ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Indiana State swimming & diving was selected third in the Missouri Valley Conference Swimming & Diving poll as voted on by the league's head coaches and announced by the conference office on Thursday morning.
 
The Sycamores received 48 total points to sit third overall in the poll behind favorite Missouri State (63 points, seven first-place votes) and Southern Illinois (56 points, one first-place vote). Illinois State (40 points) and Northern Iowa (33 points) round out the top-five in the poll.
 
Indiana State will be looking to ride the momentum over the last few weeks as the Sycamores enter the conference championship week winning three of their last four dual meets. ISU topped IUPUI and Butler at the IUPUI Tri-Meet and followed up with a win over Illinois State at the Vigo County Aquatic Center to help cap a strong season in the pool.
 
A number of Sycamores are expected to be in the hunt for individual awards at the conference meet as ISU boasts solid depth and experience headlined by the return of Marni Gray, as well as nine honorable mention finishers in the pool in 2021.
 
Gray has posted two of the fastest times in the pool in her signature butterfly events as the Toronto, Canada native has posted the second-fastest time in the conference in the 100-yard and fourth-fastest in the 200-yard.
 
Sophomore Madie Rutan is also expected to be among the leaders in the pool as well as the backstroke specialist has been nigh untouchable over the last few weeks. Rutan set the ISU school-record and the third-fastest time in the conference this season in the 100-yard backstroke at the Kansas Classic, and doubled-up with the second-fastest time in the conference in the 200-yard backstroke in the same meet. She's won the events a combined six times over the last four meets and will look to keep her momentum going.
 
Senior Emily Webb will also be a name to watch in the pool as the Edwardsville, Ill. native has not lost in the 200-yard freestyle event since December 4 – a span of six consecutive meets. Webb has posted the sixth-fastest time in the event in the conference this season and will look to keep building in her final season at Indiana State.
 
Freshmen Chloe Farro, Alexandria Cotter, and Alexa Szadorski have also posted some of the top times in the conference this season in their respective events as well. Farro's name is expected to be called among the leaders in both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events, while Cotter is in the top-six in both the 200-yard and 400-yard IM events. Szadorski also boasts a pair of top-eight times in the conference in both the 200-yard and 400-yard IMs on the year.
 
The divers are expected to be led by Sarah Montgomery and Bailey Betzer as the junior duo have been among the team's top scorers on the season. Daniela Orta Castaneda has also shown the ability to post high numbers as well in earning conference Diver of the Week recognition this season.
 
Up Next
The Sycamores will be back in action at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships running from February 16-19 on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa. The four-day event will take place at the UNI Wellness & Recreation Center.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on Sycamore Swimming and Diving, visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.