Aug. 23, 2011
2011-12 Swimming & Diving Schedule 
SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri State men's and women's swimming & diving program recently announced the completion of its 2011-12 season schedule that will include seven home contests and uncharted territory with new invitationals on the slate. In comparison, the Bears hosted just three meets at the Hammons Student Center last year.
To kick off the season, the team will head down the road to Columbia, Mo., for the Show-Me Showdown on Oct. 8. With a young squad, head swimming & diving coach Jack Steck said it will be important for the team to perform well right off the bat.
Following the Show-Me Showdown, Missouri State will begin a home stretch with five meets at the HSC. The Bears start their home slate with a visit from conference foe Southern Illinois on Oct. 15. A two-week break in action will prepare MSU for one of the most anticipated dual meets of the year with NCAA Division II powerhouse Drury on Oct. 28.
"This year the Drury meet falls on the Friday night of homecoming weekend and I guarantee you this place will be packed," Steck said. "They are an important team on our schedule as they are national champions for both men and women. I don't care what division you're in, when you have both teams winning the national crown, you better take notice because something right is going on there."
The following week, the Bears will take on Lindenwood and Truman State at home on Nov. 4 and 5, respectively. To cap off the home stretch, Missouri State will host in-state rival Missouri on Nov. 10.
After traveling to West Lafeyette for the Purdue Invitational last season, the Bears will once again head to Big 10 country where they will participate in the TYR Invite hosted by Northwestern. The three-day event, which will feature top programs from Division I, II and III, is set for Nov. 18-20.
Also appearing for the first time on the schedule is the Incarnate Word Invitational in San Antonio, Dec. 17-19. In years past, the team has penciled in a meet at Delta State in Cleveland, Miss., right before Winter break, but Steck said this meet will put his swimmers to the test immediately following finals.
"I know this [Incarnate Word] meet is going to be a much tougher meet than we're used to," Steck described. "It may even be a stronger meet than what we're going to see in the conference championship setting. It will be interesting to see how we react to that."
Missouri State will begin fine-tuning for the MVC/MAC championships with away meets at Truman State on Jan. 14 and Drury on Jan. 19, followed by William Jewell at home on Jan. 20 and a Lindenwood quad meet on Jan. 21. The Bears wrap up the regular season with a home meet against conference foe Evansville on Jan. 27.
The 2012 Missouri Valley Conference women's swimming & diving championships will take place Feb. 16-18 in Carbondale, Ill. The MSU men's team will travel to Oxford, Ohio on March 1 for the Mid-American Conference championships.
Last season the women's team captured its fourth-consecutive MVC championship, while the men's program concluded its season with a fifth-place finish at the MAC championships.
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