SPRINGFIELD - Missouri State swimming & diving opened the first day of its final home meet of the season with a strong performance against the UIC Flames on Friday at Hammons Student Center Pool. Heading into the final day of the meet tomorrow, the Missouri State women lead UIC, 128-56, while the men lead their dual, 125-61.

The women's team opened the day with a dominant victory in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The squad of Caitlyn Friebe, Cabrini Johnson, Samantha Roemer and Lana Janson put down a 3:40.45 time to take down the rest of the field by over eight seconds. The time was .3 seconds shy of the pool record set by the Bears in their meet against Omaha back in November.

Missouri State's success carried over to the individual events and never faltered. Olivia Sala won her third 400-yard individual medley race of the season with a time of 4:24.50. Grace Robbins (4:33.28) and Sarah Culberson (4:33.28) completed the Bears' sweep of the top three spots. 

The trend of podium sweeps continued in the 100-yard butterfly with Roemer touching the wall first at 54.07, followed by Lillie Freulon (55.21) and Payton Smith (55.40). 

Makenzie Kurre secured a personal best time with her win in the 200-yard freestyle at 1:49.38, besting her 1:51.64 time she set at the House of Champions Invitational. Lindsey Hervey also set a personal record in the 500-yard freestyle (4:55.26), besting her previous best of 4:56.14 at last year's MVC Championships.

The meet saw more firsts for Missouri State swimmers. Cameryn Johnson won her first career collegiate meet in the 50-yard freestyle (23.87). Addie Ludbrook followed with a personal best time of 24.47 to finish second.

Cabrini Johnson earned her eighth individual win in a breaststroke event this season with a 1:02.06 time in the 100-yard breaststroke, defeating UIC's Taira Juronis (1:03.79) by nearly two seconds.

Friebe also returned to the individual win column with a blazing 55.25 time in the 100-yard backstroke. She led the way by over two seconds to UIC's Sophie Stefanic (57.31) as the next finisher.

The women finished the swimming portion of the first day with a win in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Ludbrook, Roemer, Janson and Cameryn Johnson put down a 1:34.34 time to defeat UIC's top-finishing quartet by over two seconds.

In diving, UIC's Kerry-Leigh Morrison won the 3-meter dive with a score of 307.43, surpassing her MVC-best score of 303.30 she had last week against the University of Chicago. Maggie Arceneaux led the Bears with a 229.73 score to finish third.

The men also opened their dual with a 400 medley relay win. Alex Boutin, Luigi Maciel da Silva, Simeon Sabev and Matvei Chesakov combined for a time of 3:16.99 with a nearly three-second lead over the Flames. 

The men's team rallied off a handful of podium sweeps. Reese Hodgins, one of the seniors being recognized tomorrow, led the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:38.81. He was followed by Keegan Kelly (1:39.88) and Jack Grandy (1:40.98).

The freestyle dominance continued in the 50-yard variety as Chesakov came just .1 seconds off his pool record he set against Omaha with a time of 20.27. Lucas Chadwell finished second at 20.64 and George Holesinger came in third posting a time of 21.09.

In the 100-yard breaststroke, Maciel da Silva led the podium sweep with a winning time of 54.44. Brayden Goeldner finished second with a time of 56.53. Sabev rounded out the top three (57.25).

Sabev also earned a win in the 100-yard butterfly (48.74), his third win in the event this season. 

Freshman Carter Crook earned his first career collegiate victory in the 100-yard backstroke (50.25). Gonzalo Ruiz, who had six backstroke wins this season entering the day, finished second at 50.31. Chadwell took home third with a time of 50.94. 

Chesakov, Hodgins, Chris Bedsole and Chadwell concluded the swimming festivities by taking the 200-yard freestyle (1:22.23) by just over a second to UIC's top relay team.

In diving, reigning MVC Diver of the Week Harrison Nolan won the 1-meter dive with a score of 370.73. Storm Opdahl finished third to pace Missouri State with a score of 306.90, the third-highest score in the event by a Bear this season.

The second day of the meet will begin tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. with Senior Day recognitions commencing at 9:45 a.m. Payton Smith, Courtney Stanbury, Reese Hodgins, Simeon Sabev and Brunno Suzuki-Tomiyama will be honored.