USAFA water polo team chosen to finish 5th

Senior Alex Churnside led the Falcons with 77 points in the water polo team's 2008 season and ranks among the top 25 career scorers in Air Force history. The Academy was chosen to finish fifth in the Western Water Polo Association for the third straight year in a preseason poll of the conference's head coaches. (U.S. Air Force photo)

No. 1 fans

Air Force football coach Troy Calhoun hands an autographed Falcons poster to Leann Locke, 10, during Kids' Day at Falcon Stadium Aug. 22, 2009. Leann is the daughter of Lt. Col. Ed Locke, a 1995 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy currently assigned to U.S. Northern Command headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and his wife, Susan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

No. 1 fans

Local TV stations interview Falcons quarterback Asher Clark after a scrimmage at Falcon Stadium Aug. 22, 2009. Air Force, ranked fourth in the Mountain West Conference, will play its first game of the season against Nicholls State Sept. 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

No. 1 fans

Alex Davison and Dillon Tracy play during Kids' Day at Falcon Stadium Aug. 22, 2009. The Air Force Falcons football team played a scrimmage at 9:30 a.m. and autographed fan paraphenalia for visitors at 11:45 a.m. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

No. 1 Fans

Jonathan Terrence Durant, age 5, poses for a photo in Falcon Stadium at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., Aug. 22, 2009. Jonathan and about 1,000 other fans, large and small, attended a Falcons scrimmage at the stadium and stayed afterward to meet the 2009 football team. Jonathan's father, Col. James Durant (right), is deputy department head for the Department of Law. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Annual half-marathon, 10k events draw 200 competitors

Competitors warm up before running in the Air Force Academy's 10k and half-marathon events Aug. 15. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Med Group 1 takes intramural softball championship

James Heller hits a grounder for Med Group One during the Intramural Softball Championship against the Retirees. Med Group One won the 2009 championship, 28-20. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Old Glory's stars, Airmen's stripes enhance Rockies' home opener

More than 200 enlisted Airmen took to the outfield at Coors Field in Denver April 10 to display the Stars and Stripes during pre-game ceremonies. Once fully unfurled, the flag was the size of a football field. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ken Carter)

USAFA wrestlers receive NWCA academic awards

Academy graduate Stephen Crozier, left, was recently named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association Individual All-Academic wrestling team. The Falcons ranked 22nd as a team with a combined grade point average of 2.975. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dave Ahlschwede)

Buckley retires as AF women's soccer coach

Air Force women's soccer coach Marty Buckley talks with one of his players Aug. 29, 2008. Buckley announced his retirement recently after completing his six seasons as an assistant men's coach and 17 seasons as women's soccer coach, during which time he led the Falcons to an 111-181-17 overall record. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Cycling season ends with a bang

Trevor Johnson, center, and other bicyclists get ready to kick off an 80-mile road race in Fort Collins, Colo., May 8. Johnson won the overall title for the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference Division 2, which named the U.S. Air Force Academy's 2009 cadet cycling team as collegiate team of the year. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Air Force drops doubleheader to Utah

Air Force Falcons shortstop Adam Hill makes the tag on a Utah Utes player's attempt to steal a base. Air Force dropped a doubleheader to the Utes May 3, 12-6 and 19-8. (U.S. Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Hockey: Academy player finalists for national hockey award

U.S. Air Force Academy Eric Ehn has been chosen as a finalist for the Hobey Hat Trick as college hockey's top player. The junior center from Dexter, Mich., led the nation in scoring in 14 of the last 18 weeks and ranked 11th in scoring and second in assists. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Hockey: Academy player finalists for national hockey award

U.S. Air Force Academy Eric Ehn skates in action earlier this year against Holy Cross. The junior center is one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, college hockey's most prestigious individual honor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Academy Falcons tour New York

The U.S. Air Force Academy men's basketball team's views the Ladder 10 memorial at Ground Zero March 25 in New York City. The team is playing in the National Invitation Tournament semifinals March 27 against the Clemson Tigers in Madison Square Garden. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Steve Grever)

Academy Falcons tour New York

The U.S. Air Force Academy men's basketball team poses for a photo March 25 during a tour of the Engine 54 fire station in New York City. The team is playing in the National Invitation Tournament semifinals March 27 against the Clemson Tigers in Madison Square Garden. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Steve Grever)

Play ball!

The city of Peoria, Ariz., and the Peoria Sports Complex played host to Air Force Week during a 2007 spring training baseball game between the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers March 21. Airmen were invited to attend and the Luke Air Force Base Honor Guard posted the colors. The Wings of Blue parachute demonstration team jumped in the game ball. Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Spradley and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley threw out the first pitches. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson)

San Diego defeats Falcons

Senior Cadet Karl Bolt connects on the first of his two home runs during the 12-9 loss to San Diego State March 22. He hit his 31st and 32nd career home runs, moving him into seventh place all-time at the Academy. Cadet Bolt also drove in 6 RBI's. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Falcon forwards march over Georgia in NIT

The Falcon starters stand up and cheer as their second string players increase their lead over Georgia late in their second round game of the National Invitation Tournament March 19 at the Air Force Academy's Clune Arena. Air Force went on to win, 83-52. The win over Georgia was Air Force's 25th of the season, a new school record. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. John Ross)

Falcon forwards march over Georgia in NIT

Air Force forward Dan Nwaelele breaks past Georgia guard Billy Humphrey for the basket March 19 at the Academy's Clune Arena. Nwaelele scored 19 points on the night. With the 83-52 win in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament, Air Force set a new record for wins in a season at 25. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. John Ross)

Falcon forwards march over Georgia in NIT

Air Force forward Jacob Burtschi takes to the air over Georgia guard Corey Butler March 19 in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament at the Air Force Academy's Clune Arena. Burtschi led the Falcons with 21 points, as Air Force went on to win, 83-52. Air Force set a school record for wins in a season with their 25th win. (U.S. Air Force photo/Danny Meyer)

Falcons fly high in NIT debut

Air Force center Nich Welch is fouled by Austin Peay defender Duran Roberson as he drives to the basket March 14 during the first round of the National Invitational Tournament. The Falcons defeated Austin Peay 75-51 at the Air Force Academy's Clune Arena, and advanced to the second round against Georgia. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. John Ross)

Falcons fly high in NIT debut

Air Force forward Jacob Burtschi is defended by Austin Peay forward Fernandez Lockett in the first-round game of the National Invitation Tournament at the Air Force Academy's Clune Arena March 14. All five Falcon starters, including Burschi, scored 13 points in their 75-51 win over the Governors in Air Force's first post-season victory in school history. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. John Ross)

Falcons fly high in NIT debut

Air Force center Nich Welch is fouled by Austin Peay defender Duran Roberson as he drives to the basket March 14 at the Air Force Academy's Clune Arena. By defeating Austin Peay 75-51, Air Force won its first post-season game in school history and advances after the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. John Ross)