The Army West Point Baseball Team got back in the win column after taking down Stephen F. Austin, 5-4, here Tuesday night in extra innings. A Blake Ledoux RBI-walk in the top of the 12th proved to be the deciding factor as Army registered its sixth win of the year. The Black Knights loaded the bases with one out following a single and two walks. Ledoux then stepped into the batters box to earn the Cadets' third-straight walk, breaking the 4-4 deadlock. Cam Opp closed out the game in the bottom half of the 12th for his second win of the year on the mound. Opp finished his night giving up a hit and a walk in 1.1 innings. Anthony Giachin, Trey Martin, and Jeremiah Adams led Army with two hits each. Ledoux finished with a team-high two RBI, while five different Black Knights' recorded a run in the game. Martin and Drake Titus both registered a double for their fifth and first of the year, respectively. Martin also converted on a sacrifice bunt. Jacob Hurtubise and Titus each earned a stolen base. Mike Gagliardi pitched the first four innings, giving up four hits and three runs. Anthony LoRicco and Ray Bartoli joined Opp in coming in for relief. LoRicco allowed four hits and one run in 4.0 innings of work, while Bartoli pitched 2.2 innings giving up a hit and a walk. Army allowed three extra base hits during the game, including the game-tying home run in the seventh inning. The Black Knights' four-man pitching staff compiled nine strikeouts, while SFA registered 11 throughout its nine pitchers used. Read more

Rookie 141-pounder Corey Shie and firstie 197-pounder Rocco Caywood of the Army West Point Wrestling Team earned at-large bids to the NCAA Championships in Pittsburgh, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon. The Black Knights now have six wrestlers in the national tournament, along with cows Lucas Weiland (157 lbs.), Cael McCormick (165 lbs.), Ben Harvey (174 lbs.) and Noah Stewart (184 lbs.). This is the most NCAA qualifiers for Army since the 2008 season. Shie became the first plebe Cadet to qualify for the NCAA Championships since Bryce Barnes in 2013 after finishing fourth place at the conference tournament.

The Fairfield, Ohio, native owns a 26-14 record in his first collegiate season, including a team-best 16 bonus point wins on seven falls, two technical falls and seven major decisions. Caywood qualified for the second straight year after collecting an at-large bid last season. The Toledo, Ohio, native went 1-2 last season at NCAAs and currently sports a record of 25-6 following his seventh-place finish at the EIWA Championships. Shie, Weiland, McCormick, Harvey, Stewart and Caywood will compete at the NCAA Championships at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh from March 21-23. Read more.

Ten cadets of USMA Model United Nations team traveled to Boston, Massachusetts to participate in Harvard National Model United Nations Conference (HNMUN) hosted by Harvard University. HNMUN presented the West Point MUN team with the opportunity to develop public speaking skills, gain knowledge of international affairs, and represent the United States Army and the Academy in a professional and positive way to an international student audience with many universities in attendance.

Through participation in this conference, the cadets in attendance had the unique opportunity to build relationships with the United States' future civilian leadership, as well as those from foreign schools in attendance, through participation through the debate sessions and social events hosted by the conference. The conference ended with multiple individual awards given to cadets, with the entire team performing well and displaying exceptional speaking skills, negotiation, and cooperative problem solving with over 1,600 other students from domestic and international universities. The following cadets were individually recognized for their outstanding performances: John Lorenz '20, Katarina Christianson '21, Benjamin Snyder '21 and William Hogan '22. The following cadets were also integral to the team's success: Joseph Kyburz '20,  Jacob Bozlee '21, Hunter Hill '20, Joseph Moore, Wesley Swain '20 and Maxwell McVicar '20.

Firstie Women's Basketball Captain Jess Lewis was named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team for her tireless work on and off the court. Lewis was one of five members of the team and she earned the honor for the first time in her career. Voting for the Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Academic All-Patriot League team is conducted by the League's women's basketball sports information directors. She has a 3.83 grade point average as a Life Sciences major at West Point and also contributes to the Academy in many ways. She is the Brigade Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Officer at West Point as well as the Patriot League SAAC Officer. She was named to the Dean's List every semester as a cadet and has been named a distinguished cadet as well. Lewis will attend medical school following graduation with aspirations of becoming a doctor. Read more.

