OXFORD, Ohio – The Missouri State men's swimming and diving team racked up 713.5 points over the four-day meet, however it couldn't catch first-place Miami (Ohio) Saturday evening here at the Mid-American Conference Swimming and Diving Championship to finish as meet runners-up.
 
"I'm really proud of this group and staff," head coach Dave Collins said. "To have such a young group continue to improve all year is exciting for the future. None of that would have been possible without a great group of upperclassman and especially seniors. These four guys have given so much to our program, and I am very proud of each of them."
 
Miami (Ohio) finished the championship with 755 points. Over a hundred points behind MSU was Southern Illinois in third place with 611.5. These three clubs separated themselves over the four days from the rest of the pack, as Ball State (457) secured fourth with over 150 points separating it from the Salukis.
 
To begin the finals session, Dylan Moffatt won his third-straight 1650-yard freestyle gold medal with a time of 15:08.58. The junior left no doubt in the event, as the second-place finisher, Miami's Evan Kindseth, recorded a time nearly 30 seconds slower than Moffatt's (15:38.02). Jonathan Hill also capped off his senior season with a fourth-place time in the event (15:44.70), while freshman Aiden Dunn grabbed seventh (15:53.36).
 
"It was a great swim to defend my 1650 free title," Moffatt said. "I'm proud to have ended the meet on a high note. It helps put us in a good position in moving forward towards my senior year."
 
The 200-yard butterfly finals also proved to be a great event for the Bears, as Pawel Krawczyk secured second (1:44.28), AJ Huskey took the bronze medal (1:46.10) and Tyler Lewis grabbed sixth (1:49.46). Krawczyk earned his third career MAC silver medal in the event, while Huskey snagged his second career MAC 200 fly bronze. Both Krawczyk and Huskey's times were their personal-best in the event.
 
"I am so proud of the fight our team has had throughout this championship," Lewis said. "I am grateful to have spent the last four years as a Bear. I can't wait to see what this group of guys can accomplish in the coming years."

 
In the last relay of the championship, the combination of Reese Hodgins, Lucas Chadwell, Bruno Guerra and Pawel Krawczyk swam for a time of 2:57.89 in the 400-yard freestyle relay, securing the bronze medal.
 
On the boards, all three of Missouri State's freshman divers made the A final in three-meter finals. Storm Opdahl led the way for the Bears, grabbing fourth with a score of 288.65. Logan Schelfaut (275.90) and Cole Hysong (242.35) rounded out the top eight, snagging seventh and eight respectively.
 
"I feel like the little things we've been doing in practice finally started coming together at the right time," Opdahl said. "While there's always room to improve, I think this was a great way for all of us to cap off a solid freshman season."
 
In other events, Alex Boutin earned fourth in the 200-yard backstroke finals with a time of 1:46.79, while Robert Hill came in eighth (1:49.98). Boutin's time set his personal-best mark in the event. In the 200-yard breaststroke finals, Brunno Suzuki set his personal-best time with a sixth-place finish (2:00.36), with Nicholas Schuster ended right behind him in seventh (2:00.42). Additionally, The 100-yard freestyle finals featured a 13^th place time from Bruno Guerra (45.25) and a 15th mark from Lucas Chadwell (45.37).
 
"I was glad to end the season strongly with a fourth-place finish in the 200 back along with having some fun with my teammate, Robbie" Boutin said. "Walking out in fur coats and ending the season successfully with best times in all of my events is a memory that I'll always remember."
 
MSU swimmers also took home numerous league honors. Lewis was awarded MAC Co-Outstanding Senior recognition, while Krawczyk, Jonathan Hill, Huskey and Moffatt were named First Team All-MAC. In addition, Robbie Hill, Suzuki, Lewis and Dunn all made the second team.
 
Overall, Missouri State took home four gold medals, all in individual events. This was MSU's sixth runner-up finish in the MAC Championship, with the five previous coming in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021. MoState's 713.5 points were the most it has acquired since 2020 (892), which was also the last time the Bears won the conference title.
 
The MAC Championships concludes the 2022-23 swimming and diving season for the men's team.
 
Final standings
1. Miami (Ohio) (755)
2. Missouri State (713.5)
3. Southern Illinois (611.5)
4. Ball State (457)
5. UIC (366.5)
6. Evansville (340.5)
7. Valparaiso (99)