June 19, 2008
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Two of the most decorated Army swimmers in the history of the program will be competing later this month at the USA Swimming Olympic Team Trials. Zach Disbrow (USMA '07) and Jake Mentele (USMA '08) will both be in action during the six-day event from June 29 to July 6 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.
"This is a great opportunity for both of these guys to swim against the best this country has to offer," said Army head swimming coach Mickey Wender, who will accompany the duo during their trip to Nebraska. "It has been an honor to work with and coach them both and I look forward to them putting forth everything they have when they jump in the pool later this month."
Mentele qualified for the meet in both the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke events, while Disbrow made the cut in the 100 butterfly during last season's USA Swimming Spring Championships. Mentele qualified with a 1:04.60 in the 100 breast and a 2:19.24 in the 200 breast, while Disbrow clocked a 55.50 in the 100 butterfly.
Mentele will swim in the 100 breast prelims during the first session on the first day of the meet, while the 200 breast prelims are scheduled for July 2. Disbrow will be in action on July 4. All prelim sessions are scheduled to start at 12:00 a.m. EST followed by semifinal sessions at 7:45 p.m. EST.
Earlier this year, Mentele was named the Patriot League Championship Male Swimmer of the Meet after a weekend that included three individual events titles at the conference championships The Sioux Falls, S.D. native defended his title in the 200 breastroke after swimming the fastest times in the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke. He also swam legs on the third-place 400 medley relay and the fourth-place 200-medley relay as well as both the fifth-place 200 and 400 freestyle relays. His efforts finished a four-year career that saw him compile more points at the Patriot League Championships than every other member of the Class of 2008 from all eight schools in the conference.
Disbrow also capped his senior season with Patriot League Championship Male Swimmer of the Meet honors in 2007 after winning six titles during the conference finals. The Orinda, Calif. native took top honors in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly, while adding legs to the victorious 400 medley, 800 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays. Disbrow ranks second all-time in Academy history in the 200 butterfly, while standing third in the 50 freestyle, third in the 100 butterfly and fifth in the 100 freestyle. He was also the only two-time team captain in the history of the program. He returned this past spring to serve as an athletic intern with the Black Knights.
