UNI swim & dive: Panthers picked sixth in MVC Pre-Championship poll
2/9/2023 2:22:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Panthers host MVC Championships starting next week, Feb. 15-18 in Iowa City.
ST. LOUIS --- UNI swimming and diving has been tabbed sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference's (MVC) Pre-Championship Poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches. The Panthers will host the 2023 MVC Swimming and Diving Championships at the Campus Recreation-Wellness Center next week, Feb. 15-18 in Iowa City.
The Panthers received 48 total points after tying a school record with 12 dual wins this winter, and return several key athletes as they look to build on a fifth place finish last season.UNI returns reigning MVC Diver of the Year, Taylor Hogan, who scored a 270.70 in the one-meter springboard this season, the 6th highest score in UNI history to qualify for NCAA Diving Zones.Â
Sprinter Faith Larsen enters the championship meet with the fastest time in the MVC this season in the 50-yard freestyle (22.96), while Amber Finke looks to build off a pair of third place finishes last February (100 and 200-yard backstroke). Olivia Chambers, a two-time Para-Swimming National Champion this season (200 and 400-yard individual medley) and was named to 2023 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Team in January.Â
Defending champion Missouri State was picked to repeat as conference champions, capturing 5 first place votes and 95 points. The Bears have won the last 6 MVC titles and 18 total since the 2002-03 season.
Indiana State entered the poll in second with a close 92 points, including four first-place votes. The Sycamores are headlined by four-time MVC Diver of the Week Zoe Smith and returning all-conference performers Marni Gray and Madie Rutan, while multiple ISU athletes currently sit among the Valley's top performers on the year.Â
Southern Illinois followed in third with 81 points and the final first place vote. The Salukis have a talented depth to their roster and are led by swimmer Celia Pulido who is 2023 NCAA Championship qualifier, 2022 MVC Freshmen Swimmer of the Year, 2022 All-MVC First Team, 2022 MVC champion in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke.Â
Illinois State comes in at fourth with 68 points. The Redbirds are coming off a runner-up finish in the MVC in 2022, their highest mark since 2014 and are anchored by sophomore diver Eva Reyes, the defending conference one-meter champion.
Marshall, one of two newcomers to the conference this season and the league's newest affiliate member, follows in fifth with a close 62 points. The Herd are led by swimmers Eszter Laban who is currently ranked first in 500 and 1650-yard freestyle, and ranks second in the 400-yard individual medley in the MVC.Â
The UIC Flames come in seventh in the pre-championships poll, followed by Little Rock, Evansville and Valparaiso. Â
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2023 MVC Swimming & Diving Pre-Championship Poll (Total Points) [First Place Votes]
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1st - Missouri State (95) [5]
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2nd - Indiana State (92) [4]
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3rd - Southern Illinois (81) [1]
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4th - Illinois State (68)
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5th - Marshall (62)
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6th - UNI (48)
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7th - UIC (44)
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8th - Little Rock (27)
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9th - Evansville (21)
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10th - Valparaiso (12)
Players Mentioned
