The Missouri State swimming and diving teams concluded the Kansas Double Dual on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Robinson Natatorium. The men’s team was topped by Denver 190.50-162.50, while the Bears’ women’s side was defeated by Denver and Kansas, 278.50-73.50 and 277.00-75.00, respectively.
“Both teams were really tested this weekend against Kansas and Denver,” head coach Dave Collins said. “It was a great opportunity for us to continue to gain race experience in what is a very busy month. Our goal heading into October was to become better racers and evaluate ways to improve. Experiences like this weekend will help us as we move towards the Louisville Invite in November.”
After setting three pool records in the first part of their dual against Denver on Friday, the Bears’ men’s team broke three more on Saturday.
The 200 free relay team of Paul Le, Uvis Kalnins, Caleb Schuermann and Isaac McKnight combined to break the pool record – previously set by Texas A&M in 2003 – to finish in a time of 1:22.71.
Le and Kalnins each broke Robinson Natatorium records for the second consecutive day. Le set a season-best mark in the 200 back (1:45.11), while also topping Texas A&M’s Riley James’ 1998 top-time by over four seconds. Kalnins swam the 400 IM in a time of 3:57.16, besting Matt Frentsos of Missouri’s record time set in 1984.
“It was neat to see the men attack the KU pool record board,” Collins said. “Anytime you can get your name on the wall it’s special. There have not been very many men’s meets in that pool since they eliminated the men’s program, so many of the records have stood for awhile.”
The men’s side had multiple performances that kept the dual against the Pioneers interesting until the end.
Le, Kalnins, McKnight and Will Brand set a season-best time in the 400 free relay for MSU, finishing in a time of 3:02.26 for a first-place finish.
“It was fun to be able to step up and help out on the relays,” Will Brand said. “After a hard week of training I feel like we all did well and gave it our all.”
Isaac Springer won the 200 breast (2:06.61) and was followed by Uldis Tazans (2:07.25) who placed third. McKnight earned third-place honors in the 100 free (46.62), Garrett Nevels and Elijah Swaim went 2-4 for the Bears in 1-meter diving, Matthew Wilson, Brand and Preston Selby went 3-4-5 in the 100 fly and Max Pratt swam a season-best 5:01.17 in the 500 free.
“This weekend against Denver was an excellent opportunity for us as a team to battle against a former Sun-Belt conference rival,” Isaac Springer said. “Many of the races came down to the touch and both teams continued to battle and push each other. In the end, the drive to win close races made for a fast meet and some impressive times.”
In races against both Kansas and Denver, the women’s swimming and diving team had 2014-15 bests eclipsed in Saturday’s action.
To start the day, the 200 free relay team of Kate Gately, Megan Holthoff, Anna Bump and Shannon Myer put up a 1:38.76 for a third-place finish. The Bears also made a top mark for the year in the 400 free relay (3:36.92) behind Ibby Simcox, Sydney Zupan, Bump and Myer, while Heather Snyder swam her best time of the season in the 500 free (5:15.90).
“It was a fun weekend to race with two fast teams we’ve never competed against before,” Megan Holthoff said. “Although there were some off races, the team still remains positive and focused on preparing for our mid-season invitational coming next month, along with performances at the conference championship.”
Other highlights for the Bears included Dora Kiss finishing fourth in the 500 free (5:04.44) and Zupan earning third in the 200 back (2:05.20).
“We knew coming into the meet against Denver and Kansas that we would be up against some fast competition,” sophomore CeCe Etter said. “However, the men’s and women’s team did a really good job racing and cheering each other on to put some fast times on the board.”
The Missouri State swimming and diving teams will next head to Columbia for a dual against Missouri at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31. The Louisville Invite will follow that for the Bears, which begins on Nov. 21.
