Kalota earns 1st for Army

By Chris Macaluso
Athletic Media Relations Intern

The Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky University made the most of their long trip to New York by sweeping the four-team field at the 2001 United States Military Academy Swimming and Diving Invitational, with a team high 354.5 points scored. Host Army finished second with 192 points, and was followed by Fordham (154.5) and St. John’s (149). The event was held at Crandall Pool here Nov. 9 and 10.

Racking up the points for Western Kentucky were swimmers Brandi Carey, Megan Zerhusen and Sydney Mountford and diver Marci Kacsir. Carey recorded wins for the Hilltoppers in the 200- and 400- yard individual medley; Zerhusen took first-place in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, while Mountford ran away with the 200- and 500-yard free titles.

Kacsir’s closest competition on the diving boards was her own teammates. On the one-meter dive Kacsir finished with a 399.05, with fellow Hilltopper Shannon Jones close behind at 382.60. In three-meter action, Kacsir edged out teammate Trisha Nailor 347.10 to 344.25.

Army’s sole victory of the two-day meet came from junior Stacey Kalota, who was victorious in the 100-yard backstroke. Kalota’s time of 1:00.06 was just a few hundredths of a second faster that St. John’s Laura Nuudi, who touched the wall at 1:00.31.

Army faces Northeastern at Crandall Pool Saturday starting at 7 p.m.