IOWA CITY, Iowa – Bailey Betzer became the first Indiana State diver to earn All-Conference recognition in program history while the Sycamores' 200 Freestyle Relay set a new school record to highlight the second day of the 2023 MVC Championships at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.
 
Betzer became the first Sycamore in Indiana State history to advance to the conference championship diving finals as the junior finished fifth overall in the field in the morning's preliminaries with a score of 239.25. She followed up by going 13 points higher in Thursday night's finals as the Osceola, Ind. native finished on the podium with ISU's first All-Conference finish of the weekend following her 252.84 in the final round.
 
The Sycamores' 200 Freestyle Relay set ISU's second relay school record of the championships to cap the evening. The team of Alexa Szadorski, Kaimi Matsumoto, Raine Boles, and Chloe Farro went 1:32.44 to finish fourth overall in the event and break the previous school mark set at the 2020 MVC Championships (1:32.69). ISU previously topped the 200-yard Medley Relay mark on Wednesday night.
 
Alexa Szadorski nearly set a school mark in the 50-yard Freestyle in Thursday morning's swim-off as the sophomore touched the wall in 23.16 to advance to the finals. Her mark equaled the second-fastest time in school history matching Alexandra Malmborg's time 23.16 set at the 2019 MVC Championships.
 
"We're really excited and proud of what we did as a team today," head coach Josh Christensen said. "We had lots of lifetime bests, an exciting swim-off win, a historic showing in diving, and a relay school record. We know that our last two days are our strength and we're ready to make the most of the numerous opportunities we have over the back half of this meet."
 
The Sycamores (382.5) sit third overall through the first seven events of the MVC Championships. Missouri State (500.5) and Illinois State (383.5) round out the top three, while UIC (326.5) and Northern Iowa (312) are also in the top five.
 
Thursday Evening Finals
Esther Rydbeck Norden turned in her second sub-5:00 minute mark in the 500-yard Freestyle event to finish seventh overall in the evening's opening event of the night. The junior touched the wall in 4:59.50 to lead the Sycamores in the A-Finals of the event. In the B-Finals, Rhiannon Wozny (4:56.67, 10th) turned in the fifth-fastest time in Indiana State history on her way to finishing 10th overall in the field in the B-Finals, while Haley Halsall touched in 4:57.49 to finish 11th overall. Andrea Putrimas (4:59.89, 19th) also went sub-5:00, while Molly Fogarty (5:01.85, 21st) rounded out the Sycamores.
 
The Sycamores dominated the B-Final of the 200-yard IM as Dorotea Bukvic (2:02.50, 9th), Katie Dougherty (2:03.92, 11th), and Alexandria Cotter (2:04.72, 12th) finished 1-3-4 in the second heat. Carmen Alard Vegas touched the wall in 2:05.25 to finish 19th overall.
 
Alexa Szadorski led the Sycamores in the 50-yard Freestyle A-Final as the sophomore finished eighth overall in the field in 23.41. Chloe Farro (23.52, 11th) and Raine Boles (23.79, 15th) both competed in the second group, while Peyton Heagy (23.87, 21st) took on the field in the C-Final.
 
Bailey Betzer made history in the 1M diving event as the junior became the first Sycamore diver to claim All-Conference honors. Her score of 252.84 was 13 points higher than her preliminary score and put her third overall in the field. Zoe Smith won the B-Final group with a score 256.62 (9th), while Daniela Orta Castaneda (18th) rounded out the group with a score 214.20.
 
The Sycamores' 200-yard Freestyle Relay group of Alexa Szadorski, Kaimi Matsumoto, Raine Boles, and Chloe Farro finished fourth overall in the field in 1:32.44 to lead Indiana State in the final event of the night.  
 
Thursday Morning Prelims
Three Sycamores advanced to the A-Finals, while 16 athletes overall advanced to Thursday night's finals as Indiana State opened up the second day of the 2023 Missouri Valley Championship Swimming & Diving Championships.
 
Esther Rydbeck Norden advanced in the 500-yard Freestyle, while Alexa Szadorski advanced following a swim-off in the 50-yard Freestyle. Bailey Betzer also made history for the Sycamores as the junior became the first diver in program history to advance to 1M Diving finals to be held on Thursday night.
 
Rydbeck Norden opened the event for Indiana State cutting nearly two full seconds off her previous best time in the Blue & White to touch the wall eighth overall in the 500-yard Freestyle field in 4:57.53. Rhiannon Wozny also went sub-5:00 for the Sycamores following her time of 4:59.06 to finish in 11th in the prelims, while Haley Halsall touched the wall in a personal-best 5:00.59 to finish 14th. Molly Fogarty (5:02.28, 19th) and Andrea Putrimas (5:03.89, 21st) also advanced to the evening competition following their opening swims.
 
Dorotea Bukvic took .05 off her previous season-best to lead the Sycamores in the 200-yard IM on Thursday morning. The sophomore finished ninth overall in the field after touching the wall in 2:03.62 to advance to the B-Finals. She was joined by teammates Alexandria Cotter (2:03.67, 10th), and Katie Dougherty (2:04.89, 12th), while Carmen Alard Vegas touched the wall in 2:05.53 to finish 17th overall and advance to the evening competition.
 
Alexa Szadorski advanced to the A-Finals after winning a swim-off in the 50-yard Freestyle to put another Sycamore in the top-eight in the field. The sophomore went 23.49 on her way to setting a new P.R. in the event to lead ISU. Chloe Farro (23.52, 11th) and Raine Boles (23.67, 14th) also set new personal-bests in the event, while Peyton Heagy moved on to Thursday night's finals with her 23.88 to finish 21st.
 
Bailey Betzer became the first ISU diver in program history to advance to the finals in any diving event as the junior scored 239.25 on her way to finishing fifth in the 1M Diving preliminary field. Zoe Smith advanced to the B-Finals after her score of 230.43 put her 11th in the field, while Daniela Orta Castaneda finished 18th in 214.20.
 
Advanced to A-Finals
500-yard Freestyle: Esther Rydbeck Norden (4:57.53, 8th)
50-yard Freestyle: Alexa Szadorski (23.48, 8th)
1M Diving: Bailey Betzer (239.25, 5th)
 
Advanced to B-Finals
500-yard Freestyle: Rhiannon Wozny (4:59.06, 11th), Haley Halsall (5:00.59, 14th)
200-yard IM: Dorotea Bukvic (2:03.62, 9th), Alexandria Cotter (2:03.67, 10th), Katie Dougherty (2:04.89, 12th)
50-yard Freestyle: Chloe Farro (23.52, 11th), Raine Boles (23.67, 14th)
1M Diving: Zoe Smith (230.43, 11th)
 
Advanced to C-Finals
500-yard Freestyle: Molly Fogarty (5:02.28, 19th), Andrea Putrimas (5:03.89, 21st)
200-yard IM: Carmen Alard Vegas (2:05.53, 17th)
50-yard Freestyle: Peyton Heagy (23.88, 21st)
1M Diving: Daniela Orta Castaneda (214.20, 18th)
 
Up Next
Indiana State is back in action on Day Three of the MVC Championship starting at 11:30 a.m. ET at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center. Friday morning's events include the 100 Butterfly, 400 IM, 200 Freestyle, 100 Breaststroke, 100 Backstroke, and the 3-Meter Diving Prelims.
 
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.