WAUKEE, Iowa – Indiana State swimming and diving claimed the first Missouri Valley Conference Championship title in program history on Saturday night as the Sycamores rode the momentum over the final day to top the field at the Waukee CSD Natatorium.
 
The Sycamores (1440.5) held off challenges from Southern Illinois (1331) and Missouri State (1034) over the four-day event by utilizing conference titles from Claire Parsons (1650 Free), Jecza Lopez (3M Diving), and the 400-yard Freestyle Relay on their way to pulling away from the Salukis over the final events in claiming the program's first conference title since Indiana State swimming and diving's inception in 2016.
 
Overall, the Sycamores claimed six event championships with Parsons (200 Free & 1650 Free) and Lopez (1M Diving & 3M Diving) winning multiple events. Alexandria Cotter (400 IM) and the Sycamores' 400-yard Freestyle Relay added to Indiana State's titles over the four days in Iowa.
 
Indiana State's final day was highlighted by three athletes qualifying for the A-Finals in the 200-yard Breaststroke, while a program-record five athletes advanced to the A-Finals in the 200-yard Fly.
 
Head Coach Josh Christensen was voted the MVC Swimming Coach of the Year, while Diving Coach Teresa Hall was named co-Diving Coach of the Year. Jecza Lopez was named the MVC Diver of the Year.
 
Saturday Evening Finals
Claire Parsons set the tone early with a dominant win in the 1650-yard Freestyle as Indiana State claimed three titles over Saturday evening's final races at the Waukee CSD Natatorium. Parsons topped the field by over eight seconds on her way in posting a 16:39.68 to claim her second individual title of the week. Maria Saldana Riebeling finished second overall in 16:47.69, while Erin Cummins (16:58.37) and Haley Halsall (17:03.01) also placed inside the top eight. Rose Parsons rounded out the group with a time of 17:18.34.
 
Sahara Visscher paced Indiana State in the 200-yard Backstroke as the freshman went 2:00.75 to place fifth overall in the field. Ella Moustgaard finished sixth in the B-Final in 2:04.03, while Trista Bullock was eighth in 2:04.50. Kalli Agapios placed seventh in the C-Finals in 2:06.41.
 
Chloe Farro narrowly missed out on her second sprint podium finish of the week as the senior set a new Indiana State record going 49.69 in the 100-yard Freestyle to place fourth overall in the A-Final. Kaleigh Kelley was second in the B-Finals in 50.46, while Alexa Szadorski finished sixth in 50.85.
 
Dorotea Bukvic posted a season-best 2:14.38 in the 200-yard Breast A-Finals on her way to finishing third in the field in 2:14.38. Ali Pearson was fifth in the field in 2:15.54, while Alexandria Cotter placed seventh in 2:17.36.
 
Gemma Dilks (2:00.67) and Haley Halsall (2:02.37) finished second and third respectively in the 200-yard Fly to lead five Sycamores in the A-Finals. Sophia Diaz was fourth in 2:03.48, while Raine Boles (2:05.22) and Raz Harel (2:05.63) finished sixth and eighth overall in the field.
 
Jecza Lopez made it 2-for-2 in diving championships as the sophomore was the only diver in the 3M Springboard field to eclipse the 300-point mark. Lopez posted a 309.70 over her six dives on her way to claiming Indiana State's first title in the 3M Springboard.
 
Top Indiana State Finishers in Evening Finals
1650-yard Free: Champion – Claire Parsons (16:39.68)
200-yard Back: 5th – Sahara Visscher (2:00.75)
100-yard Free: 4th – Chloe Farro (49.69, school record)
200-yard Breast: 3rd – Dorotea Bukvic (2:14.38)
200-yard Fly: 2nd – Gemma Dilks (2:00.67)
3M Diving Finals: Champion – Jecza Lopez (309.70)
400-yard Freestyle Relay: Champion – Chloe Farro, Kaleigh Kelley, Sahara Visscher, Alexa Szadorski (3:18.99, school record)
 
Saturday Morning Prelims
Indiana State placed 10 athletes in the A-Finals in the morning's events and 15 athletes in the evening's field overall following the early session on the final day of the Missouri Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Championships.
 
Sahara Visscher paced the Sycamores in the 200-yard Backstroke as the freshman finished eighth overall in the field with a time of 2:02.64 to advance to the A-Finals in the event. Trista Bullock and Ella Moustgaard both finished inside the top 16 to advance to the B-Finals, while Kalli Agapios will take on the field in the C-Final. Olivia Diruzza (2:04.29) and Kate Reeves (2:04.83) also took on the field in the morning's prelims.
 
Chloe Farro advanced to another A-Final as the senior placed inside the top eight in the 100-yard Freestyle prelims with a time of 49.92. Alexa Szadorski and Kaleigh Kelley both advanced to the B-Finals. Peyton Heagy (52.06), Allie Barasch (53.20), and Ash Saple (53.71) all took on the preliminary field.
 
All three Sycamores who competed in the 200-yard Breaststroke advanced to the A-Finals. Dorotea Bukvic, Ali Pearson, and Alexandria Cotter all finished inside the top eight marking the only school in the conference to place at least three athletes in the event final on Saturday evening.
 
Following Indiana State's performance in the 200-yard Breaststroke, the Sycamores put five in the 200-yard Fly A-Finals setting a program record for most athletes advancing to an A-Final in program history. Gemma Dilks, Sophia Diaz, Haley Halsall, Raz Harel, and Raine Boles all finished inside the top six in the field.
 
Top Indiana State Finishers in Morning Prelims
200-yard Back: A-Final – Sahara Visscher (2:02.64); B-Final – Trista Bullock (2:02.89), Ella Moustgaard (2:03.41); C-Final – Kalli Agapios (2:03.66);
100-yard Free: A-Final – Chloe Farro (49.92); B-Final – Alexa Szadorski (50.37), Kaleigh Kelley (50.59);
200-yard Breast: A-Final – Dorotea Bukvic (2:14.73), Ali Pearson (2:16.27), Alexandria Cotter (2:16.91)
200-yard Fly: A-Final – Gemma Dilks (2:00.52), Sophia Diaz (2:01.35), Haley Halsall (2:02.81), Raz Harel (2:03.96), Raine Boles (2:04.34)
 
Up Next
Indiana State swimming heads to the CSCAA NIC Meet over March 13-15 in Ocala, Fla. Jecza Lopez will head to the NCAA Diving Zone C in Columbus, Ohio over March 13-15.
 
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