Springfield Standard

Missouri State University's men's swimming and diving team began its season with a home victory over Southern Illinois University (SIU), finishing with a score of 275-171 at the Hammons Student Center Pool. The women's team was defeated by SIU, ending with a score of 260.5-181.5 after two days of competition.

On the first day, the Missouri State men established an early lead, winning seven out of ten individual races. Freshman Zach Mendez secured wins in both the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle events. Sophomore transfer Ilias El Fallaki won the 1000-yard freestyle in his debut for Missouri State. Junior Matvei Chesakov took first place in the 50-yard freestyle, while senior Chris Bedsole finished second. Anderson Brown narrowly won the 200-yard butterfly ahead of freshman Kayden Hedrick. Senior Luigi Da Silva led the 200-yard breaststroke, followed by freshman Kiefer Roemer in second place. In diving, senior Storm Opdahl won the one-meter event with a score of 303.15.

For the women’s team, SIU led after day one and maintained momentum through relay and individual events. Freshman Aleca Howard won her first collegiate race in the 200-yard individual medley, just ahead of senior Lana Janson. Junior Lindsey Hervey claimed victory in the 500-yard freestyle by a margin of less than a second over SIU's Ale Hoyos Horvath. On the diving board, freshman transfer Delaney Nickles excelled in the three-meter dive.

The second day saw Missouri State’s men continue their strong performance, starting with a win in the 200-yard medley relay by Carter Crook, Kiefer Roemer, Jack Ailshire, and Lucas Chadwell. Mendez added another win in the 1000-yard freestyle for his third individual victory at this meet. Chadwell won the 50-yard freestyle just ahead of Chesakov; Brown took first place in the 400-yard individual medley; Ailshire narrowly beat SIU’s Benedek Andor in the 100-yard butterfly; Miszlai won the 500-yard freestyle; Roemer earned his first win as a Bear in the 100-yard breaststroke; and Opdahl repeated his success on the one-meter dive.

The women’s team continued to compete closely but ultimately fell to SIU by Saturday’s end. In relays and individual races such as junior Claire Culberson's win in the 1000-yard freestyle and Makenzie Kurre's narrow victory in the 200-yard freestyle, Missouri State swimmers posted competitive times against their opponents from SIU.

Missouri State swimming and diving will next host Indiana State (women) and Ouachita Baptist (men) at Hammons Student Center Pool on Friday, October 17 at 5:00 p.m.

"Missouri State men's swimming & diving opened up its season with [a] 275-171 win at home against SIU," according to university officials.