Courtesy: Missouri State Athletics
ST. LOUIS– The Missouri State women’s swimming and diving team swept the Missouri Valley Conference weekly awards (Feb. 3) as Libby Howell was named swimmer of the week and Ashley Yarbrough was named diver of the week.
Howell, a senior from Bixby, Okla., recorded two individual wins to help the MSU defeat Drury on Jan. 16. Howell won both the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.20) and the 500-yard freestyle (4:58.82) while recording a second-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly. She also led the 200-yard freestyle relay team to a win, swimming the fastest leg of all participants.
“For a swimmer at Libby’s level to swim a best time, faster than the conference record shows what maximizing opportunities means to our teams this season,” Missouri State head coach Dave Collins acknowledged. “She is on a determined mission to make this season a great one regardless of the challenges we have faced.”
Yarbrough, a senior from Ballwin, Mo., was dominant in the win over Drury, winning both of her events. Yarbrough won the 1-meter dive with a score of 265.28. She also was victorious in the 3-meter dive where she posted a 295.50 mark. The performances earned her a zone-cut on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards.
“Ashley continues to show why she is one of the top divers to ever come through our program,” Collins said. “She dove very well in her first competition in 11 months. Having her senior leadership on the boards this year is very valuable.”
This was the first installment of the Valley’s swimming and diving awards in 2021 so all performances during the calendar year were eligible for nomination.
The Bears will continue the 2020-21 season Saturday, Feb. 13, when they host Little Rock at 10 a.m., at the Hammons Student Center.