The Army West Point Rifle Team was ranked sixth in the final College Rifle Coaches Association Poll.

The designation comes after the Black Knights placed sixth at the 2019 NCAA Rifle Championship in Morgantown, W.V., this past weekend. It is the highest ranking for the team this season.

The Cadets saw consistent improvement over the course of the season after being ranked 12th in the preseason CRCA poll. 

Due to his outstanding performance against Mercyhurst in the First Round of the Atlantic Hockey Tournament Playoffs, Mason Krueger of the hockey team was named the Army West Point Athletic Association Athlete of the Week. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native posted four critical points in the team's pair of victories including an assist on Friday night, and two goals and a helper on Saturday. For the second time in three games, Krueger scored two goals. His pair of scores came within a three-minute span which helped lift the Black Knights past the Lakers and to clinch the series.

Krueger's three points on Saturday was a career-high and his two goals tied his career-best. The Black Knights went 4-0 against Mercyhurst on the road this past season after only winning one game prior to the 2018-19 season. The Cadets continue on to the Atlantic Hockey Tournament Quarterfinals with a best-of-three series at top-seeded AIC Friday through Sunday. Read more.

Army Powerlifting competed in the USPA Collegiate National Powerlifting Competition, held at Ohio University. Army’s male team won its first team USPA Collegiate National Championship. In addition to numerous state and national records, APL’s Brendan Brown (83kg) and Elaine Haggard (60kg) became individual national champions, placing 1st in their weight classes. Brendan Brown, Brian Degori, and Jonathan Linden set new junior world records in the squat, bench, and deadlift.

Cadet Caneel Dixon ’20, had the opportunity to work in Bosnia and Herzegovina this summer as part of her Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD). “I learned how to educate and lead people whose ages ranged from 4 to 40. Every day I would teach four English classes at various levels. All of my students, regardless of age, were extremely excited and ready to learn. For almost everyone I taught, this was their first chance to speak with a native English speaker and learn about the United States from a U.S. citizen instead of in the news. Additionally, I was able to travel on the weekends to see natural wonders across Bosnia. It is truly a beautiful country and I am so grateful for this experience to broaden my perspective and appreciate another culture,” Dixon said of her experience abroad.

USMA’s Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD) program is a key component of the Margin of Excellence, which is made possible through the generous donations of graduates, parents and friends of West Point. Cadets spend two to four weeks, primarily during the summer academic break, conducting academically enriching studies, service, research, and cultural immersions. In the summer of 2018, approximately 450 cadets traveled internationally, and more than 650 traveled domestically.
Learn more about supporting the Margin of Excellence at West Point

The Army West Point Handball Team traveled without their firsties due to 100th night. The firsties are starters at 6/7 of the positions. So, to compensate for the loss they combined both the "JV" and "Varsity" teams and CPT Walsh as a stand-in OIC and substitute player. This was the first tournament playing with this combined team. They played the UVA's Alumni Team, Long Island Tigers, one of North Carolina's Alumni Teams, and NYACK day one, ending the day 3-1, only losing to NYACK by 6. This allowed the team into the semifinals as the 3rd ranked team, winning the first playoff game against another one of North Carolina's alumni teams but, being defeated in the championship by NYACK. Kendrick Thomas was the high goal scorer.

Twelve members of the competitive climbing team competed at the Indoor collegiate climbing competition, in the disciplines of sport, bouldering, and speed, at Gravity Vault in Hoboken, NJ CDT Elizabeth Bradley '22 earned 2nd Place in Female Bouldering. CDT Jessica Reimchen and CDT Matthew Bassette earned 8th place in Female and Male Speed Climbing respectively. CDT Keegan Fitzpatrick and CDT Christopher Dean earned 8th and 9th place in the discipline of Sport Climbing.

