ST. LOUIS - Missouri State men's swimming & diving won two Missouri Valley Conference weekly honors following its win against UIC in the Bears' final home meet of the season. Luigi Maciel da Silva was named MVC Men's Swimmer of the Week while Carter Crook was named the MVC Freshman of the Week. The respective awards mark the first weekly Valley honor in each swimmer's career.

Maciel da Silva (Palmeira, Brazil, Jr.) was dialed in for Missouri State's two-day dual meet victory over UIC to wrap up the Bear's home slate. He opened the meet last Friday by contributing to a Bears' win in the 400-yard medley relay (3:16.99). Maciel da Silva went undefeated in both breaststroke races, winning the 100-yard breaststroke (54.44) on Friday and the 200-yard breaststroke (2:00.78) on Saturday for his 11th and 12th individual event wins this season to lead the men's team. This is the first MVC Swimmer of the Week award for the former Division II Breaststroke national finalist and last year's Mid-American Conference 100 and 200 breast silver medalist.

Maciel da Silva joins Brunno Suzuki-Tomiyama (Oct. 9) and Matvei Chesakov (Nov. 6) as the third Bear named the MVC Men's Swimmer of the Week.

Crook (Ballwin, Missouri, Fr.) earned his first career collegiate win on Friday against UIC in the 100-yard backstroke (50.25) to lead one of many Missouri State podium sweeps over the Flames. The Ballwin, Missouri native also set a 100 back personal best in the 400-yard medley relay on Friday with a relay leadoff time of 49.59 as part of a Missouri State B runner-up finish (3:19.63). Crook also rounded out a Bears' podium sweep with a third-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke (1:50.41) on Saturday.

Crook is the second Bear to win the Valley's Men's Freshman of the Week Award. Gonzalo Ruiz (Oct. 9, Nov. 6, Nov. 27) has won the award thrice this season. 

Missouri State swimming is off until the MVC men's swimming & diving championships in Oxford, Ohio starting on Feb. 19. Missouri State diving will conclude its regular season this weekend at the Omaha Diving invite starting Friday and running through Saturday.