Springfield Standard

Missouri State University's men's swimming and diving team secured a decisive victory over Ouachita Baptist, finishing with a score of 222-122 at the Hammons Student Center Pool. The meet took place over two days, Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, the women's team narrowly lost to Indiana State, with a final tally of 192.5-160.5.

On the first day of competition, Missouri State's men led 119-63 after winning both relay events and all seven individual swimming events. Sophomore Carter Crook, freshman Kiefer Roemer, sophomore Jack Ailshire, and senior Lucas Chadwell won the 400-yard medley relay in 3:18.93. Junior Anderson Brown claimed first in the 400-yard individual medley (4:01.64), while Ailshire edged out senior Chris Bedsole in the 100-yard butterfly (50.54 to 50.61). Other event winners included freshman Kayden Hedrick in the 200-yard freestyle (1:42.18), Chadwell in the 50-yard freestyle (20.98), Roemer in the 100-yard breaststroke (55.12), Crook in the 100-yard backstroke (51.18), and sophomore Ilias El Fallaki in the 500-yard freestyle (4:40.91). The men's team also won both relays on day one.

Senior Storm Opdahl earned first place in one-meter diving with a score of 332.85.

For the women’s team on day one, Indiana State held a narrow lead at halftime of competition, up by just six points at 96-90. Missouri State's women captured three race wins: junior Olivia Sala, senior Lana Janson, sophomore Addie Ludbrook, and junior Makenzie Kurre won the 400-yard medley relay; freshman Aleca Howard took first in the 400-yard individual medley; and Ludbrook claimed victory in the 100-yard butterfly.

Janson went on to win both the women's 50-yard freestyle and the women's 100-yard breaststroke events as well.

In diving for Missouri State's women’s team on day one, freshman transfer Delaney Nickles placed second with a score of 261.10 behind Indiana State's Jecza Lopez who scored 290.40.

The second day saw continued dominance from Missouri State’s men’s squad as they swept all remaining races and diving events against Ouachita Baptist to secure their overall win.

Key performances included Crook teaming up with senior Luigi Maciel da Silva, Ailshire and Chadwell to win the opening relay; freshman Zach Mendez finishing well ahead of competitors in the grueling thousand yard freestyle; sophomore Gonzolo Ruiz Vazquez topping the podium for his event; Chadwell securing another sprint win; da Silva winning convincingly in breaststroke; Hedrick narrowly taking first place again over Bedsole; Brown winning another individual medley title; Chesakov anchoring a successful relay finish; and Opdahl claiming another diving win.

The Missouri State women remained competitive but ultimately fell short against Indiana State by just over thirty points after Saturday's finals.

In key races for MSU’s women on day two: Sala, Janson, Ludbrook and Johnson finished second by less than a tenth of a second behind Indiana State's squad in their opening relay; Kurre picked up an important win for MSU in freestyle sprints; Howard finished runner-up before winning her next event—the two hundred yard individual medley—followed closely by Janson for second place.

The Bears closed out their home meet with Johnson joining Corbin, Kurre and Jenkins to take first place honors in their closing relay event for MSU’s women.

On Saturday's diving board action for women competitors from MSU: Nickels was again runner-up to Lopez from Indiana State while Arceneaux finished close behind her teammate Nickels.

Missouri State swimming & diving will next compete against Omaha during an away meet beginning Friday October 31 at H&K Swimming Pool.