NCAA Men's Swimming & Diving Championships Central

INDIANAPOLIS – Senior standouts Blair Bish and Artur Osvath qualified for the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship meet and will represent the Missouri State men's swimming and diving team in Austin, Texas on March 27-30.
 
"We are thrilled to have two athletes representing our program," said head coach Dave Collins. "The meet keeps getting better, and I think it says a lot about our program and culture that we are continuously able to qualify and compete."
 
The selections mark the seventh straight year Missouri State will be recognized on the national stage.
 
A two-time All-Mid-American Conference first team selection, Bish impressed at the MAC Championship, notching a gold medal in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 52.86. He also swam a leg in the team's 200 freestyle and 400 medley relay victories.
 
Prior to the MAC Championship, Bish broke a pool record during the Shamrock Invitational, clocking in at 52.84.
 
This will be Bish's finale at the NCAA Championships and his second time representing the Bears and fourth overall. Last year, Bish made his mark on the big stage, finishing 18^th in the 100 breaststroke and 24^th in the 200 breaststroke amongst other top-tier talent.
 
Bish qualified for the meet this past November at the Iowa Hawkeye Invitational.
 
"I am proud to have been able to compete at the top of my sport over the past four years," said Bish. "I am excited to represent Missouri State, and I plan to attack all my races with the same tough mentality and dedication."
 
Osvath assembled a phenomenal season, earning his fourth consecutive All-MAC first team plaudit after winning gold in the 200 IM. He also pulled in a pair of silver medals in the 100 and 200 butterfly, respectively.
 
He was also the conference's "Most Outstanding Senior" honoree.
 
The Budapest, Hungary native set both the Rolfs Aquatic Center and MSU team record with a time of 1:53.68 in a 200 breaststroke time trial at the Shamrock Invitational to solidify his spot at the NCAA Championships.
 
At the same meet, he broke another facility and program record, recording a 1:43.98 in the 200 butterfly.
 
This is Osvath's third time competing at the NCAA Championships, he was named an All-American his sophomore year in the 200 breaststroke. 
 
"This is a huge opportunity for me to represent Missouri State," said Osvath. "It is a great accomplishment to represent our school at the highest level."
 
Both Bish and Osvath will compete in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, respectively. In the 100 breaststroke, Bish is the 24^th seed while Osvath landed at 40^th, while, going to the 200 breaststroke Osvath holds the advantage as the 21^st seed, compared to Bish at 50^th.
 
"In 2016 I met Osvath in the locker room at Georgia Tech, and I think that it is fitting that we get to end this ride together," said Bish. "It'll be nice to have a teammate there for support throughout the meet."
 
Missouri State has 11 Bears who have made NCAA Championship appearances throughout its history at the NCAA Division I level. Thomas joins Don Fearon (1984), Mike Ablard (1985), Eric Christensen (1990), Jon Wergzyn (2002), Matt Beasley (2005), Paul Le (2013-15), Uvis Kalnins (2014-15), Garrett Nevels (2015), Osvath (2016-17, 2018-19), and Bish (2017-18, 2018-19).
 
The championships are being held in Austin, Texas from March 27-30.