EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Missouri State men's and women's swimming & diving teams completed four days of incredible competition at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, hosted at the Deaconess Aquatic Center. The men won with 1446.5 points, claiming their 22nd total conference championship in program history, and sixth total MVC championship. The women ended the competition in third with 1117 points.  

Day Four

The MSU men competed brilliantly across individual races on the last day of competition, maintaining their lead and claiming the title with 1446.5 total points in front of Miami University (1394.5) and Southern Illinois (1189.5). After qualifying for the finals in the preliminary rounds, four Bears finished on a podium.

Freshman Kiefer Roemer earned a gold medal in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:56.83 and was named MVC Freshman of the Year.

Freshman Zach Mendez came in second in the 1650-yard freestyle (15:04.78).

Sophomore Mate Miszlai earned bronze in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:44.79.

Senior Lucas Chadwell came in third in the 100-yard freestyle (43.70).

Head coach Dave Collins was named the MVC Men's Swimming Coach of the Year. 

The MSU women excelled in team races on day four, ending up third in the overall team standings with 1,117 points, behind Indiana State in first with 1,236 points and Southern Illinois who earned 1,161 points. After qualifying for the finals in the preliminary rounds, one Bear and one Bear relay team finished first on the podium.

Junior Makenzie Kurre earned a gold medal in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 49.37.

In the 400-yard freestyle relay, seniors Lana Janson, Ainsley Jenkins and juniors Ane Meier and Kurre took home the gold medal with a time of 3:18.97.

Day Three

The MSU men had another wonderful day across individual and team races on the third day of competition, keeping them on the top of the leaderboard with 1086 points in front of Miami University (1067.5) and Southern Illinois with (890.5). After qualifying for the finals in the preliminary rounds, three Bears finished on a podium individually along with one relay team.

Freshman Kiefer Roemer was the standout today in the pool, winning gold in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 52.56 that became a MVC record and earned Roemer a ticket into the 2026 DI NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships. This time is also the second fastest in school history.

Junior Anderson Brown earned a silver medal in the 200-yard butterfly (1:44.26). In the preliminary round earlier in the day Brown created both a Missouri State and MVC record with a time of 1:43.80.

Sophomore Carter Crook came in third place in the 100-yard backstroke (47.73).

In the 800-yard freestyle relay sophomore Ilias El Fallaki, senior Jack Grandy, sophomore Mate Miszlai and freshman Zach Mendez earned a silver medal with a time of 6:26.26.

The MSU women excelled in team races on day three. They are third in the overall team standings with 796.5 points, behind Southern Illinois in first with 875 points and Indiana State who earned 854.  After qualifying for the finals in the preliminary rounds, one Bear relay team finished first on the podium.

In the 800-yard freestyle relay seniors Lana Janson, Ainsley Jenkins, Sophia Coleta and junior Makenzie Kurre took home the gold medal with a time of 7:14.68.

Day Two

The MSU men had a brilliant day across individual and team races on the second day of competition, propelling them to the top of the leaderboard with 744 points in front of Miami University (732.5) and Southern Illinois with (579.5). After qualifying for the finals in the preliminary rounds, three Bears finished on a podium individually along with one relay team.

Sophomore Mate Miszlai was the first to get to the podium earning a silver medal in the 400-yard individual medley (3:50.20). Junior Anderson Brown was right behind him, finishing in third (3:51.45).

Freshman Zach Mendez earned yet another medal with a third-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:34.99).

The men's best performance came in the very last race of the day, with senior Gonzalo Ruiz, freshman Kiefer Roemer, sophomore Jack Ailshire and senior Lucas Chadwell winning gold in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:25.61.  

The MSU women progressed impressively across individual races on day two. They are third in the overall team standings with 631.5 points, behind Indiana State in first (639) points and Southern Illinois in second (634).  After qualifying for the finals in the preliminary rounds, three Bears finished in the top three.

Sophomore Lillie Freulon opened the second day of competition with a gold medal performance in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 53.25.

Junior Makenzie Kurre duplicated this result with her own gold in the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.14).

Sophomore Delaney Nickles earned a bronze medal in the one-meter dive with a score of 244.40.

Day One

The MSU men opened the championship powerfully across individual and team races on the first day of competition. This placed them in second position on the overall team standings with 420.5 points, behind Miami University who earned 490. After qualifying for the finals in the preliminary rounds, two Bears finished on a podium individually along with one relay team.

Freshman Zach Mendez was not only the first gold medal winner for the Bears but also set a brand new MVC record in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:19.72. Sophomore Ilias El Fallaki was right behind his teammate finishing in second place with a time of 4:20.78.

In the last race of the day, sophomore Gonzalo Ruiz, senior Luigi da Silva, sophomore Jack Ailshire and senior Lucas Chadwell earned bronze in the 400-yard medley.

The MSU women also opened competition with strong showings across individual and team races on day one. This placed them in second position on the overall team standings with 325.5 points, behind Southern Illinois who earned 366.  After qualifying for the finals in the preliminary rounds, one Bear finished in the top three, paired with one team top three finish.

Senior Lana Janson earned bronze in the 200-yard individual medley (2:01.82).

Senior Olivia Sala, Janson, sophomore Lillie Freulon and junior Makenzie Kurre finished in second place with a time of 3:40.36.

#WeAreMoState