Eliaszewskyj, Downs take top spots in 200-yard breaststroke at Army invite

Army takes third place at home tourney

By Chris Macaluso
Athletic Media Relations Intern

Despite facing some very fierce opposition at the 2001 United States Military Academy Invitational Nov. 9 and 10, Army’s men’s swimming and diving team was still able to pick up 194 points to earn a third place showing. The Black Knights were led by senior diver Matt Lofton, who swept the one- and three-meter competitions, and by junior Dan Downs who scored a victory in the 200-yard individual medley.

St. John’s University ran away with the title, scoring 293 points. Western Kentucky finished second with 255 points and Fordham placed well behind the rest of the field in collecting 103 points.

Lofton once again dominated his competition on the diving boards at Crandall Pool. In the three-meter competition, he scored a season-high 432.75. Second place finisher Andy Ray of Western Kentucky finished with 371.40. Lofton and Ray placed first and second, respectively, on the one-meter board, with Lofton scoring a 430.55.

In eight dives this season, Lofton has been victorious seven times.

Downs’ victory in the 200 IM was his third first-place finish in as many races and fastest of the season at 1:56.55. The Army junior also recorded first-place finishes against Bucknell and Colgate.

The other big event for Army during the two-day tournament was the 200-yard breaststroke. Senior Mychajlo Eliaszewskyj and Downs stole the top two spots in the race, while junior co-captain Pat Schmidt placed fourth.

In winning the USMA Invite, the Red Storm received wins from nearly every member on its roster. Double winners for St. John’s included Pawel Sokolowski (100 and 200 freestyle) Michal Szapiel (500 and 1650 free) and Jaak Savvi (100 and 200 butterfly). This trio also made up three-quarters of the winning 400-yard medley relay team, which finished the race with in a time of 3:27.52.

Battling closely with St. John’s throughout most of the meet was Western Kentucky University. Leading the Hilltoppers were Gord Veldman and David Tucker.

Army faces Harvard and Columbia in a triangular meet in New York City tonight at 7 p.m.