Southern Illinois University
McKendree University
Salukis set for McKendree and Mizzou over the Weekend
10/07/2021 | 4:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, Ill. — In the first home meet for the Salukis, the SIU men and women will host McKendree (IL) Friday, October 8 at 2pm and Mizzou on Saturday, October 9 at 1pm inside Shea Natatorium. This weekend's meets will be streamed via SIU's Student Recreation Center's Facebook page, and live times will be available on the Meet Mobile app.
SIU-MCKENDREE / MIZZOU HISTORY
Since the program's inception in 2016, the Salukis and Bearcats have met four times since 2017, the men posting a 2-2 record, while the women leg over with 2-1. The last meeting in 2019 in O'Fallon, the Saluki women outswam McKendree, 203-93, while the men were surpassed 112-182 tallied points.
The SEC Tigers come to Carbondale after meeting SIU in 2020 in Columbia and defeating the Dawgs, men 111-188 for the men and 111-174 for the women. The Tigers and Salukis have met, dating back to 1972, with Mizzou holding the upper hand in men's (21-15) and women's (18-4) all-time records.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
With numerous canceled meets due to the ongoing pandemic, the Bearcat women posted a 1-2 record in dual meets, while the men finished 1-3 during the 2020-21 season. As Division II (GLVC) competitors, they took the upper edge against Truman State (women, 166-120 and men, 208-78), but dropped to Indianapolis, Lindenwood, and Missouri S&T. McKendree's men's program finished in fifth place, while the women took fourth at the 2021 GLVC Championship. Friday marks the first dual of the Bearscats' season, having competed in the St. Louis Showcase against UMSL and Maryville in September.
The Mizzou men are coming off of a sixth place finish at the 2021 SEC Championships, finishing their 2020-21 campaign 2-1 in dual meets, only dropping to Louisville 101-199 team points. The Tiger's women's program completed last season 2-0 with wins over TCU and Arkansas, while leaving the 2021 SEC Championships in seventh place. At NCAA's in March, Mizzou finished in 18th for the women, while the men wrapped up in 16th place. Both programs have been off to a fast start, both taking first place in the 15th annual Show-Me Showdown in Columbia and winning all 26 events. The Tigers will be split this weekend, while some of the team will be competing at the two-day SMU Classic.
LAST TIME OUT
The Saluki women throttled Missouri State last weekend, 187-166, garnering their first win over the Bears since 2015. Freshman Celia Pulido took home a three-peat of individual first-place titles, including the 200-backstroke event on Friday evening and now owns the SIU school record at 1:57.56 .One of two diving newcomers for the women, freshman Farida Moussa finalized Friday evening for the Salukis with a first-place finish on the one-meter board, recording 233.55 points, following closely behind with senior Laura Mircea (214.05). Sophomore distancer, Fernanda Sanchez gained a length ahead of Missouri State's Payton Smith, outlasting 4:30.65 in the women's 400-IM for a first-place title, seven seconds over the Bears.
SIU men battled, but were challenged by MSU 145.5-205.5 points. Taking the first relay of the 2021-22 season, the squad of Zander Minano, Will Chavez, Alex Schlueter, and Donat Csuvarszki completed a 1:23.56 relay in the men's 200-freestyle to start off the first-place titles on Friday. Bringing the first top-title in the morning, sophomore sprinter, Donat Csuvarszki got on the board in the 50-freestyle event. The MAC bronze medal champion in the event swam a strong 21.29 for his first individual title of the season. Freshman newcomer Lee Haywood stuck gold with 296.77 points on the one-meter board on Saturday, with senior Kyle Campbell earning 271.05 points on suit.
WEEKLY WINNERS
In the first week of dual-meet competition, freshman Celia Pulido earned herself the MVC Swimmer of the Week honors this week. While breaking the SIU and pool record in Springfield in the 200-back (1:57.56), Pulido was the lone Saluki holding three individual first-place titles (100-back, 200-back, 200-IM), while also contributing to the winning 400-medley relay (3:48.02) and 400-free relay (3:28.31) over the two-day dual at Missouri State. The freshman garnered the Salukis to a win over the Bears, 187-166, for the first time since 2015.
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Players Mentioned
