SIU to Host MVC Swimming and Diving Championship

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- For the first time since 2016, the Missouri Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Championship will be held inside Shea Natatorium in Carbondale, as the Southern Illinois women's swimming and diving program is set to host the 2021 conference event April 14-16 (Wed-Fri). A live stream and live results via Meet Mobile will be available for each session. Due to COVID health and safety protocols, no spectators are allowed inside the natatorium, as the three-day event is limited to teams and event staff only. All information regarding the 2021 MVC Championships can be found on the Championship Central page.

Event Schedule (PDF) | Live Stream | Live Results

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

The Salukis have been a top threat in the Valley since joining in 1994. Southern has claimed the conference title nine times and most recently won it all in 2016. The Salukis won the MVC Championships five-straight years from 1997-2001. Southern has also placed runner-up at the championship-event 11 times, which includes the last four seasons. SIU has never finished beyond third place in its 26-year span in the MVC.

TOP DAWGS

The Salukis see seven swimmers with top-five placements in the Valley. Freshman Mima Zaborska ranks first in the MVC in two events, while breaking three school records in her newcomer college career. Senior Sierra Forbord ranks second in the 50-, 100-, and 200-yard freestyles. 2020 MVC Freshman of the Year, Lucia Romero, who broke the 100-backstroke record at the MVC Championships in 2020, currently ranks second in the event. SIU sees three freshman within the top-five ranks.

Mima Zaborska

1st - 100-Breast (1:01.91)
1st - 200-Breast (2:13.13)
3rd - 200-IM (2:03.95)

Sierra Forbord

2nd - 50-Free (23.27)
2nd - 100-Free (50.12)
2nd - 200-Free (1:48.69)

Abigail Young

5th - 100-Fly (56.09)
5th - 200-Fly (2:03.85)

Lucia Romero

2nd - 100-Back (55.36)

Gaby Jenkins

5th - 100-Free (51.88)

Imogen Watson

5th - 100-Back (55.57)

Melanie Scheiblein

5th - 200-Breast (2:19.91)

WEEKLY HONORS

With the delayed and shortened season, the Saluki women racked two weekly conference honors during the regular field. Freshman newcomer Mima Zaborska racked up the first weekly honor for SIU of the season, she took the first-place spot in the individual 100-breaststroke, clocking in at 1:01.91 and surpassing the previous Saluki record by .43 seconds since 2008, and was also a member of the record-breaking 200-medley relay squad that clocked in for a second-place finish (1:41.06) against Missouri State in March. Senior Sierra Forbord reigned MVC Co-Swimmer of the week, the first of her career, while reaching second place as a member of the 400-free relay squad and individually in the 50-freestyle against Valparaiso and Little Rock, Forbord also earned a first-place finish for the Salukis in the 100-freestyle (50.47).

3/10/20 — Mima Zaborska — MVC Swimmer of the Week (1st of career)
3/17/21 — Sierra Forbord — MVC Co-Swimmer of the Week (1st of career)

BREAKING RECORDS

The Salukis broke four school records in the pool during the regular season. Mima Zabroska started things off breaking the 200-breaststroke record (2/12) with a time of 2:14.39. While continuously racing fast, the Slovakia native broke her record two more times for the current bar set at 2:13.13 in the book. Zaborska also owns the 100-breaststroke record at 1:01.91. Sierra Forbord saw a new record as the lead-off of the 400-freestyle relay against Evansville/Illinois State. Her 100-freestyle leg clocked in at 50.12, surpassing the previous record set in 2009. The final record broken by SIU was relay squad A of Lucia Romero, Zaborska, Imogen Watson, and Forbord in the 200-medley relay (1:41.06) with a second place finish in the dual against Missouri State.

PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP POLL

SIU was projected to finish second in the MVC pre-championship coaches poll. Missouri State, the winner of the past four championships, was picked first with all eight first-place votes.

1. Missouri State (8) – 64
2. Southern Illinois – 54
3. Indiana State – 38
4. Illinois State – 33
5. UNI – 33
6. Evansville – 21
7. Little Rock – 18
8. Valparaiso – 10

MVC HONORS

The Salukis return two individuals who earned All-MVC First-Team honors: Forbord and sophomore Romero, while juniors Eden Girloanta and Deven Speed nabbed All-MVC Second Team in 2020.

SWIMMING IN THE VALLEY

The Salukis finished with a 7-1 record in dual and tri-meets against MVC competition (9-1 overall). SIU closed the season with four-straight meet victories. The women's team saw Evansville and Valparaiso twice this season, topping them both. MSU handed Southern its lone conference loss in March (3/5-6).

2/12/21 - Evansville - W: 130-94
3/5-6/21 - Missouri State - L: 153-195
3/12/21 - Valparaiso - W: 223-47
3/12/21 - Little Rock - W: 185-86
3/19/21 - Evansville - W: 187-110
3/19/21 - Illinois State - W: 178-119
3/26/21 - Indiana State - W: 151-149
3/27/21 - Valparaiso - W: 211-50

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS

For all things Saluki Swimming and Diving, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Players Mentioned

Sierra Forbord

Eden Girloanta

Gaby Jenkins

Lucia Romero

Melanie Scheiblein

Deven Speed

Imogen Watson

Abigail Young

Mima Zaborska

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