The Missouri State men's swimming and diving team lost a close battle to the University of Missouri 144-156, Saturday in Hammons Student Center Pool. The MSU women's team fell to Mizzou 98.50-196.50.
Versatile swimmer Matt Beasley was the top swimmer of the meet for the Bears winning three individual events. Beasley conquered the 200-yard freestyle in 1:39.52, won the 500-yard freestyle in 4:35.27 and the 200-yard IM in 1:52.69. He was also the third swimmer in the first-place 400-yard freestyle relay that won with a time of 3:05.85.
Seth Johnson sparked a victory in the 100-yard breaststroke touching the wall in 58.28. Greg Temple finished a close second in 58.60. Johnson was also the winner of the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:05.96 with Temple finishing second in 2:08.03.
Victor Serra had a first-place win for the Bears in the 200-yard butterfly, finishing in 1:52.25. Serra also won the 100-yard butterfly, with a final time of 50.84.
The Bears' 400-yard medley relay, consisting of Tony Freeman, Johnson, Serra, and Ignacio Gayo, swam to a first-place victory, touching the wall at 3:23.94 and setting a new Hammons Student Center Pool record.
On the women's side of the meet, Liz Geisler broke the Missouri State varsity school record in the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:22.85. Geisler was the previous owner of the record, set Jan. 22, 2004, at Southern Illinois in 10:24.78. In addition to her second-place finish in the 1,000 free, Geisler had a third-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:54.89 and a third-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle (5:00.56).
In one-meter diving, Stacey Arkovich gathered up 247.80 points earning her the win. Andi Rojas was also a winner for the Bears in the 200-yard IM, finishing in 2:09.42.
Allison Zeller and Francy Palma had a two-three finish in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing in 59.38 and 1:00.04, respectively. Rojas also had a second-place win in the 200-yard butterfly with a final time in 2:07.05.
Saturday's dual meet saw five Hammons Student Center Pool records set. The University of Missouri women broke the 400-yard medley relay record in 3:51.56, lowering their previous mark from 2004 (3:54.41). The MSU men's 400-yard medley relay broke the record in 3:23.94, set by the Bears in 2002 (3:25.50). The third record was broken when Shannon Hogan of Missouri swam to victory in the 100-yard backstroke in 58.81, breaking the previous pool record of 59.09, set by Gina Gnatzig of Kansas in 2004. Jill Granger of Missouri broke the pool record for the 500-yard freestyle (4:58.65), previously owned by Katie Wheller of Nebraska (5:00.29) in 2004. The final record was broken by Liz Schoborg of Missouri in the 100-yard butterfly, with a time in 57.02. The record was previously owned by Amy Gruber of Kansas in 2001, with a time in 58.11.
The Bears' swimmers and divers will be back in action Friday, Jan. 20, at 2 p.m., competing against Evansville's Purple Aces at Hammons Student Center Pool.
