Mizzou Swim & Dive Hosts Southern Illinois in Final Dual Meet

by Chief Editor

The University of Missouri swimming and diving team will host Southern Illinois this Saturday, January 31st, at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in their final dual meet of the season. The meet will also serve as Senior Day, honoring the team’s eight graduating seniors with a ceremony scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m. before the competition starts at 10 a.m.

Recent Performance

The Tigers are coming off a January 10th road trip to Kentucky. The women’s team secured a decisive victory over the Wildcats with a score of 180-120. The men’s team faced a closer contest, ultimately falling to Kentucky 168.5-131.5.

Did You Know? The University of Missouri swimming and diving team last competed against Southern Illinois on November 3, 2023, at the St. Peters Rec-Plex.

Missouri holds a 24-12 series lead over Southern Illinois in women’s competition, while the men’s series is closely contested, with the Salukis leading 23-21.

Key Performances at Kentucky

Several Tigers delivered strong performances at the Kentucky meet. Francesca Smith led a sweep of the women’s 50 free, finishing first with a time of 22.79. Zara Zallen secured gold in both the women’s 200 free (1:47.03) and 100 free (48.90). Oliver Millán de Miguel achieved his first win as a Tiger in the men’s 200 free, clocking in at 1:37.15.

Maeve DeYoung and Kylee Sullivan dominated the women’s 200 fly, finishing first and second respectively. Jan Zubik and Matthew Judkins mirrored this success in the men’s 200 fly, taking the top two spots. The women also swept the 100 fly, with Paige Striley, Sullivan, and Annabelle Wentzel finishing first, second, and third. Tommaso Zannella and Tanner Braunton won the men’s 3-meter and 1-meter diving events, while Gabriela San Juan Carmona topped the women’s 3-meter competition. Libby Bakker and Quinlan Gould secured wins in the 100 backstroke, and Karolina Bank and Matthew Mortenson each won a breaststroke event.

Expert Insight: The consistent strong performances across multiple events suggest a well-rounded team capable of competing at a high level. Maintaining this momentum through the final dual meet and into the SEC Championships will be crucial for achieving their season goals.

Looking Ahead

Following Saturday’s meet, the Tigers will prepare to compete in the 2026 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, February 16-21. Preliminaries are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. each day, followed by finals at 5:30 p.m. It is possible the team will use the Southern Illinois meet as an opportunity to refine strategies and solidify individual performances before the conference championships.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does the Senior Day ceremony begin?

The Senior Day ceremony will begin at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, January 31st.

Where can I find live results from the meet?

Live results will be available via Meet Mobile and DiveMeets.

Will the meet be available to watch online?

Yes, the meet will be streamed via SEC Network+.

What aspects of the team’s performance this Saturday will be most indicative of their potential at the upcoming SEC Championships?

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