Friday, October 3
Springfield, MO
4 PM / 10 AM
Southern Illinois University
at
Missouri State
Photo by: Makayla Ward
Women’s Swim and Dive Picks Up First Win of Season; Men Fall at Missouri State
10/04/2025 | 5:10:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois swim and dive kicked off their 2025-26 season this weakened with a two-day meet at Missouri State. While the men's team fell 275-171, the women's squad won their season opener, 260.5-181.5.
"It was a tough weekend of racing, but we are pleased to come away with a split result against a quality team who we've gone back and forth with for many seasons," says head coach Geoff Hanson. "Many of our returning women stepped up and filled in where we were short handed. Our newcomers got good experience in a tough environment as well. We were happy with the overall meet win. The Missouri State men were very strong, and gave us a lot to work on as our young men's team comes together. Many bright spots early in the season however."
Inside the Results
How It Happened
Friday
The meet started on Friday with the 400-yard medley relay, where both women's teams bookended the podium while men's A team took first with a 3:18.91. Moving to individual events, Munkacsi-Nagy kicked off her freshman campaign with a gold finish in the 1000 yard-freestyle. The next Saluki winner came in the 50-yard freestyle when Ava Rines took first with a time of 24.43.
Southern's first individual men's winner came in the 200-yard IM when Benedek Andor's 1:54.98 in the 200-yard IM was good enough for first. Brooklyn Anderson won the next event, finishing the women's 200-yard butterfly in 2:07.52. Another event win came in the women's 100-yard freestyle, which saw Zaria Terry atop the podium.
Alex Cimera snagged his first win of the year in the 100-yard freestyle, finishing the race in 45.37. SIU then had its first podium sweep in the women's 200-yard backstroke, where Liseska Gallegos Gutierrez, Munkacsi-Nagy, and Andrea Santos Arambula finished one through three. It was then Willem Huggins turn to stand atop the podium, placing first in the men's 200-yard backstroke.
Reigning second-team All-American Herron took the win in the 200-yard breaststroke for the final individual win of the day. Moving back to relay action, the Saluki squads took first and third in the women's 200-yard freestyle relay before the men's A squad took the crown in the men's 200-yard freestyle relay by just 0.23 seconds. Southern's final podium on Friday came from Oliver Mebs, who finished second in the one-meter dive with a score of 289.50.
Saturday
Saturday started with a 200-yard medley relay win for the SIU women's A team. Cimera then grabbed Southern's first individual win of the day in the men's 200-yard freestyle. Rines won another event in the women's 50-yard freestyle.
Munkacsi-Nagy's fantastic collegiate debut continued in the women's 400-yard IM, which she won by over four seconds. Later, in the women's 100-yard butterfly, Herron grabbed another gold medal with her 56.73 finish. Another women's win came courtesy of Terry in the 100-yard freestyle. And on the men's side of the event, Cimera stood atop podium with his time of 45.50.
SIU swept the women's 100-yard backstroke podium thanks to Gallegos, Santos, and Tia Jankovics. Huggins then won the men's side of the event. Munkacsi-Nagy picked up another win in the 500-yard freestyle to continue her torrid meet. Herron picked up one more win in the 100-yard breaststroke.
The swimming events came to a close with the 400-yard freestyle relays. Both women's squads reached the podium, finishing first and third while the men's A squad took first. Mebs wrapped up the meet with a runner-up finish in the three-meter dive.
Up Next
SIU is back in action this upcoming weekend with a trip to Chicagoland. On Friday, Oct. 10, they visit UIC at 3 p.m. before moving up to Evanston, Illinois, on Saturday, Oct. 11, for a dual-meet against Northwestern and Miami (OH) at 11 a.m.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Soccer, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiSoccer and on Instagram at @SIU_Soccer. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
"It was a tough weekend of racing, but we are pleased to come away with a split result against a quality team who we've gone back and forth with for many seasons," says head coach Geoff Hanson. "Many of our returning women stepped up and filled in where we were short handed. Our newcomers got good experience in a tough environment as well. We were happy with the overall meet win. The Missouri State men were very strong, and gave us a lot to work on as our young men's team comes together. Many bright spots early in the season however."
Inside the Results
- Freshman Lívia Munkácsi-Nagy had a fantastic debut for the Salukis, taking first in three of her four individual events, second in the other, and swimming for the winning women's 400-yard free relay team.
- Olivia Herron picked up where she left off from her All-American 2024-25. The senior picked up four individual wins and one relay win.
- Willem Huggins had a strong day for the men's squad, finishing first in both of his individual events while being a part of three relay wins.
How It Happened
Friday
The meet started on Friday with the 400-yard medley relay, where both women's teams bookended the podium while men's A team took first with a 3:18.91. Moving to individual events, Munkacsi-Nagy kicked off her freshman campaign with a gold finish in the 1000 yard-freestyle. The next Saluki winner came in the 50-yard freestyle when Ava Rines took first with a time of 24.43.
Southern's first individual men's winner came in the 200-yard IM when Benedek Andor's 1:54.98 in the 200-yard IM was good enough for first. Brooklyn Anderson won the next event, finishing the women's 200-yard butterfly in 2:07.52. Another event win came in the women's 100-yard freestyle, which saw Zaria Terry atop the podium.
Alex Cimera snagged his first win of the year in the 100-yard freestyle, finishing the race in 45.37. SIU then had its first podium sweep in the women's 200-yard backstroke, where Liseska Gallegos Gutierrez, Munkacsi-Nagy, and Andrea Santos Arambula finished one through three. It was then Willem Huggins turn to stand atop the podium, placing first in the men's 200-yard backstroke.
Reigning second-team All-American Herron took the win in the 200-yard breaststroke for the final individual win of the day. Moving back to relay action, the Saluki squads took first and third in the women's 200-yard freestyle relay before the men's A squad took the crown in the men's 200-yard freestyle relay by just 0.23 seconds. Southern's final podium on Friday came from Oliver Mebs, who finished second in the one-meter dive with a score of 289.50.
Saturday
Saturday started with a 200-yard medley relay win for the SIU women's A team. Cimera then grabbed Southern's first individual win of the day in the men's 200-yard freestyle. Rines won another event in the women's 50-yard freestyle.
Munkacsi-Nagy's fantastic collegiate debut continued in the women's 400-yard IM, which she won by over four seconds. Later, in the women's 100-yard butterfly, Herron grabbed another gold medal with her 56.73 finish. Another women's win came courtesy of Terry in the 100-yard freestyle. And on the men's side of the event, Cimera stood atop podium with his time of 45.50.
SIU swept the women's 100-yard backstroke podium thanks to Gallegos, Santos, and Tia Jankovics. Huggins then won the men's side of the event. Munkacsi-Nagy picked up another win in the 500-yard freestyle to continue her torrid meet. Herron picked up one more win in the 100-yard breaststroke.
The swimming events came to a close with the 400-yard freestyle relays. Both women's squads reached the podium, finishing first and third while the men's A squad took first. Mebs wrapped up the meet with a runner-up finish in the three-meter dive.
Up Next
SIU is back in action this upcoming weekend with a trip to Chicagoland. On Friday, Oct. 10, they visit UIC at 3 p.m. before moving up to Evanston, Illinois, on Saturday, Oct. 11, for a dual-meet against Northwestern and Miami (OH) at 11 a.m.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Soccer, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiSoccer and on Instagram at @SIU_Soccer. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Players Mentioned
IM/Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Breast/Fly/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly/Back
/ Swimming & Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Swimming & Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
IM/Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Dive
/ Swimming & Diving
IM/Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Back
/ Swimming & Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
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