With wins in nearly every event, the Missouri State swimming and diving teams recorded a sweep over the Evansville Purple Aces on senior night Friday at Hammons Center Pool. The MSU women outscored the Purple Aces 126-96, and the men prevailed 126-100.
Junior Eduardo Pajares was the highlight of the meet setting a new pool record in the 400 IM with a time of 4:00.13. The record was previously set by Matt Beasley in 2004.
Victor Serra was a double-event winner for the Bears. Serra swam the second leg of the 200 medley relay that captured a first-place finish with a time of 1:36.52 and sprinted to a victory in the 50 free in a time of 20.93.
Freshman Taylor Parsons swam to victory in the 1000 free clocking a time of 10:12.19 with teammate Vance Perkins finishing second with a time of 10:28.90.
In the 100 free, Josh Uddermann claimed first, touching the wall at 47.73.
Vic Riffell was a winner for Bears in the 200 freestyle, clocking a time of 1:43.75. Senior AJ Goertzen took home gold in the 100 fly with a time of 51.64, and Roko Simunic swam to a victory in the 100 back in a time of 51.80. Freshman Eric Ducourneau took first on the one-meter board totaling a score of 292.73.
On the women’s side, senior Andi Rojas was a multi-event winner as she anchored the Bears’ 200 medley relay to victory in a time of 1:52.63 and also won the 50 freestyle in 25.60.
Jordan Hawkins and Matana Wellman were also individual winners with Hawkins claiming first in the 100 fly in 1:00.55 and Wellman winning the 100 free in a time of 54.18.
Other event winners for the Missouri State women included Jessica Bennett in the 400 IM (4:46.13), Chelsea Dirks-Ham in the 100 back (1:01.45), Katharina Voelkel in the 1000 free (10:37.37), Stacey MacDonald in the 200 freestyle (2:00.84), and Sara Griffith on the one-meter diving board (214.70 points).
The Evansville dual concluded both the Bears’ men’s and women’s swimming and diving regular seasons. The MSU women will compete in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship on Thurs.-Sat., Feb14-16, in Carbondale, Ill. The MSU men will compete in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Thurs.-Sat., Feb. 28- Mar. 1, in Nashville, Tenn.