Courtney Rehwoldt (09) earned a 6th and 7th place finish in the Criterium and the Circuit Race, while Yearling Jess Davis took 5th place in the Criterium. Blake Hawthorne ended up destroying the field with 1st places finishes in the ITT and the Circuit and a 5th place finish in the Criterium, earning him the title: Yales King of the Mountain. CDT Gregory Keith scored 2nd place in the Criterium and 3rd in the Circuit. Out of 45 schools, Army finished 6th overall. Looking forward, Army cycling will be racing at Dartmouths Lenfer du Nord on the 17 and 18 of April, a long race that promises to play to the endurance that Army has built.

Þ Crew – 11 Apr 09

This past weekend Army Crew had their first and last Home Regatta of the Season against rivals Marist along with University of Rhode Island and Rochester Institute of Technology. The team appreciates all of the Cadets that came out to support in spite of the elements. The weather made for a tough competition characterized by cold winds and rough water. Every Army boat fought hard. The Men’s Varsity Eight defeated Marist, RIT, And URI. The Women’s Novice Eight came in second to RIT but were victorious over Marist. The Women’s Varsity Eight came in second to Marist. The two Army Men’s Novice Eight boats finished second and third respectively to a strong Marist Eight on Saturday. Unfortunately, the final races of the day were cancelled due to inclement weather. Overall the day was a memorable last home race for the graduating firsties.