WAUKEE, Iowa - Missouri State women's swimming & diving saw its eight-year conference championship winning streak come to an end Saturday on the final day of the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Swimming & Diving Championships at Waukee Community School District Natatorium. Indiana State scored 1,440.5 points to win its first Valley Championship in program history.

"This week was challenging for our group, but with that said, I was impressed with how resilient they were and how supportive of each other they were," head coach Dave Collins said. "I am especially proud of Samantha Roemer, Cabrini Johnson, Payton Smith and Courtney Stanbury for their leadership and commitment during their time as Bears. Each of them has so much to be proud of."

Fresh off her bronze-medal finish in the 100-yard breaststroke on Friday, fifth-year senior Cabrini Johnson gave the Bears their first silver medal of the meet in the 200 breast with a finals time of 2:13.54. Johnson won her prelim heat with a time of 2:14.53, only behind last season's 200 breast gold medalist Olivia Herron of Southern Illinois. The tandem finished 1-2 in the finals for the second year in a row, with Herron resetting her Valley record from earlier in the day to 2:11.47.

Johnson concludes her time as a Bear with 12 career MVC medals, including five golds and four total medals in the 200 breast.

Veterans and young swimmers alike made waves on the final day of competition. Sophomore Makenzie Kurre started the day by setting her first career sub-50-second time in the 100-yard freestyle with a prelim time of 49.93, good for fifth-fastest. The Savannah, Missouri native jumped two spots in the finals with a personal best time of 49.44 to surpass Indiana State's Chloe Farro (49.69) and Mia Snow (49.75). The result marked Kurre's first career individual conference medal and second overall when counting the 800-yard freestyle relay bronze she was a part of on Wednesday.

A couple of Bears saw vast improvements from their prelim performances to net themselves race wins in the finals session. Freshman Reese Winer won the C-Final of the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:21.52, over three seconds faster than her prelim time (2:24.58).

Payton Smith also won the C-Final of the 200-yard butterfly (2:04.59), nearly three seconds over next best finisher Avery Watson of Indiana State (2:06.52). Smith was a bronze medalist in the event last season and a silver medalist the year before as a freshman.

Sarah Culberson was Missouri State's top finisher in the 200 fly with a 2:04.53, good for 11th. Following her was Addie Ludbrook (2:06.47) in 13th, then Lillie Freulon (2:09.53) in 16th. Smith's C-Final victory netted her a 17th-place overall result.

The Bears ended the week of swimming by finishing in fifth place in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Lana Janson, Kurre, Cameryn Johnson and Samantha Roemer combined for a time of 3:21.12, which is the eighth-fastest time in the event in team history. Missouri State had won the event each of the last seven years entering the night.

In diving, senior Courtney Stanbury sent off her Missouri State career with an A-Final appearance in the 3-meter dive. She came in eighth with a six-dive score of 242.75.

Final Standings
1.    Indiana State - 1,440.5
2.    Southern Illinois - 1,331
3.    Missouri State - 1,034
4.    Northern Iowa - 929.5
5.    UIC - 875.5
6.    Little Rock - 791
7.    Illinois State - 738
8.    Evansville - 253
9.    Valparaiso - 226.5

All-MVC Team
Lana Janson (First Team)
Cabrini Johnson (First Team)
Makenzie Kurre (First Team)
Sophia Coleta (Honorable Mention)
Lillie Freulon (Honorable Mention)
Caitlyn Friebe (Honorable Mention)
Lindsey Hervey (Honorable Mention)
Evie Kolb (Honorable Mention)
Samantha Roemer (Honorable Mention)
Olivia Sala (Honorable Mention)
Courtney Stanbury (Honorable Mention)