The Army West Point softball team rebounded with an 8-3 victory over Butler at the Eddie C. Moore Complex on Wednesday. The Black Knights improved to 8-14 on the season, while the Bulldogs dropped to 8-12. Four Black Knights recorded multiple hits in the game, led by Bianca Gonzalez's three-hit effort. Taylor Drayton, Emily Ballesteros and Taylor Livingston also added two hits each. Ballesteros scored a team-high two runs, while Livingston drove in two. Army collected the victory with a balanced offense, with seven players scoring a run and driving one in. In the circle, Macey Newbary, Jolie Duong and Renee Poirier stymied the Butler offense, scattering six hits in the afternoon. Newbary tossed the first three innings before Duong entered. The rookie from Houston, Texas allowed just one hit in 2.0 innings of work while fanning a pair of Bulldogs. Poirier returned to form to shut the door through the final two innings, giving up just one hit as well. Butler captured an early lead for the second day in-a-row with a two-spot in the bottom of the first. Gonzalez provided a response for the Black Knights the following inning when she cut the lead in half with an RBI single that plated Ballesteros. Read more.

Plebe all-arounder Mathew Davis was tabbed the Eastern College Athletic Conference Gymnast of the Week after his career-high day against Springfield. The Frisco, Texas, native won the meet with a new personal standard of 81.100. He championed the floor exercise (14.150) and still rings (13.750).

On vault, Davis captured career-high marks of 14.250. He was third on parallel bars (13.600) to lead Army gymnasts, while ranking third again on high bar at 13.150. The Black Knights compete at William & Mary this Saturday with in a tri-meet. Springfield will also be in attendance for the 1 p.m. meet. Read more.

The Army West Point baseball team defeated Stephen F. Austin here Wednesday night, 8-5, to sweep the midweek series. Army shifted to .500 (7-7) on the year after the win and have now registered at least seven runs in six of its seven victories this year. The Black Knights jumped in front early 4-0 but saw their host rally back to knot the score in the sixth inning. Fortunately for the Cadets they used a big seventh inning to ultimately put the game away. Anthony Giachin finished the night 3-for-5 with a run batted in and three runs scored. Andre Walden and Tim Simoes chipped in two hits each, while both also added multiple RBIs. Walden brought home three runs and Simoes reeled in two. Army received solid pitching in the game, beginning with starter Logan Smith. The cow allowed just three hits and three runs (two earned) in 5.0 innings on the mound. Harry Flannery then came in for relief and closed out the final 4.0 innings. The Garrett Park, Md., native gave up four hits and two runs (one earned) in his first win of the year. Read more.

Pipes and Drums Cadets participated in the Highland Falls St Patrick's Day parade, marching from MyTown Mart down Main Street to Thayer Gate. They paused at several locations along the route to playing different songs.

They also visited Greenwood Lake in support of Celtic Day at the American Legion. Cadets interacted with the community and veterans, including a WWII veteran who ate lunch with several of the upperclass cadets. The band performed twice and cadets took several opportunities to speak with grade school students about the Academy and the Army.

Firstie captain Dalton MacAfee of the Army West Point hockey team received Atlantic Hockey All-Conference honors, announced by the league on Tuesday. "Dalton has had an exceptional year on the ice for us, but what people don't realize are his leadership abilities," said head coach Brian Riley. "On the ice, he has been our most valuable player and played in every situation possible and, as a result, he logs big minutes every game. His leadership has enabled this team to have a high belief factor even during the toughest of times. He is very deserving of this recognition, and it's good to see that his ability is recognized by other coaches throughout the league."

MacAfee was named to the second team as he earned post season honors for the first time in his illustrious career at Army. Named a senior captain for the 2018-19 season, MacAfee was a leader for the Black Knights on and off the ice. The defenseman from Needham, Mass., topped the Black Knights with 25 assists and 38 points in the regular season. He rarely left the ice as he served on the top power play and penalty kill units. Of his 33 points, MacAfee posted a league-high 20 on the power play with 16 being assists. He has been the anchor of the nation's fifth-best power play with the team converting at 26.1-percent, scoring 37 times. The 37 power play goals ranked third-best in the country. Read more.

