Missouri State and Drury have one of the most unique relationships in swimming history. The tension between the two teams was once so heated that they were not allowed to travel the eight blocks across Springfield to duel each other for nearly twenty years. The rivalry resumed a few years ago to the benefit of both teams, as the match up has often been intense at both their fall and spring duals, with teams routinely trading wins in the same season. Today the Missouri State men bumped the historical record in their favor, moving their record against Drury to 16-15 with a 135-87 win. The Lady Bears also improved their historical record against the Panthers with a 150-87 win, avenging a difficult loss last spring on a final relay surge from Drury.
Drury’s Wen Xu, the current NCAA Division II leader in the 50 free, was a double event winner, owning the sprints with a 24.03 in the 50 and a dominant 52.87 in the 100. Drury’s only other event winner for the women was Rebekah Laupp who took the 3-meter diving event with 298.35 points.
For the Bears, Josie Pearson was a double event winner, taking the 200 IM in 2:06.78 and the 200 fly in 2:07.33. She was followed closely behind in both events by Drury’s Gretchen Stein who finished in 2:08.82 and 2:07.87 in those events respectively.
Dora Kiss was also a multiple event winner, repeating the tough double she took on last weekend against Southern Illinois, this time winning both the 1000 and the 200 freestyle back to back in 10:23.34 and 1:54.46. She also was the only sub-5 minute finisher in the 500 free at 4:59.08.
The men’s meet featured several event sweeps as the Bears and Panthers exchanged shows of strength throughout the evening. Missouri State got started right away by managing to squeak their A and B relays both ahead of the Panthers top squad in the 400 medley. The MSU A relay team of Uvis Kalnins, Isaac Springer, Artur Osvath and Will Brand finished in 3:21.62, and featured a blazing 54.88 split from Springer on the breaststroke leg.
Drury was able to take the top two spots in both of the freestyle sprints. In the 50, Rodrigo Casares took the win at 20.61, a time that moves him up to the #2 spot for NCAA Division II so far this season. Caceres also took the second place spot in the 100 with 46.40, behind teammate Daniel Rzadkowski who finished in 45.84. Drury’s Ethan Okazaki also won both diving events with 221.32 points in the 1-meter competition and 183.32 in 3-meter.
The Bears swept several events throughout the meet. The 200 IM sweep featured Osvath and Kacper Cwiek turning in 1:53.12 and 1:53.37 respectively, well ahead of the rest of the field. Osvath also led a sweep of the 200 breast with 2:02.93, with Christopher Heye (2:06.31) and Isaac Springer (2:06.54) in a close race for second. The Bears also took the top four places in the 200 fly, led by Ethan Bresette at 1:53.49.
Minki Kang was able to capture wins in both the 500 and 1000 freestyles with 4:38.16 and 9:33.79. Uvis Kalnins was also a double event winner, taking the 200 freestyle in 1:39.37 and the 200 back in 1:50.41.
These teams will face off again on January 21st at Drury.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91PzhcXkp4Q&w=560&h=315]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PagzdIEuoBs&w=560&h=315]