The Missouri State swimming and diving team honored their senior class with two wins over Truman State Saturday night. The men's team won 153-48 and the women won 148-57. The men's squad moved to 23-0 all-time against the Bulldogs.
The day started with the 400-yard medley relay. The women's team of senior Chelsea Dirks-Ham, sophomore Melissa Oishi, sophomore Amber Green and junior Brianna Willloughby finished first with a time of 3:59.51. For the men, freshman Yuri Garanito, sophomore Waldo Broodryk, freshman Michal Bulak and junior Jeff Bentz finished a full pool length ahead of the nearest Bulldog finisher with a time of 3:44.61.
The next event, the 1000-yard freestyle is a position of strength for Missouri State. Reigning MVC Swimmer of the Week, junior Dimi Drakopoulou, finished in first in a landslide with a time of 10:30.61. Senior Katharina Voelkel came in second at 10:39.29. For the men, freshman Jared Roberts turned in a very nice swim, earning first at 9:49.89. Teammate sophomore Aaron Henry finished in second in the meet.
In the 200-yard free, Drakopoulou was back in action a mere ten minutes after swimming in the 1000-yard freestyle. Even with such little rest after a strenuous race, she still managed to win the event at 1:55.57. For the men, it was all Missouri State. Freshman Jake Coleman and sophomore Jacob Sims battled the whole race, with Coleman squeaking out a win with a time of 1:45.44. Sims finished right behind at 1:45.62.
The 400-yard individual medley was dominated by junior Brianna Willoughby. She won the event with a time of 4:35.37. Willoughby finished nearly eight seconds ahead of junior Katie Lindeman, who finished second. For the men, the duo of sophomore Daan Jansen and freshman Colin Hill traded the lead throughout the race. Hill took off to a very early lead, but persistence paid off, with Jansen winning the event at 4:05.89 and Hill coming in at 4:14.86.
Sophomore Amber Green had a very impressive day. In the 100-yard freestyle, it seemed as though disaster struck. Green slipped on the starting block and fell into the water. However, pure talent shone through with Green not only managing to win the race, but set a new pool record at 51.28. She was not finished. Seeking redemption, Green later led off on the 400-yard freestyle relay. Since she was the lead off leg, her split time would count as an official 100-yard time. Her personal split was 50.72, improving the pool record set earlier in the meet. The relay team went on to win the event by ten full seconds.
In the 200-yard backstroke freshman the men for Missouri State came in 1-2-3-4. Jansen, Garanito, Cramer and Henry finished the race in that order. The women responded in style, with the next event being the 500-yard freestyle. The foursome of Voelkel, Drakopoulou, freshman Hannah Molden and senior Rene Smith also went 1-2-3-4.
On the diving side, senior Eric Ducourneau won both the one-meter and three-meter boards. Ducourneau has never lost a diving event at Hammons Student Center Pool. Freshman Cameron Wilson finished second on both boards. The freshman trio of Kelsey Burgin, Paige Koebbe and Lindsey Conway went 1-2-3 on both the one- and three- meter boards for the women.
Next up for the Bears will be a televised matchup with rival Drury University. Earlier this season, the Panthers swept the Bears at Hammons Student Center. Missouri State will head to Breech pool to even the series. The meet will take place on Jan. 20 at 5 p.m. The meet will be televised on Mediacom 22, with replay times to be announced early next week.
