Missouri State's Liz Geisler and Stacey Arkovich were named the Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer and Diver of the Week and Victor Serra was named Male Swimmer of the Week, for the weeks of Dec. 8 - Jan. 10, the MVC office announced Wednesday.
Geisler, a senior from Roselle, Ill., had an outstanding performance and played a key role in the Bears’ victory at the Delta State Christmas Invitational on Dec. 17-19, 2005. Geisler sparked a first-place win in the 500-yard freestyle, setting a new Missouri State varsity record and a new Missouri Valley Conference record in 4:56.59. The MSU record was previously held by Geisler in 4:58.50 and was set at the 2005 MVC Championship. The MVC record was previously owned by Elizabeth McGowan of Southern Illinois, who set the time on Feb. 20, 2003, in 4:48.03.
Geisler also swam to victory in the 200-yard freestyle, setting another Missouri State and MVC record in 1:51.65. Ericka Norgren was the previous holder of the MSU record, setting it at the 2004 MVC Championships in 1:52.25. The MVC record was previously held by Kim Dodson of Evansville. She set the record on Feb. 17, 2001 in 1:51.98.
Geisler’s third first-place finish came in the 1,650-yard freestyle, swimming in a time of 17:21.50. For her record-breaking performance at the meet, Geisler was named Swimmer of the Meet.
Senior diver Stacey Arkovich had two victories at the Delta State Christmas Invitational. The first win came on the one-meter (11) diving board. Arkovich tallied a total score of 372.45. Her second victory was on the three-meter (11) board where she earned 423.05 points.
Freshman Victor Serra had a record-breaking performance at the Delta State Christmas Invitational as he finished first in the 200-yard butterfly, setting a new Missouri State varsity record in 1:48.74. The record was previously held by Michael Baima, who set it at the 2002 MVC Championships in 1:48.97.
Serra also swam to a victory in the 100-yard butterfly, touching the wall in 49.29. Serra was a member of three first-place Missouri State relays. He was the third swimmer in the 400-yard medley relay that finished in 3:20.41, and the third swimmer in the 200-yard medley relay that swam a time in 1:31.03. He was also the third leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay that finished in 3:00.39.
The Bears' swimmers and divers will be back in action for their first home meet of 2006 on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 2 p.m., against the University of Missouri at Hammons Student Center Pool.