The Army Women's Team Handball traveled to the Philadelphia where a new women's handball team is forming. The PA Team Handball club hosted their first ever match when they invited 10 members of Army West Point's women's team handball to compete with them. As the teams were preparing the court, several members like CDT Holland Pratt, '22 used the time to focus and get their mind set for the game. Both teams worked on their fundamentals of flowing the ball around the defense to create openings and then attacking those openings. They also worked on coordinating the defense to cover the attackers. Several players worked on making successful attacking drives like CDT Maggie Weir, '22. West Point won the tightly contested match 23 to 18. After the match the team was privileged to have a guided tour of the Battleship New Jersey which fought in WW2, Korea, Vietnam and the Lebanon conflict.

The West Point Fencing team competed at the NIWFA women’s championship and the MACFA men’s championship. The women’s team won best club team and the women’s epee team placed third. The team beat Navy. Women's Epee earned 3rd place and the entire team finished 5th overall. 19 teams participated most of which are Varsity D1 teams. Women's fencing foiled Navy again earning their 3rd star. The team won best sportsman award and CDT Sharpsten won recognition as a scholar/athlete. Great showing by the Men's Fencing Team. The epee team placed 12th out of 15, the foil team placed 11th and the saber team placed 8th. CDT Papa was selected to compete in the individual tournament, but was eliminated in the first round. The team was awarded the annual Sportsmanship Award for the second year in a row.

The Army West Point Men's Swimming and Diving Team finished the opening day of the CSCAA National Invitational on Thursday with 156.5 points. The 156.5 points have the Black Knights sitting in ninth in a field of 24 schools. The relay squad of Nathan Hein, Hogan Harper, Kevin Lin and Evan Zhang opened the finals with a 10th-place finish in the 200 free relay. The foursome posted a time of 1:22.25. In the 50 fly, Hein took eighth at 22.42. Hein's finish came after James Bilbrey finished fourth in the B-Final at 22.39. Zhang scored for the Black Knights with a fifth-place showing in the 50 breast. Lawrence Quintana took fourth in the B-Final at 25.59. In the B-Final of the 500 free, Lin (4:32.13) and Jack Venker (4:32.51) finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Harper rounded out the B-Final in the 50 back with a time of 23.69. The 200 IM was highlighted by Brian McKenrick's sixth-place finish at 1:46.33. Hein finished ninth in the 50 free with a time of 20.75. His performance came after Harper took sixth in the B-Final at 20.75. Army finished the opening day by placing fifth in the 400 medley relay. McKenrick, Zhang, James Bilbrey and Hein posted a time of 3:14.65. Read more.

Nineteen members of the USMA Black Knights Drill Team competed against twenty-three schools from Army ROTC programs from across the United States, as well as the Naval and Air Force Academies in the 2019 College Drill Nationals at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. The team competed in six competitive categories and earned 3rd place overall and 2nd place in the Platoon Exhibition category.

The Army West Point Women's Swimming and Diving Team finished the opening day of the CSCAA National Invitational on Thursday with 15 points. The 15 points have the Black Knights sitting in 29th in a field of 42 schools. Lauren Carag highlighted the 50 back for the Black Knights by winning the B-Final. The freshman posted an Academy and plebe record of 25.16. Carag later swam the opening leg of the 400 medley squad that finished 19th. Rebecca Morel, Isabelle Malinowski and Meaghan McGovern joined Carag and finished at 3:47.29. "I'm very proud of our 15 swimmers who qualified and are competing at the national invitational in Cleveland," head coach Mickey Wender said. "It's been a great experience so far. Lauren Carag's school record in the 50 back was awesome. The best is yet to come." UP NEXT The Black Knights will resume competition tomorrow with the preliminaries beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the finals set for 6 p.m.