The Missouri State swimming and diving teams have released their 2010-11 meet schedules. This season, the Bears will host three home meets and will take part in three invitationals. Though the men's team competes in the Mid-American Conference and the women compete in the Missouri Valley Conference, both conferences will have their respective championships in Carbondale, Ill.
The Bears will open the season on Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. with a home meet against cross-town rival Drury. Last season, Drury won the NCAA Division II national championship, and became the first Division II school in NCAA history with back-to-back national titles for both the men's and the women's teams. Last year the Bears split with Drury, winning at home, but losing on the road. The following day, the Bears' Alumni will take on the current squad in the Intrasquad/Alumni homecoming meet.
The next meet for Missouri State will be a conference preview when they take on Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill. On Oct. 30. The Salukis host both the MAC and MVC conference tournaments this year. Perennially, the Bears and Salukis are the powerhouse teams of the MVC and this meet will set the table for dominance in the conference.
The following weekend, Missouri State will host Lindenwood University at the Hammons Student Center Pool on Nov. 5. Then they will travel to Kirksville, Mo. on the following day to take on Truman State University.
Beginning in mid-November, the Bears will begin their series of invitational meets. The first is the ultra-competitive Purdue Invitational, Nov. 19-21. Last season, teams such as Ohio State, Louisville and Michigan took part in the prestigious meet. The Bears then travel to Cleveland, Miss. for the Delta State Invitational, Dec. 17-19. To finish up their road trip, the Bears will compete in the Tunica (Miss.) Invitational, Jan. 7-8.
Missouri State will finish its home season with a dual meet against Truman State on Jan. 15. This meet will be Bears' Senior Night. Each of the Missouri State seniors will be recognized during a ceremony that evening.
On Jan. 20, Missouri State will travel to Drury in a rematch from earlier in the season. The Bears will travel to St. Charles, Mo. for the Lindenwood Invitational on Jan. 22 and wrap up the season on Jan. 29 at Evansville.
The women's conference meet will take place Feb. 17-19 in Carbondale, Ill., while the men's final will be March 3-5 in the same location. Last season, the women's team won the Valley by one of the largest margins in conference history. The men, however, finished third in their first season in the MAC.
The NCAA postseason swim meets will be all over the country. The Division I national championship for the women will be in Austin, Texas, March 17-19, and the men's national meet will be in Minneapolis, Minn., March 24-26. The NCAA Diving Zone meets will begin on March 10-12 at a site to be announced.
