ANNAPOLIS, MD.---- The annual Army-Navy swimming and diving meet will go head-to-head Thursday evening at Lejeune Hall in Annapolis.
The Star Meet, part of the Star Series presented by USAA, will begin at 5 p.m. Both Navy teams enter the meet with identical records this season of 7-0, Army's men's team has compiled a 2-1 record in dual meets this year.
Swimming and diving will be the first winter sport at Army to battle it out against Navy for a star this season. Army currently leads Navy in the Star Series, 5-2.
HOW TO FOLLOW
VIDEO • Patriot League Network
LIVE STATS • NavySports.com
ARMY NOTABLES
- Army set five academy and two plebe records at last year's Star Meet.
- Peter Mikheyev, Evin Rude and Ty Dang are among those returning who set an academy mark in the last meeting with Navy, while Josh Sembrano tied an academy record that he previously set himself.
- In their last outing, the Black Knights put up a meet-best 1,022 points and went on to win the three-day Terrier Invitational that wrapped up on Nov. 19.
- Following a pair of first-place showings at the meet, Hudson Kay was tabbed the Patriot League Diver of the Week.
NAVY NOTABLES
- The Midshipmen claimed last year's meet with Army by a score of 156.5-143.5.
- Navy won seven events when the two squads met last season.
- Outside of the three-day Purdue Invitational from Nov. 16-19, Navy has defeated every opposing team its way, including three Patriot League schools in American, Bucknell and Lafayette.
- Navy has won the last 26 meetings with Army.
Navy's men's team has won the annual Star Meet in each of the last 26 seasons, but last year's contest was not decided until the final event of the meet. In the end, the Mids won the 400 freestyle relay to record a narrow 156.5-143.5 win, which was the closest in the series since Navy won by seven points during the 1993-94 season.
Army won eight events during last year's meet, Navy won seven and the teams shared one first-place finish.
The Black Knights return all but one of their six swimmers who won an individual event last season, including double event winners Tom Ottman (500 free, 1000 free), Josh Sembrano (100 back, 200 back) and Evin Rude (shared 100 free, 200 free).
Conversely, the Mids return event winners Bradley Buchter (So., Hickory, N.C.), the winner of both diving boards; Connor Davis (Sr., Shelton, Conn.), who won the 50 free; and Zach Piedt (Jr., Fort Mill, S.C.), who shared the victory in the 100 free. Two of Navy's additional four wins during the 2016 meet came in the relay events, with 2017 graduate Marlin Brutkiewicz winning both breaststroke events.
Admission is free to the meet. Nearly all seating in the 1,000-seat facility is available on a first-come, first serve basis.
Parking on The Yard is limited to those vehicles driven by someone with a Department of Defense identification card. All others must either park outside of the USNA and walk through the gate one visitors center or park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (blue / west side, by the Blue Angel jet) and ride the free shuttle bus (3:30-8:30 p.m.). A government issued ID card (drivers license) must be displayed by everyone age 18 and over before they will be allowed through the gates whether they are walking or taking the shuttle bus. Those age 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.