March 28, 2015

Results (Day 3 Prelims) | Follow @MoStateSwim

IOWA CITY, Iowa --Missouri State's appearance at the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships came to an end on the final day of competition Saturday, March 28, at Iowa's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium.

Bears senior Paul Le raced in his final event as a Missouri State student-athlete in the third heat of the 200 backstroke preliminaries. His 1:42.42 finish was fourth best in his heat. The Moore, Okla., native eventually placed 28th overall after coming into the meet with the 27th fastest time in Division I swimming.

MSU junior Uvis Kalnins followed Le in the next event, the 100 freestyle. Kalnins swam in the first heat and placed third in a season-best time of 43.87. Seeded 58th overall coming into this season's meet, the Valmiera, Latvia, native eventually placed 41st overall in prelims Saturday.

"This is the fastest swim meet, top to bottom, that our guys are ever going to come in contact with," Bears head coach Dave Collins said. "It's a pleasure and honor to be a part of it. For these athletes, Paul his third trip and Uvis his second, it's just an absolute honor to be here. You have to be one of the fastest in your event in the world to be in the top 16. It's not just fast Americans, it's the fastest short course yard swimmers in the world."

"You don't have to be at one of the big schools to get to this level and not just get here, but represent well. It says a lot about our program, a lot about our mentality and the consistent training these guys do. They're special athletes and it says a lot about where our program and where mid-major swimming is going. There's a lot of good swimmers at our level."

Kalnins currently holds four individual school records, including three more in relays after three collegiate seasons at Missouri State.

He is only the second MSU swimmer to have made multiple appearances to the NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships.

"It was a really exciting and fast meet," Kalnins said. "I'm glad that Paul, Garrett and I got a chance to be a part of it. Swimming is improving with big leaps and it takes a lot of willpower and hard work to keep up. I'm happy that I improved in the 400 IM and I'm very excited to start the preparation for next year's championships."

Bears senior Garrett Nevels completed his collegiate diving career at the NCAA Championships Friday. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native holds the school and pool records in 1- and 3-meter diving. Named the Mid-American Conference Outstanding Diver of the Year as a junior, Nevels became the first Bear to make it to NCAAs in the past 25 years, joining Don Fearon (1984) and Eric Christenson (1990) as the only divers to do so in school history.

"It was a great experience," Nevels said of his appearance at the championships. "I would have liked to have performed a bit better but sometimes in diving, things just don't quite fall into place. I'm grateful to have had a chance to compete with the highest caliber of athletes the NCAA has to offer."

"He's taken it to another level," Collins said Nevels's diving appearance at NCAAs. "I think he's set the tone for what can take place in our program at the national level. For him to give us a presence here, we're going to see a heightened level of training with current divers we have. We're also going to see a higher level of divers coming in as recruits. What he's been able to do is extremely valuable for our program moving forward and he's really set the tone. I'm extremely proud of him and [diving coach] Jim (Huelskamp) for what they've been able to do and I'm excited to see us reap the benefits of that moving forward."

Le wrapped up his Bears swimming career Saturday. The four-time all-conference honoree is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Missouri State swimming history. Holding three individual school records, including two as a member of relay squads, Le's three NCAA appearances are the most ever for the Bears' program.

Le is the only All-American in school history thanks to his 15th-place finish in the 200 back as a sophomore in 2013.

"I had the time of my life with this group of boys," Le said. "My times in the pool weren't what I wanted, but watching Uvis and Garrett compete will always be a memory to hold on to. This will only be a stepping stone for our program as it moves forward towards future success!"

"It's bittersweet watching him swim his last race as a Missouri state Bear," Collins said. "A lot of emotions there. It' kind of like having a flashback of recruiting him and everything we've got to experience during his four-year career here. Personally as a coach, the burst that he's provided for us being able to be at Olympic trials with him, being able to be at the national championships with him as an athlete and being able to have our first All-American. He's really done some special things for our program and for Missouri State as a university. If you put it into just one word I would just say, proud. You get paid to coach athletes, but that's not just what it is when you experience them with Paul. It's just an absolute pleasure and I'm just extremely proud of him."    

"Our goals are always to try to get better each year. Obviously our goal is to continue to have an upward trend and I'd love to have four athletes here, I'd love to have a relay. We're on the progression to be able to do that. We never take for granted being able to be at this meet. Just because somebody has been here in the past, doesn't mean it's a sure thing they'll be here in the future. We've got to get back and finish up a little bit of recruiting. I'm excited about what we have coming in and I'm excited about some guys that we have returning that maybe just missed making it to the meet. The goal will be to get here with four or more individuals next year."