ST. LOUIS - The Missouri State men's and women's swimming & diving teams each earned a weekly award following their performances at the 20th House of Champions Invitational hosted by IU Indianapolis last weekend. Fifth-year swimmer Samantha Roemer won MVC Women's Swimmer of the Week, while Gonzalo Ruiz won MVC Men's Freshman of the Week, the league announced Wednesday morning.

Roemer (Bettendorf, Iowa) wins her first career weekly award following a six-medal performance at the House of Champions Invitational. She played a role in winning four events for the Bears, including three individual golds in the 200-yard IM (2:00.64), the 100-yard butterfly (53.30) and the 100-yard IM (55.96), the latter two being House of Champions records. She also got gold swimming third for the Bears in the 400 medley relay (3:40.51) for an invitational record. Roemer added two silver medals swimming third in the 200 medley relay (1:40.47) and leading off in the 400 freestyle relay (3:21.66).

The honor marks Missouri State's second Women's Swimmer of the Week award this season. Junior Lana Janson earned her first career weekly nod on Oct. 30 following two meets against Drury. 

Ruiz (Madrid, Spain) won his third Freshman of the Week award this season to go along with the ones he earned on Oct. 9 and Nov. 6. Ruiz won three gold medals across the three-day meet, including one as the leadoff swimmer in the 400-yard medley relay (3:12.40) for a House of Champions record. He also won the 200-yard backstroke (1:45.15) and the 100-yard individual medley (50.29), the latter of which is also a House of Champions record. Ruiz also finished fourth in two events, the 200-yard individual medley (1:47.64), just .04 seconds off the podium, and in the 100-yard backstroke (48.54).

Missouri State swimming & diving will return to the pool in 2025 as it ramps up for the men's and women's MVC Championships with a two-day tri meet against Missouri and McKendree starting on Jan. 17 at Mizzou Aquatic Center.