Columbia News

The University of Missouri swimming and diving teams secured victories over McKendree and Missouri State during a double dual meet held Saturday at the Mizzou Aquatic Center. The Tigers claimed 26 event wins, marking their highest team scores of the season.

The women's team scored 246.50 against McKendree and 232.00 against Missouri State. On the men's side, Missouri posted 189.00 against McKendree and 228.00 against Missouri State.

The senior class contributed three individual event wins and participated in Mizzou's relay victories.

"Yesterday was a very non-traditional lineup and it's really fun to make an athlete get up and race as hard as they can, then do it again four minutes later, so it was really fun and entertaining swimming," said head coach Andrew Grevers. "All three teams enjoyed it, the spectators got a great show and we had some great racing from our athletes. We utilized the opportunities to approach our races in slightly different ways, with a slightly different mindset and that set us up for today. We had athletes being more aggressive, we had athletes believing in themselves a little bit more knowing that they were able to repeat their efforts in yesterday's races, whereas today was just one time. All in all, it was a great educational opportunity. We're right where we need to be as we hone in on the SEC Championships."

Senior Grant Bochenski won the men's 100 backstroke with a time of 46.67 seconds and helped secure both of Missouri's men's relay wins: the men's 200 medley relay (1:25.47) with Logan Ottke, Jan Zubik, and Luke Nebrich; and the men's 400 free relay (2:55.56) with Darden Tate, Francois Malherbe, and Jaden Pospishil.

Graduate student Sierra Smith took first place in the women's 50 freestyle (22.91) and joined Katie Kuehn, Zara Zallen, and Francesca Smith for gold in the women's 400 free relay (3:19.29).

Senior Colleen Duffy earned her first individual win of the season in the women's 200 backstroke with a time of 1:58.94.

Freshman Luke Nebrich added two individual titles—winning both the men's 50 free (19.60) and men's 100 free (43.36)—alongside his relay performance.

Zara Zallen collected victories in both the women's 100 breaststroke (1:00.62) and women's 100 free (48.77), as well as participating in the winning women's relay team.

Missouri swept all diving events at the meet: Collier Dyer captured titles on both men's boards with scores of 380.10 (1-meter) and 404.48 (3-meter). For women’s diving, Mia Henninger won on the 3-meter board (308.45), while Megan Jolly finished first on the 1-meter board (295.05).

Other notable performances included freshman Katie Gresik winning the women’s 1650 free (16:44.58), Sydney Bales taking gold in women’s 100 backstroke (54.80), Alex Ochsenbein claiming both men’s breaststroke events—100 breaststroke (53.63) and 200 breaststroke (1:58.13)—and sophomore Emily Roden continuing her streak by winning women’s 200 butterfly (2:00.06).

Jan Zubik picked up additional wins in men’s events—the men’s 200 backstroke (1:43.80) and men’s 100 butterfly (46.72). Transfer Zoe Schneider won women’s 500 freestyle (4:47.80), while Paige Striley secured victory in women’s 100 butterfly (52.81). In individual medley competition, Piper McNeil won women’s event with a time of 2:01.07; John Watson took first among men at 1:48.86.

Looking ahead, Missouri divers will compete at the Air Force Diving Invitational from January 30 through February 1 in Colorado Springs before joining their teammates for SEC Championships scheduled for February 18-22 in Athens, Georgia.