Seniors Make a Splash: Dominating Wins Over McKendree and Missouri State!

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri swimming and diving team achieved a successful day on Saturday, securing two victories by dominating a double dual against McKendree and Missouri State in honor of Senior Day at the Mizzou Aquatic Center. The Tigers claimed 26 events and reached their highest team scores of this season.

The women’s team from Mizzou amassed 246.50 points against McKendree and 232.00 against Missouri State. Meanwhile, the MU men’s team secured scores of 189.00 against McKendree and 228.00 against Missouri State to complete a clean sweep.

The graduating class of 2025 contributed three individual event victories and played a major role in Mizzou’s relay success.

Senior Grant Bochenski dominated the men’s 100 backstroke with a time of 46.67 and was instrumental in securing both men’s relay wins for Mizzou. Bochenski, alongside Logan Ottke, Jan Zubik, and Luke Nebrich, recorded a time of 1:25.47 in the men’s 200 medley relay, while he, Darden Tate, Francois Malherbe, and Jaden Pospishil posted a time of 2:55.56 in the men’s 400 free relay.

Graduate student Sierra Smith secured first place in the women’s 50 freestyle with a swim of 22.91 and contributed to the women’s 400 freestyle relay victory, securing a time of 3:19.29 along with Katie Kuehn, Zara Zallen, and Francesca Smith.

Senior Colleen Duffy achieved her first individual victory of the season, clocking in at 1:58.94 in the women’s 200 backstroke.

Nebrich had remarkable success, claiming two more victories along with his men’s 200 medley relay win. The freshman performer finished the men’s 50 freestyle in 19.60 and the men’s 100 freestyle in 43.36 for gold.

Zallen also triumphed in two events thanks to her women’s 400 freestyle relay victory. The Boulder, Colo., native earned first place in the women’s 100 breast with a time of 1:00.62 and the women’s 100 freestyle with a record of 48.77.

The diving team excelled across all events, achieving victories in the women’s 1-meter and 3-meter diving alongside the men’s 1-meter and 3-meter diving. Collier Dyer won the men’s 1-meter diving with a score of 380.10 and the men’s 3-meter diving with 404.48. For the women’s team, Mia Henninger won the 3-meter diving with a score of 380.10, and Megan Jolly secured first place in 1-meter diving with a score of 295.05.

NOTABLE RESULTS

• Freshman Katie Gresik won the women’s 1650 freestyle with a time of 16:44.58.
• Sydney Bales finished first in the women’s 100 backstroke with a time of 54.80.
• A pair of victories were secured by Alex Ochsenbein, swimming 53.63 in the men’s 100 breaststroke and 1:58.13 in the men’s 200 breaststroke.
• Sophomore Emily Roden extended her winning streak in the women’s 200 butterfly with a performance of 2:00.06.
• Zubik continued to excel, claiming victory in the men’s 200 backstroke (1:43.80) and men’s 100 butterfly (46.72).
• Transfer student Zoe Schneider took first place in the women’s 500 freestyle (4:47.80).
• Paige Striley secured victory in the women’s 100 butterfly with a time of 52.81.
• Mizzou achieved a sweep in the 200 IM with Piper McNeil finishing in 2:01.07 and John Watson finishing in 1:48.86.

UP NEXT 

The diving team will head to Colorado Springs, Colo., to take part in the Air Force Diving Invitational from January 30 to February 1. Both the swimming and diving teams will compete at the SEC Championships from February 18-22 in Athens, Ga.

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