Missouri State Hits The Road For MVC Showcase

Courtesy: Missouri State Athletics

SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State swimming and diving hits the road for the first time this season, traveling to Carbondale, Ill., for the Missouri Valley Conference Showcase, a two-day meet featuring both the men’s and women’s teams on Friday beginning at 4 p.m. and Saturday starting at 10 a.m. The women’s team will compete in an invitational with seven clubs: Southern Illinois, Evansville, Arkansas Little Rock, UIC, Northern Iowa, Indiana State, and Illinois State. The men’s team will battle SIU and Evansville in a tri-dual format.

Meet Details
The Missouri State men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams start their season-long road slate Friday in Carbondale, Ill. at the MVC Showcase, a two-day meet featuring both MSU squads. The men will compete in a tri-dual versus SIU and Evansville. The women will participate in an invitational with seven other schools. At the south site (hosted by SIU), the Bears will be competing alongside the Salukis, Evansville and Arkansas Little Rock., while the north site (hosed by UIC) will feature the Flames, UNI, Indiana State and Illinois State. Start times for the meets are Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m.

Bear Splashes (Women)

• In the dual versus Lindenwood on Oct. 7, MSU had a first-place finisher in all but one swimming event (100 Yard Backstroke). The Bears defeated the Lions, 164-77.
• In the dual versus Drury, MoState registered a first-place finisher in all but three swimming events (50 Yard Freestyle, 200 Yard Backstroke, 400 Freestyle Relay). MSU topped the Panthers, 157-80.
• Women’s swimming and diving is coming off its sixth straight Missouri Valley Conference Championship in 2022 and 18^th in 20 seasons.
• Returning 2022 All-MVC First Team selections include: Vera Margula, Grace Beahan, Samantha Roemer, Kelly Sego, Anna Lucas, Yuliya Zubina, Cabrini Johnson, Alessia Puleo, Samantha Hietpas and Jordan Wenner.
• During last year’s MVC Championships, the Bears won 14 of the 20 total events, including all five relay events and decimated nine conference records over the course of the four-day meet.
• Head coach Dave Collins was named the 2022 MVC Swimming Coach of the Year after leading the MSU women to their 10th conference title under his guidance.
• In two duals, the following women have earned first place in at least one event (excluding relays): Roemer, Lauren Chaney, Puleo, Wenner, Margula, Payton Smith, Lucas, Courtney Stanbury, Lily DeSpain, Yuliya Zubina and Ulyana Zubina.

Bear Splashes (Men)

•  In the dual versus Lindenwood on Oct. 7, MSU had first-place finishers in six events. The Bears defeated the Lions, 128-115.
• In the dual versus Drury, MSU had first-place finishers in two events, with Dylan Moffatt capturing the 1000 Yard Freestyle and Brunno Suzuki taking the 200 Yard Freestyle. The Bears fell to the Panthers, 136-107.
• All six 2021-22 First Team All-MAC selections return for the Bears: Moffatt, Pawel Krawczyk, AJ Huskey, Suzuki, Robert Hill, and Jonathan Hill.
•  The men’s team welcomes 11 freshmen to this year’s roster: Chris Bedsole, Alex Boutin, Lucas Chadwell, Jack Dean, Aiden Dunn, Brayden Goeldner, Jack Grandy, George Holesinger, Cole Hysong, Storm Opdahl and Logan Schelfaut.
•  Four seniors lead the Bears this season: Jonathan Hill, Krawczyk, Tyler Lewis and James Vaughn.
•  In 2021-22, the men’s team placed third at the MAC Championships. The men’s team has finished in the top three 10 straight times at the MAC Championships.
• In two duals, the following men have earned first place in at least one event (excluding relays): Moffatt, Suzuki, Robbie Hill and Krawczyk.

Looking Ahead

• After the MVC Showcase, MSU will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., for a tri-dual against Indiana State and Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 4-5.