The Missouri State women’s swimming and diving team clinched the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Championship crown with a total of 944.50 team points, Saturday evening at the Dr. Edward Shea Natatorium on the campus of Southern Illinois University. Missouri State dominated the field, outscoring MVC runner-up Illinois State by 174.5 team points. Illinois State claimed second at the league’s meet with 770 points, followed by host Southern Illinois with 716 points, Northern Iowa with 361 points and Evansville with 325.50 points.
In the first event of the day, the 1650 freestyle, the Bears turned in two top-five finishes with freshmen Dimi Drakopoulos and Michelle Schaefer claiming second and fourth, respectively. Drakopoulos touched the wall at 17:13.84 and Schaefer clocked a time of 17:21.81 in the mile race.
Senior Jordan Hawkins continued to excel as she brought home top honors in the 200 backstroke, winning the event with a time of 1:58.71. Hawkins broke her own previous MVC record in the event and also set a new MSU varsity record. For her outstanding performances in the league’s meet, Hawkins was named MVC Swimmer of the Year.
Senior Francy Palma placed fourth in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:03.10.
In the 100 freestyle, Matana Wellman claimed fourth place clocking a time of 51.87.
Fran Moody captured her first career individual MVC Championship win in the 200 breaststroke, clocking a personal best time of 2:21.72. Stacey MacDonald took fifth in the event in a time of 2:26.95.
Sophomore butterfly specialist, Chelsea Dirks-Ham set a new MSU and MVC record in the 200 butterfly with a personal best time of 2:03.76. Teammate Breanna Hollar was runner-up in the event with a time of 2:05.11.
In the three-meter diving competition, Chelsea Ray claimed third place with a total score of 257.20, Heather Fulton took fifth with a score of 228.80 and Sara Griffith finished seventh with a score of 194.85.
The title was the second-straight for the Bears.
Team Scores:
944.50 Missouri State
770 Illinois State
716 Southern Illinois
361 UNI
325.50 Evansville
MVC Specialty Awards:
Swimmer of the Year: Jordan Hawkins, Missouri State
Diver of the Year: Katelyn Prorok, Illinois State
Swimming Coaches of the Year: Stacy Simmer, UNI/Rickey Perkins, Evansville
Diving Coach of the Year: Phil Hoffmann, Illinois State
New MVC Records:
400IM: Brianna Willoughby, Missouri State (4:26.54, MVC Record)
100Fly: Chelsea Dirks-Ham, Missouri State (55:34, MVC/Pool Record)
200Free: Therese Mattsson, Southern Illinois (1:49.79, Meet Record)
100Back: Jordan Hawkins, Missouri State (54.48, MVC/Pool Record)
800Free Relay: Southern Illinois (7:30.75, MVC Record)
200Free Relay: Southern Illinois (1:33.45, MVC/Pool Record)
50Free: Jordan Hawkins, Missouri State (22.87, MVC/Pool Record)
400Medley Relay: Missouri State (3:44.93, MVC/Pool Record)
100Free: Therese Mattsson, Southern Illinois (50.41, MVC/Pool Record)
1650Free: Lauren Terzis, Illinois State (16:58.19, MVC Record)
200Back: Jordan Hawkins, Missouri State (1:58.71, MVC/Pool Record)
