Two Swim and Dive Seniors Honored as MVC Swimmers of the Week

01/14/2026 | 9:00:00 | Swimming & Diving

By: Peter Borkowski

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Just days after they were honored at Senior Day on Saturday, Southern Illinois swim and dive seniors Alex Cimera and Susy Hernandez have been named the Missouri Valley Conference Men's and Women's Swimmers of the Week.

"Susy and Alex have done such a wonderful job during the winer trainig to lead and elevate our team, and this honor is well-desereved for both of them," says head coach Geoff Hanson.

Cimera had an outstanding performance in both SIU's meet at Purdue on Friday and Senior Day's win over Evansville. At Purdue, the Ohio native swam a 45.34 100-freestyle to win the event while also finishing as runner-up in the 200-freestyle. In relay events, Cimera was a part of the second-place 400-medley relay team and the third-place 200-freestyle relay. Then, against Evansville, Cimera collected four gold medals. Individually, he won the 100-backstroke, 100-freestyle, and 100-butterfly, and he was also a member of the first-place 200-freestyle relay. This is Camera's second swimmer of the week award this season.

As for Hernandez, she was excellent in SIU's Senior Day meet versus Evansville and Indiana State. The senior nabbed first place in both the 100- and 200-freestyle while also swimming for the winning 200-medley relay team. Additionally, Hernandez and her 200-freestyle relay squad came up second in the event. This is the first time in Hernandez's career that she has been named MVC Swimmer of the Week.

This is now Southern's ninth and 10th time having a swimmer be named swimmer of the week. Besides Cimera's previous win, Liseska Gallegos Gutierrez, Carter Ruthven, Willem Huggins, and Olivia Herron have all been named either the Men's or Women's Swimmer of the Week, with Herron claiming the title four times.

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