Bears Swimming & Diving To Open Season Against Southern Illinois

Friday, October 3

Springfield

4:00 p.m.

Missouri State University

Southern Illinois - Day 1

Bears Swimming & Diving To Open Season Against Southern Illinois

October 02, 2025 | Swimming and Diving

By: Teodora Jovic

Missouri State vs Southern Illinois
Dates and Times	Friday, Oct. 3 - 4:00 p.m. CT \| Saturday, Oct. 4 - 10:00 a.m. CT
Location	Springfield, Missouri
Site	Hammons Student Center Pool \| Missouri State University
Live Results	Meet Mobile
Missouri State	Swimming & Diving Home Page \| Twitter/X \| Instagram \| Facebook

SPRINGFIELD - The Missouri State men's and women's swimming & diving teams commence the 2025-26 season this Friday Oct. 3 by hosting a two-day meet against Southern Illinois. Friday's competition begins at 4:00 p.m. and Saturday's competition begins at 10 a.m. at Hammons Student Center Pool.

Head coach Dave Collins is excited to open the season, "We are very excited to get the season started this weekend with Southern Illinois. They will be a great test for us early in the season. I'm looking forward to seeing how we respond to the training up to this point. We are anticipating a good home crowd and look forward to a great home meet atmosphere and some fast racing."

Bear Splashes (Women)

Missouri State women's swimming & diving has won 20 of the last 23 Missouri Valley Conference championships and looks to return to the top spot this season after a third-place finish in 2025.
Two of its three MVC first-team selections from 2025 return: junior Makenzie Kurre and senior Lana Janson. Six of eight MVC honorable mentions return: sophomore Lillie Freulon, juniors Caitlyn Friebe, Lindsey Hervey, Evie Kolb, and Olivia Sala and senior Sophia Coleta.
The Bears welcome five new faces to the women's squad: freshmen Paige Corbin, Aleca Howard, Laney Weiland, Delany Nickles, and junior Ané Meier.

Bear Splashes (Men)

Missouri State men's swimming & diving is also looking to improve on a third-place finish at the MVC Championship in February. The team has won 21 conference championships in its history, including five MVC championships.
Four of its seven MVC first-team selections from 2025 return: sophomore Gonzalo Ruiz and seniors Chris Bedsole, Luigi Maciel da Silva, and Jack Grandy. Three of five MVC honorable mentions return: junior Matvei Chesakov and seniors Storm Opdahl, and Logan Schelfaut.
The Bears welcome nine new faces to the men's squad: freshmen Kayden Hendrick, Zach Mendez, Kiefer Roemer and Peter Wendol, sophomore transfers Illias El Fallaki, Máté Miszlai and Jack Ailshire, and junior transfers Anderson Brown and Tomas Chocholaty.

Series History vs. Southern Illinois

Missouri State men's swimming & diving holds a 22-13 dual record against the Salukis. Last season at Southern Illinois the Bears took victory with a 200–151 scoreline.
Missouri State women's swimming & diving holds a 13-15 dual record against the Salukis. Last season at Southern Illinois the Salukis took victory with a 246–107 scoreline.

Head Coach Dave Collins

Missouri State swimming & diving head coach Dave Collins enters his 15th season and will look for his 13th women's conference championship and fourth men's league title. He has been named MVC Swimming Coach of the Year eight times. He was also a five-time MAC Swimming Coach of the Year.

List of Events

Friday

4:00  p.m.     Swimming Competition Begins
              400 Medley Relay

              -5 Min Break-

              1000 Freestyle
              200 Freestyle
              50 Freestyle
              200 IM

-15 Min Break-

             200 Butterfly
             100 Freestyle
             200 Backstroke
             500 Freestyle

-10 Min Break-

             200 Breaststroke
             200 Freestyle Relay

-45 Minute Diving Warmup-

             Women's 3M Diving
             Men's 1M Diving

Saturday

10:00 a.m. Swimming Competition Begins
              200 Medley Relay

-5 Min Break-

              1000 Freestyle
              200 Freestyle
              50 Freestyle
              400 IM

-15 Min Break-

              100 Butterfly
              100 Freestyle
              100 Backstroke
              500 Freestyle

-10 Min Break-

             100 Breaststroke
             400 Freestyle Relay

-45 Minute Diving Warmup-

             Women's 1M Diving
             Men's 3M Diving

Bear Pantry will be accepting donations at this meet, and fans are encouraged to bring donations with collection buckets available at the pool. Suggested items include pasta, canned goods, snack items, household supplies, and personal hygiene products. Come and support the Bears while making a difference to our school community!

#GoBears
#WeAreMoState