Salukis host Kentucky, Northwestern and Missouri this weekend

Friday, November 3

Carbondale, IL

4 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

Kentucky, Missouri, Northwestern

11/02/2017 | 11:37:00 | Swimming & Diving

By: Tony McDaniel, SIUSalukis.com

The Saluki swimming and diving teams host Kentucky, Northwestern and Missouri this weekend for the Saluki Invite. It is the final and most important home meet of the fall season. It is also perhaps the biggest home meet for the Salukis this season. The meet begins Friday at 4 p.m. and concludes on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. Both days of swimming will be held at the Edward J. Shea Natatorium inside the SIU Student Recreation Center.

Swimming Salukis

Southern is off to a fine start this season on both the men's and women's side. The women have currently won four-straight matchups, most recently sweeping Illinois and Illinois State last Saturday. The women are 4-1 this season. As for the men, the Salukis swept Truman State and McKendree their last time out. The men are 3-1 this season.

The women's team currently holds three top-times in the Missouri Valley Conference as well as the top-diving score in the one-meter dive. Senior Bryn Handley leads the Valley in the 200, 500 and 1,000-yard freestyle. Her time of 4:54.86 in the 500-yard freestyle is 66^th in the nation and her time of 10:05.95 in the 1,000-yard freestyle is 53^rd. Sophomore diver Beibei Ji is first in the Valley in one-meter diving and second in the three-meter. Her score of 299.77 in the one-meter is 31^st best in the NCAA.

The Saluki women have been bolstered by strong performances from a handful of sophomores as well. Sophomore Samantha Parsons is fourth in the MVC in the 200-yard breaststroke. Juliana Carvalho is sixth in the 100-yard backstroke and fifth in the 200-yard backstroke.

For the men, sophomore diver Eli Mercado has recorded scores in the one-meter and three-meter dive that not only lead the Mid-American Conference, but are some of the best in the NCAA. Mercado's score of 340.27 in the one-meter dive is 51^st in the nation and he is 67^th in the NCAA in the three-meter dive with a score of 345.52.

In the pool, the men have been led by senior Alex Crawford and sophomore Chris Cole. Crawford is in the top-10 in the MAC in both the 100 and 200-yard backstroke. Cole is top-five in the MAC in the 500 and 1,000-yard freestyle as well as the 400-yard Individual Medley. The Saluki men should be well-rested. The team has not competed since October 21.

Coach Walker's Wisdom

"At the beginning of every season, I explain to our athletes that they aren't here because they are mediocre. We brought them here because we thought they were excellent. They have to follow a protocol in order to be excellent. You've got to think, act and do like the person you want to become. This is a classic example of me not just saying this, I believe this. If we want to be like a Missouri or Kentucky, if we want to be at that caliber, then we have to think act and do like those programs. To compete against them is doing just that. Our job is to act like we belong in there. The thinking and the acting go hand in hand. This is more of a chance to show us what it is like competing against schools of this caliber so that we can be where we want to be and not lose sight of that. I expect our team to have their hands full more than any other time in the season, but this is what we've asked for. This is why we're here and why we do what we do. Therefore, I expect the team to step up and give their ultimate effort. Who knows, maybe we'll even surprise ourselves."

Scouting Kentucky

Kentucky's men's team is led by junior diver Seb Masterson. Masterson ranks in the top-10 in the Southeastern Conference in the one-meter dive, an event that he earned All-America honorable mention honors in in 2016-17.

On the women's side for Kentucky, the top-times lists in the SEC are peppered with Wildcats. Sophomore Asia Seidt is tops in the SEC in the 200-yard IM with a time of 1:58.83. It is the 10^th fastest time in the NCAA. She is also top-five in the conference in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke. Seidt is a three-time All-American and a member of the U.S. National Team. Freshman Bailey Bonnett is one of the top breaststroke swimmers in the SEC. She is second in the conference in the 200-yard breaststroke and third in the 100-yard breaststroke. The Wildcats also have two talented freestyle swimmers in junior Geena Freriks and sophomore Aly Galyer. Galyer is fifth in the NCAA in the 200-yard freestyle and Freriks is fifth in the 500 and 1,000-yard freestyle. Galyer and Freriks have both earned first team All-American honors in their career.

Scouting Missouri

The Tiger men are led by sophomore freestyle swimmer, Giovanny Lima and junior diver Kyle Goodwin. Lima is fifth in the SEC in the 200-yard freestyle. Goodwin is third in the conference in the one-meter dive and 10^th in the three-meter dive. Goodwin earned Honorable Mention All-American honors in 2016.

On the women's side, the Tigers have one of the best one-meter divers in the SEC as well as a talented sprint swimmer. Senior Alexa Beckwith is third in the SEC in the one-meter dive with a score of 326.30. Junior Annie Ochitwa transferred to Mizzou from Arizona this year and is currently seventh in the SEC in the 50-yard freestyle. Ochitwa qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2016 and 2017 and was an All-American in 2016.

Scouting Northwestern

The Wildcat's are sending their men's team to compete in the Saluki Invite. The men's team have three swimmers that rank in the top-15 in the Big Ten. Junior Tyler Lis is 11^th in the conference in the 200-yard backstroke. Junior Justin Hanson is 14^th in the Big Ten in the 200-yard butterfly. Will Hofstadter is 14^th in the conference in the 100-yard breaststroke.