Springfield Standard

Missouri State University's men's and women's swimming and diving teams are set to compete against the University of Nebraska Omaha in a two-day meet scheduled for October 31 and November 1. The event will take place at the H&K Swimming Pool in Omaha, with Friday's session beginning at 4:00 p.m. Central Time and Saturday's events starting at 9:30 a.m.

The Missouri State women's team recently competed against Indiana State, where they were defeated with a score of 192.5-160.5. Freshman Aleca Howard stood out by winning both the 400-yard individual medley (4:27.28) and the 200-yard individual medley (2:07.24), with senior Lana Janson finishing close behind in the latter event (2:09.83). Howard’s performance earned her the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Freshman of the Week award on October 21, marking her first such honor as a Bear.

Other notable performances included junior Olivia Sala, Janson, sophomore Addie Ludbrook, and junior Makenzie Kurre winning the 400-yard medley relay (3:48.37). Ludbrook won the 100-yard butterfly (56.69), narrowly beating sophomore Lillie Freulon (57.66). Janson secured victories in both the 50-yard freestyle (24.45) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.99), while Kurre took first place in the 100-yard freestyle (52.16).

The Bears concluded their swimming events with a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay, featuring Johnson, freshman Paige Corbin, Kurre, and senior Ainsley Jenkins (3:30.38). On the diving board, freshman transfer Delaney Nickles finished second in both three-meter (261.10 points) and one-meter competitions (256.40 points). The Missouri State women’s team has claimed victory in 20 of their last 23 Missouri Valley Conference championships but is aiming to return to first place after finishing third in 2025.

On the men’s side, Missouri State dominated Ouachita Baptist with a score of 222-122 for their second consecutive win this season. Senior Storm Opdahl swept all diving events—winning both one-meter (332.85 points) and three-meter dives (337.85 points)—and received his second Missouri Valley Conference Men's Diver of the Week award on October 21.

In swimming events, sophomore Carter Crook, freshman Kiefer Roemer, sophomore Jack Ailshire, and senior Lucas Chadwell won the 400-yard medley relay (3:18.93). Junior Anderson Brown led in the 400-yard individual medley (4:01.64), followed by sophomore Mate Miszlai (4:06.25). Ailshire took first place in the 100-yard butterfly (50.54), narrowly ahead of senior Chris Bedsole (50.61).

Freshman Kayden Hedrick won the 200-yard freestyle (1:42.18), just ahead of sophomore Ilias El Fallaki (1:42.80). Senior Lucas Chadwell was victorious in both sprinting events—the 50-yard freestyle (20.98) and later anchored several relays throughout the meet.

Roemer led by nearly five seconds to win the 100-yard breaststroke; Crook claimed victory in a close finish for the 100-yard backstroke; Fallaki comfortably won the distance-heavy 500-yard freestyle; Chesakov teamed up with Roemer, Mendez, and Chadwell to secure wins across various relays; Mendez dominated long-distance races such as the thousand-freestyle; Ruiz Vazquez topped backstroke events; da Silva led breaststroke distances; Hedrick edged out competitors again in butterfly races; Brown returned to win an individual medley race late into competition.

Missouri State men's swimming & diving is also looking to improve on its third-place finish at last season's MVC Championship after having previously won five conference titles among its total tally of twenty-one championships.

Historically against Omaha’s Mavericks program, Missouri State men hold a dual record lead at one win without loss while women have secured two wins without defeat.

Head coach Dave Collins enters his fifteenth season leading Missouri State swimming & diving teams as he seeks his thirteenth women’s conference championship title alongside pursuing a fourth men’s league crown during his tenure so far—having been named MVC Swimming Coach of Year eight times as well as earning five Mid-American Conference Coach honors.

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"Missouri State swimming & diving head coach Dave Collins enters his fifteenth season and will look for his thirteenth women's conference championship and fourth men's league title." — Press Release

"He has been named MVC Swimming Coach of Year eight times." — Press Release

"He was also a five-time Mid-American Conference Swimming Coach of Year." — Press Release

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Missouri State's upcoming meet schedule includes traditional swim races such as relays along with specialty strokes across both days’ sessions.