IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Illinois State swimming & diving team recorded their best team finish since the 2013-14 season, taking home second place at the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference Championships after being picked to finish fourth in the conference pre-championship poll.
"We said all year that this team was special and tonight they showed everyone why," Head Coach Caitlin Hamilton said. "Making a move from fourth to second does not happen by accident, it's not fate. It's every single member of this program coming together and not leaving things to fate. I'm grateful for my staff and I'm so very proud of this team."
Freshman diver Eva Reyes was recognized as the Valley's Freshman Diver of the Year after winning the 1-meter dive on Thursday and taking third in the 3-meter dive today, earning MVC First Team honors in both events.
In the pool, junior Madyson Morse continued her impressive showing at the conference meet, breaking the 200-yard breaststroke school record with a career-best time of 2:16.04. With that time, Morse finished fourth overall to earn All-MVC Honorable Mention honors.
Five other Redbirds joined Morse with All-MVC Honorable Mention status today, including freshman Sydney Hoff in the 200-yard breaststroke. Hoff finished just behind Morse in fifth place with a lifetime-best time of 2:16.91, earning her first conference accolade.
Freshman Emma Feltzer placed sixth in the 100-yard freestyle with a personal-best time of 50.87 seconds to earn All-Valley Honorable Mention honors for the second time this week.
In the 200-yard butterfly a pair of Redbirds finished in the top-eight, led by junior Lauren Naeger who took bronze with a time of 2:02.93, collecting MVC First Team recognition. Senior Sarah Hein finished just one second behind Naeger in sixth with a lifetime-best time of 2:03.94 for MVC Honorable Mention status.
PERSONAL-BESTS AT THE MVC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Day 2
- Makenna Licking, 500-yard freestyle, 5:00.08
- Diana Walker, 500-yard freestyle, 4:59.65
- Ella Glaspie, 500-yard freestyle, 5:03.31
- Madyson Morse, 200-yard IM, 2:00.92
- Olivia Gonder, 200-yard IM, 2:02.92
- Emma Feltzer, 50-yard freestyle, 23.42
- Eva Reyes, 1-meter dive, 300.45
- Kamryn Blake, 1-meter dive, 275.20
Day 3
- Cassidy Carey, 100-yard backstroke, 56.99
- Makenna Licking, 200-yard freestyle, 1:52.64
- Olivia Gonder, 200-yard freestyle, 1:51.79
- Emma Feltzer, 200-yard freestyle, 1:50.44
- Ella Glaspie, 400-yard IM, 4:32.99
- Paige Gidley, 3-meter dive, 201.30
Day 4
- Diana Walker, 1,650-yard freestyle, 17:17.60
- Lauren Wisdom, 1,650-yard freestyle 17:28.91
- Emma Feltzer, 100-yard freestyle, 50.87
- Madyson Morse, 200-yard breaststroke, 2:16.04
- Sydney Hoff, 200-yard breaststroke, 2:16.91
- Emily Keebler, 200-yard breaststroke, 2:22.48
- Julia Oostman, 200-yard breaststroke, 2:26.81
- Sarah Hein, 200-yard butterfly, 2:03.94
SCHOOL RECORDS AT THE MVC CHAMPIONSHIPS
- 800-yard freestyle relay (Gonder, Feltzer, Licking, Walker) – 7:25.12
- 200-yard freestyle relay (Morse, Gonder, Feltzer, Walker) – 1:33.77 (ties 2014 record)
- 200-yard breaststroke, Madyson Morse – 2:16.04
UP NEXT
The Redbird diving duo of Eva Reyes and Kamryn Blake will compete at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships from March 7-9 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Details regarding the meet will be posted to goredbirds.com when available.
For all latest on Illinois State swimming & diving, follow the Redbirds on Twitter and Instagram @redbirdswimdive.
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