Sycamores picked MVC favourite as Indiana State heads to 2026 Swimming and Diving Conference Championship Week

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State swimming and diving heads to Evansville, Ind. and the Deaconess Aquatic Center because the Missouri Valley Conference favourite as voted on by the league’s head coaches, because the Sycamores put together to start out the 2026 MVC Swimming and Diving Championships over February 25-28.
 
The Sycamores acquired six first-place votes and 75 whole factors as Indiana State seems to be to defend its title over the four-day occasion held with morning qualifying classes beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET, whereas the night finals are set for six:30 p.m. ET.
 
“We’re excited to go compete as a team at the MVC Championships this week,” head coach Josh Christensen mentioned. “Once again, it will be a highly competitive meet. We’ve taken on a tough schedule this year that has prepared us well and shown that we can consistently navigate challenges and step up as a team. We’ll need to do that again this week.”
 
Southern Illinois acquired three first-place votes and 74 whole factors to complete second within the ballot, whereas Missouri State (61) and UIC (57) rounded out the highest 4.
 
Wednesday, February 25 Event Schedule – 11:30 a.m./6:30 p.m. ET
200 Freestyle Relay, 500 Freestyle, 200 IM, 50 Freestyle, 400 Medley Relay
 
Thursday, February 26 Event Schedule – 11:30 a.m./6:30 p.m. ET
100 Butterfly, 400 IM, 200 Freestyle, 1M Diving, 200 Medley Relay
 
Friday, February 27 Event Schedule – 11:30 a.m./6:30 p.m. ET
200 Butterfly, 100 Breaststroke, 100 Backstroke, 800 Freestyle Relay
 
Saturday, February 28 Event Schedule – 11:30 a.m./6:30 p.m. ET
1650 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, 3M Diving, 400 Freestyle Relay
 
Indiana State heads into the MVC Championships trying to defend the primary title in program historical past after the Sycamores (1440.5) held off challenges from Southern Illinois (1331) and Missouri State (1034) over the four-day occasion by using convention titles from Claire Parsons (1650 Free), Jecza Lopez (3M Diving), and the 400-yard Freestyle Relay on their solution to pulling away from the Salukis over the ultimate occasions in claiming this system’s first convention title since Indiana State swimming and diving’s inception in 2016.
 

Overall, the Sycamores claimed six occasion championships with Parsons (200 Free & 1650 Free) and Lopez (1M Diving & 3M Diving) successful a number of occasions. Alexandria Cotter (400 IM) and the Sycamores’ 400-yard Freestyle Relay added to Indiana State’s titles over the 4 days in Iowa.
 
Indiana State put collectively one of many hardest schedules within the convention this season and posted a 7-2 document in twin meet competitors on the 12 months, highlighted by wins at Missouri State and Southern Illinois, whereas topping Vanderbilt and Toledo within the Vigo County Aquatic Center. The Sycamores additionally set new marks in factors scored at each the Miami (Ohio) Invite and the Tim Welsh Classic hosted by Notre Dame.
 
The Sycamores head into the meet with the MVC chief in 4 separate occasions up to now together with the 500-yard Free (Claire Parsons), 1000-yard Free (Grace Cummings), 1650-yard Free (Cummings), and 1M Diving (Jecza Lopez). Indiana State additionally options the deepest distance group within the MVC this season with 4 swimmers within the high 4 within the 1000-yard Free, three within the high 4 within the 500-yard Free, and three within the high 4 within the 1650-yard Freestyle occasions.
 
Sycamores Among the Valley Top 10

• 50-yard Free: Kaleigh Kelley (23.06, fifth), Raine Boles (23.07, sixth)
• 100-yard Free: Erin Cummins (50.51, seventh)
• 200-yard Free: Erin Cummins (1:48.33, third), Claire Parsons (1:48.64, 4th), Grace Cummings (1:50.34, ninth)
• 500-yard Free: Claire Parsons (4:46.65, 1st), Grace Cummings (4:47.90, 2nd), Erin Cummins (4:51.14, 4th), Maria Saldana Riebeling (4:54.61, ninth)
• 1000-yard Free: Grace Cummings (9:46.97, 1st), Claire Parsons (9:57.39, 2nd), Maria Saldana Riebeling (10:03.88, third), Gemma Dilks (10:04.20, 4th)
• 1650-yard Free: Grace Cummings (16:23.09, 1st), Claire Parsons (16:34.29, 2nd), Maria Saldana Riebeling (16:49.27, third), Haley Halsall (17:04.93, tenth)
• 50-yard Back: Kiarra Thomas (26.20, eighth)
• 100-yard Back: Sahara Visscher (55.72, fifth)
• 200-yard Back: Anna Asplund (1:59.83, 4th), Sahara Visscher (2:00.33, fifth)
• 50-yard Breast: Ali Pearson (28.67, 2nd), Jenna Nave (29.70, ninth)
• 100-yard Breast: Ali Pearson (1:01.35, 2nd)
• 200-yard Breast: Ali Pearson (2:15.22, third)
• 50-yard Fly: Raine Boles (25.04, sixth)
• 100-yard Fly: Raine Boles (54.47, 4th), Sophia Diaz (54.74, seventh), Erin Cummins (55.13, tenth)
• 200-yard Fly: Haley Halsall (1:59.73, 2nd), Raine Boles (2:02.20, 4th), Sophia Diaz (2:03.53, seventh)
• 400-yard IM: Maria Saldana Riebeling (4:25.05, seventh)
• 1M Diving: Jecza Lopez (303.08, 1st)
• 3M Diving: Jecza Lopez (315.75, 2nd)

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