Cimera, Gallegos, Munkacsi-Nagy Earn MVC Weekly Honors
10/08/2025 | 9:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Just one meet into the 2025-26 season and the weekly awards are already rolling in for Southern Illinois swim and dive. This week, Alex Cimera won Missouri Valley Conference Men's Swimmer of the Week, Liseska Gallegos Gutierrez was named the Women's Swimmer of the Week, while Lívia Munkácsi-Nagy earned Women's Freshman of the Week.
Cimera finished this past weekend's Missouri State meet with 28 points, most among Saluki men and second most on the men's side of the meet. He competed in six events, taking first in all but one. Individually, the senior went gold in the men's 200-yard freestyle and two men's 100-yard freestyle events. As part of a relay team, Cimera helped win the men's 400-yard medley relay and the men's 400-yard freestyle relay. This is Cimera's first career Swimmer of the Week honor from the MVC.
"This is a much deserved accolade for Alex beginning his senior season," says head coach Geoff Hanson. "He's truly a great leader for our young men's team, and we will rely on him all season in many different ways. Very happy for him."
Gallegos was pivotal in SIU's women's team's 260.5-181.5 win over Missouri State. The sophomore stood atop the podium in every single event she participated in. In individual events, Gallegos was first in the 200-yard backstroke and 100-yard backstroke. As for relay events, Gallegos was on the winning squad in the 400-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle relay, 200-yard medley relay, and 400-yard freestyle relay. This is the reigning MVC Women's Freshman of the Year's first career Swimmer of the Week award.
"Liseska is picking up right where she left off as the MVC Freshman of the Year last spring," says Coach Hanson. "She's got big goals this season and this first meet showed she is capable of competing at the highest level."
Meanwhile, Munkacsi-Nagy had a fantastic collegiate debut for the Salukis. The freshman out of Budapest, Hungary, competed in four individual event, where she took home first in the 1000-yard freestyle, 400-yard IM, 500-yard freestyle, and was runner-up in the 200-yard backstroke. Munkacsi-Nagy also swam for SIU's "A" team in the 400-yard freestyle relay, which came in first place. In the two-day meet, Munkacsi-Nagy finished with 31 points, second most at the meet.
"Fantastic debut for Livia in her first college meet," says Coach Hanson. "She has shown many good things early in this season of training, and we saw her potential in her first opportunity to compete."
The trio is back in action this Friday, Oct. 10, when Southern visits UIC for a 3 p.m. meet
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.
Cimera finished this past weekend's Missouri State meet with 28 points, most among Saluki men and second most on the men's side of the meet. He competed in six events, taking first in all but one. Individually, the senior went gold in the men's 200-yard freestyle and two men's 100-yard freestyle events. As part of a relay team, Cimera helped win the men's 400-yard medley relay and the men's 400-yard freestyle relay. This is Cimera's first career Swimmer of the Week honor from the MVC.
"This is a much deserved accolade for Alex beginning his senior season," says head coach Geoff Hanson. "He's truly a great leader for our young men's team, and we will rely on him all season in many different ways. Very happy for him."
Gallegos was pivotal in SIU's women's team's 260.5-181.5 win over Missouri State. The sophomore stood atop the podium in every single event she participated in. In individual events, Gallegos was first in the 200-yard backstroke and 100-yard backstroke. As for relay events, Gallegos was on the winning squad in the 400-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle relay, 200-yard medley relay, and 400-yard freestyle relay. This is the reigning MVC Women's Freshman of the Year's first career Swimmer of the Week award.
"Liseska is picking up right where she left off as the MVC Freshman of the Year last spring," says Coach Hanson. "She's got big goals this season and this first meet showed she is capable of competing at the highest level."
Meanwhile, Munkacsi-Nagy had a fantastic collegiate debut for the Salukis. The freshman out of Budapest, Hungary, competed in four individual event, where she took home first in the 1000-yard freestyle, 400-yard IM, 500-yard freestyle, and was runner-up in the 200-yard backstroke. Munkacsi-Nagy also swam for SIU's "A" team in the 400-yard freestyle relay, which came in first place. In the two-day meet, Munkacsi-Nagy finished with 31 points, second most at the meet.
"Fantastic debut for Livia in her first college meet," says Coach Hanson. "She has shown many good things early in this season of training, and we saw her potential in her first opportunity to compete."
The trio is back in action this Friday, Oct. 10, when Southern visits UIC for a 3 p.m. meet
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
Free/Fly/Back
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/ Swimming & Diving
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