Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
MVC Championships
Men's Swimming & Diving Wins Championship, Women Finish Second
02/21/2004 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Feb. 21, 2004
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Finally ... Rick Walker could relax, but just a little.
The head coach for the Southern Illinois University men's swimming and diving team never completely relaxes during a meet, especially this weekend's inaugural Missouri Valley Invitational.
The Salukis held the lead going into the last event with 787.5, nearly 49 points more than their conference rival Southwest Missouri State (739). Despite holding the lead from beginning to end and no possibility of losing, Walker says there is no relaxing during such a high-profile event.
"I think we're relax now that it's all said and done," Walker said. "Isn't winning why we're here at this meet? And if you can't win, then you lose with class. I don't think we give credit to our competitors by backing off. We owe it to our competitors to give them our very best."
The first-ever Missouri Valley Invitational championship win by the Salukis, or any team for that matter, was set up by eight championship event titles by SIU on the first two days of competition. The rest was done by two juniors and a sophomore on the final day.
Junior Ivan Sanchez, a double winner at the meet with wins in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle, finished second in the 1650 free with a time of 15:47.59. He was followed by sophomore Jason Sigler, who clocked in at 15:54.70.
But the solidifying moment came when junior Marcelo Possato defended his 200-yard backstroke title with a time of 1:46.94. The time set a new school record in the event, surpassing the old school of 1:47.49 set by Possato in 2002. The mark also bested the NCAA provisional qualifying time.
The SIU men took the crown after collecting 821.5 points, followed by the 2003 MVC champion Bears with 779 points for second and Western Kentucky in third (742.5). Evansville (369) and Louisiana-Monroe (344) rounded out the five competing teams.
The SIU women's team (771.5) finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference Championships for the second straight season behind 898 points from the eventual winner and defending champion SMS.
The goal for the Salukis was to keep ahead of Illinois State (691), which they did, due to some spectacular individual performances and two MVC Championship meet records.
Sophomore Elizabeth McGowan took home the 1650-yard freestyle title on a time of 17:05.08, setting a new meet record. Fellow sophomore Briley Bergen finished third in the mile-long event, clocking in at 17:15.32.
Junior Ashley MacCurdy grabbed second in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:05.11, but it was sophomore Kelsey Kinsella's come-from-behind win in the in the 100-yard freestyle that brought a roar to the Shea Natatorium. She finished in 51.98.
"For her to win from the number six seed is huge," women's head coach Jeff Goelz said. "That's their (SMS) strength, so when you aren't supposed to win it and you do, it's big."
Freshman Michaela Sceli added a win for SIU in the 200 breaststroke, finishing in 2:21.17.
Fellow freshman Gabriela Flores capped the night off for SIU, solidifying second place with a title win in the 200-yard butterfly. She finished in 2:03.46, setting a new championship meet record. Senior Brigitta Olson was second with a time of 2:06.11.
Rounding out the women's teams was Evansville with 477.5 points and Northern Iowa with 281 points.
2004 Women's Swimming and Diving Championship
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. SMS, 898 (Champions)
2. Southern Illinois, 771.50
3. Illinois State, 691
4. Evansville, 477.50
5. Northern Iowa, 281
2004 Men's Swimming and Diving Invitational
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Southern Illinois, 821.50 (Champions)
2. SMS, 779
3. Western Kentucky, 742.50
4. Evansville, 369
5. Louisianna-Monroe, 344
2004 Women's Swimming Coach of the Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack Steck, SMS
2004 Women's Diving Coach of the Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carly Weiden, Illinois State
2004 Women's Swimmer of the Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julie Cocks, Illinois State
2004 Women's Diver of the Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Krystal Featherston, Illinois State
2004 Men's Invitational Swimming Coach of the Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rick Walker, Southern Illinois
2004 Men's Invitational Diving Coach of the Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joy Zhou, Southern Illinois
2004 Men's Invitational Co-Swimmers of the Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chad Waits and Karl Swanson, Western Kentucky
2004 Men's Invitational Diver of the Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brandon Birchak, Southern Illinois
