EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Indiana State swimming and diving repeated as the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Champions as the Sycamores claimed their second consecutive conference title on Saturday night inside the Deaconess Aquatic Center.
 
The Sycamores totaled 1,236 total points across the four-day meet to top Southern Illinois (1,161) and Missouri State (1,117) on their way to claiming the second title in program history.
 
Head Coach Josh Christensen was named the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Swimming Coach of the Year, while freshman Grace Cummings was named the Valley's Women's Freshman of the Year following dominant performances in both the 500-yard and 1650-yard Freestyle events.
 
Saturday Evening Recap
Grace Cummings claimed the MVC title in the 1650-yard Freestyle and earned Indiana State's first-ever NCAA Qualifying time in the process as the freshman swam away with her second title of the week with a time of 16:17.25. The Sycamores swept the top three positions in the race with Claire Parsons (16:40.13) and Maria Saldana Riebeling (16:40.39) finishing second and third, while Gemma Dilks (16:46.69) placed fifth. Haley Halsall added a top-10 finish in 17:03.81.
 
The Sycamores success continued in the pool in the 200-yard Backstroke as Anna Asplund went sub-2:00 to finish in 1:59.86 and earn a spot on the podium in third place in the A-Finals. Sahara Visscher (2:03.34) and Sara Keefe (2:05.33) also added top spots in the C-Finals.
 
Kaleigh Kelley took on the field in the 100-yard Freestyle A-Finals placing fifth overall with a time of 50.33. Erin Cummins placed 12th overall taking on the B-Finals in fishing in 50.87, while Addison Johnson was 17th in 51.20 after winning the C-Finals.
 
Ali Pearson set a new Indiana State school record in the 200-yard Breaststroke as the graduate student rallied back to place second overall in the field in 2:13.42. Her mark broke the oldest standing Indiana State record dating back to 2018 when Blanca Saez-Illobre went 2:13.97 at the MVC Championships. Jenna Nave (2:20.56) and Peyton Heagy (2:22.88) both took on the B-Finals finishing 13th and 15th respectively.
 
Jecza Lopez placed second overall in the 3M Springboard A-Finals as the junior diver scored 279.70. Brenna Woodruff (233.11) placed 11th overall while competing in the consolation bracket, while Sofia Dansereau was 14th in 221.05.
 
Indiana State closed out the events in the pool finishing fourth overall in the 400-yard Freestyle Relay as Erin Cummins, Addison Johnson, Kalli Agapios, and Kaleigh Kelley finished in 3:20.92.
 
Saturday Evening Results
1650-yard Freestyle: MVC Champion – Grace Cummings (16.17.25 – Indiana State Record, NCAA Qualifier), Claire Parsons (16:40.13, 2nd), Maria Saldana Riebeling (16:40.39, 3rd), Gemma Dilks (16:46.69, 5th), Haley Halsall (17:03.81, 9th)
200-yard Backstroke: A-Finals – Anna Asplund (1:59.86, 3rd); C-Finals – Sahara Visscher (2:03.34, 18th), Sara Keefe (2:05.33, 21st);
100-yard Freestyle: A-Finals – Kaleigh Kelley (50.33, 5th); B-Finals – Erin Cummins (50.87, 12th); C-Finals – Addison Johnson (51.20, 17th);
200-yard Breaststroke: A-Finals – Ali Pearson (2:13.42, 2nd – Indiana State Record); B-Finals – Jenna Nave (2:20.56, 13th), Peyton Heagy (2:22.88, 15th);
3M Springboard: A-Finals – Jecza Lopez (279.70, 2nd); B-Finals – Brenna Woodruff (233.15, 11th), Sofia Dansereau (221.05, 14th);
400-yard Freestyle Relay: 4th – Erin Cummins, Addison Johnson, Kalli Agapios, Kaleigh Kelley (3:20.92)
 
Saturday Morning Recap
Indiana State opened the morning putting three swimmers in the 200-yard Backstroke finals headlined by Anna Asplund qualifying for the A-Finals in the event. The freshman placed sixth in the prelims with a time of 2:01.08 to advance in the top eight. Sara Keefe (2:06.11) and Sahara Visscher (2:06.48) also advanced to the C-Finals in the event after placing inside the top 24. Ella Moustgaard (2:03.28) and Kate Reeves (2:03.28) both competed in exhibition swims in the event.
 
The 100-yard Freestyle featured three more Sycamores advancing into the evening's event finals. Kaleigh Kelley turned in the third fastest time in the morning session in 50.07 to advance into the A-Finals. Erin Cummins went 51.17 to advance in the B-Finals, while Addison Johnson will be in the C-Finals after going 51.69. Kalli Agapios (52.13) narrowly missed out on the field.
 
All three Sycamores in the 200-yard Breaststroke advanced to the evening's finals headlined by Ali Pearson qualifying for the A-Finals in the event. The graduate student posted a 2:17.11 to finish fourth in the prelim round and advanced inside the top eight. Jenna Nave (2:21.02) and Peyton Heagy (2:22.04) both advanced into the B-Finals on the night.
 
Jecza Lopez claimed the 3M Springboard preliminary qualifiers with a six-dive score of 280.10 to head into the evening's A-Finals. Brenna Woodruff (210.15) and Sofia Dansereau (205.25) both advanced into the B-Finals after finishing inside the top 16. Bree Cleary wrapped up the group posting a six-dive score of 194.85 in an exhibition.
 
Saturday Morning Finals Qualifiers
200-yard Backstroke: A-Finals – Anna Asplund (2:01.08); C-Finals – Sara Keefe (2:06.11), Sahara Visscher (2:06.48);
100-yard Freestyle: A-Finals – Kaleigh Kelley (50.07); B-Finals – Erin Cummins (51.17); C-Finals – Addison Johnson (51.69);
200-yard Breaststroke: A-Finals – Ali Pearson (2:17.11); B-Finals – Jenna Nave (2:21.02), Peyton Heagy (2:22.04);
3M Springboard: A-Finals – Jecza Lopez (280.10 – Top Overall Seed); B-Finals – Brenna Woodruff (210.15), Sofia Dansereau (205.25);
 
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