Wednesday, February 15
Iowa City, Iowa
Southern Illinois University
vs
MVC Championships
Swimming & Diving finishes fifth at MVC Championships
02/19/2023 | 9:30:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, ILL. - The Southern Illinois women's swimming & diving team took home fifth place in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship held in Iowa City, Iowa this weekend. Celia Pulido won both the 100 and 200 backstroke for the Salukis, while Olivia Herron took home Freshman Swimmer of the Year honors.
Missouri State (1,326) took first place, followed by second-place Indiana State (1200.5). Illinois State (997) rounded out the top three, followed by UNI (881), SIU (854), Marshall (791), UIC (718.5), Evansville (390), Little Rock (351) and Valparaiso (187).
Specialty Awards:
Swimmer of the Year: Madyson Morse, Illinois State
Freshman Swimmer of the Year: Olivia Herron, Southern Illinois
Swimming Coach of the Year: Dave Collins, Missouri State
Diver of the Year: Eva Reyes, Illinois State
Freshman Diver of the Year: Kerry-Leigh Morrison, UIC
Diving Coach of the Year:Â Susan Bromberg, UIC
Elite 17: Kelly Sego, Missouri State
Final Team StandingsÂ
| School | Points |
| Missouri State | 1326 |
| Indiana State | 1200.50 |
| Illinois State | 997 |
| Northern Iowa | 881 |
| Southern Illinois | 854 |
| Marshall | 791 |
| UIC | 718.50 |
| Evansville | 390 |
| Little Rock | 351 |
| Valparaiso | 187 |
"We had hoped to finish higher as a team, but lots of credit to those teams who scored ahead of us. This was the fastest and deepest Women's MVC Swimming Championship ever and I'm proud of the way our women competed all week," said Head Coach Geoff Hanson. "Multiple school records and MVC titles highlighted what was a successful week for the Salukis."
On the first day of competition, the team of Lucia Romero, Mima Zaborska, Celia Pulido, and Masha Zhukova brought home the bronze medal in the 200 Medley Relay. They finished with a time of 1:40.30.Â
Day two saw several Salukis advance to finals and bring home medals. In the 500 Freestyle Karen Rodriguez finished in third place with a final time of 4:52.15. In the 200 IM Olivia Herron and Celia Pulido advanced to finals. Herron brought home the bronze medal with a time of 2:01.55. Pulido finished right behind her with a fourth place finish. Her time was 2:01.81. Farida Moussa represented the Dawgs in the 1-Meter Diving Finals. She scored 250.86 points to finish in fourth place.Â
Day three was very eventful for Southern Illinois. Celia Pulido brought home the gold in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 52.88. This was Pulido's second consecutive year winning this event. Lucia Romero also won a medal in the 100 Backstroke, finishing second with a time of 54.40. In the 400 IM Olivia Herron and Karen Rodriguez finished second and third. Herron swam a time of 4:18.34 and Rodriguez finished right behind her with a 4:21.21. The 100 Breaststroke Finals was littered with Salukis. With Mima Zaborska, Ali Robertson, and Ella Kerr advancing. Zaborksa finished with a time of 1:02.01 to claim the silver medal. Robertson finished in fourth place with a time of 1:02.08. Kerr came in at seventh place with a final time of 1:02.98.Â
The Salukis also competed well on the fourth and final day. In the 200 Backstroke Celia Pulido claimed her second gold medal of the meet with a time of 1:56.01. Pulido also won this event at last year's championship meet making her the two time reigning champion in the 100 and 200 Backstroke. The Salukis had two finalist in the 200 Breaststroke with Olivia Herron and Mima Zaborska. Herron claimed the silver medal and Zaborska picked up the bronze. With times of 2:12.44 and 2:14.64. Tamara De la Torre and Karen Rodriguez represented the Salukis in the 200 Butterfly finals. De la Torre finished with a time of 2:02.20 and the bronze medal. Rodriguez finished in fourth place with a time of 2:02.46. In the 3-Meter Diving Finals Farida Moussa finished with 243.81 points and a sixth place finish.Â
Saluki Finalist Total Results:
200 Medley Relay - Lucia Romero, Mima Zaborska, Celia Pulido, and Masha Zhukova (1:40.30, 3rd Place)
500 Freestyle - Karen Rodriguez (4:52.15, 3rd Place)
200 IM - Olivia Herron (2:01.55, 3rd Place)
200 IM - Celia Pulido (2:01.81, 4th Place)
1-Meter Diving - Farida Moussa (250.86, 4th Place)
100 Backstroke - Celia Pulido (52.88, 1st Place)
100 Backstroke - Lucia Romero (54.40, 2nd Place)
400 IM - Olivia Herron (4:18.34, 2nd Place)
400 IM - Karen Rodriguez (4:21.21, 3rd Place)
100 Breaststroke - Mima Zaborska (1:02.01, 2nd Place)
100 Breaststroke - Ali Robertson (1:02.08, 4th Place)
100 Breaststroke - Ella Kerr (1:02.98, 7th Place)
200 Backstroke - Celia Pulido (1:56.01, 1st Place)
200 Breaststroke - Olivia Herron (2:12.44, 2nd Place)
200 Breaststroke - Mima Zaborska (2:14.64, 3rd Place)
200 Butterfly - Tamara De la Torre (2:02.20, 3rd Place)
200 Butterfly - Karen Rodriguez (2:02.46, 4th Place)
3-Meter Diving - Farida Moussa (243.81, 6th Place)
"Our culture is finally where we want it to be, which will lead to higher team finishes in the future I have no doubt," said Hanson.Â
Follow the SalukisÂ
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