Oct. 27, 2015

MAC Release | Follow @MoStateSwim

CLEVELAND - Missouri State senior Uvis Kalnins was named the Mid-American Conference Men's Swimmer of the Week for the second time this season, the league announced Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Kalnins won two races and finished runner-up in two others to highlight the Bears' performance at the Kansas Double Dual from Oct. 23-24. Competing against Denver on Friday and Saturday, Kalnins opened action by winning the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 1 minute, 51.37 seconds. He also picked up a runner-up finish in the 50 freestyle (21.04) and took third by less than a second in the 200 free (1:39.84).

The Valmiera, Latvia, native eventually ended up being the lone Bear to pick up multiple victories versus the Pioneers. The senior and two-time NCAA qualifier took the 400 IM on Saturday in a time of 3:59.59, while also placing second behind fellow Missouri State swimmer Osvath in the 200 breaststroke (2:03.31). His times in the 400 IM and 200 breast (2:03.81) were both season bests.

The weekly honor is the fourth of his collegiate career. Kalnins was recognized as the MAC Swimmer of the Week on Oct. 8 for his efforts at the Show-Me Showdown and was awarded the honor twice as a junior.

Three other Bears - Josie Pearson, Artur Osvath and Dora Kiss - have been recognized as Swimmer of the Week in their respective conferences through the first four weekends of competition.

Missouri State has almost a month off before competing against opposition. The Bears return to the pool for the Purdue Invitational, which runs from Nov. 20-22 in West Lafayette, Indiana. MSU closes out the 2015 portion of its 2015-16 schedule at the USA Winter National Championships beginning on Dec. 2 in Federal Way, Washington.

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