SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  –  Swimming and diving are headed home after a hard fought contest against Missouri State. The meet format was unique tonight, as every swimmer competed in every event.

The final standings for the women were Missouri State – 86, Evansville – 28; the men finished with Missouri State – 91, Evansville – 22.

"The meet against MSU was fun," said head coach Rickey Perkins. "Everyone competed in a 100 of each stroke and the 100 IM. It was a lot of racing in a very short amount of time. It was fun to watch people compete in events we don't normally see."

Senior Danielle Freeman took the top finish for the Aces with a 2^nd place in the 100 freestyle. She clocked in a 52.49, just .05 behind the Bears' Sydney Zupan. Sophomore Kristy Kupfer came next for the Aces in 11^th at a 56.16, with freshman Kasey O'Rourke finishing in 56.67 for 14^th.

Freeman finished in 5^th in the 100 butterfly with a 58.38. Senior Kasey Rein clocked in a 1:00.62 for 10^th, followed by freshman Kara Steward in 11^th with a 1:00.74.

Junior Sam Gowdy led the Aces in the 100 backstroke with a 10^th place finish at a final 1:01.42. Freeman followed shortly behind in 11^th at 1:01.42. Kupfer took 17^th with 1:03.13.

Sophomore Alaina Sylvester held her own in the 100 breaststroke. She clocked in a 1:10.29 for 5^th place. Next up for the Aces was junior Kaylee Gubricky in 8^th with 1:12.36, with Freeman following with 1:12.46.

Freeman and Kupfer led the Aces again in the 100 IM in 7^th and 10^th respectively. Freeman clocked in a 1:03.92, while Kupfer finished in 1:04.41. Freshman Andrea Ramis kept close in 12^th with a 1:05.10.

The 100 breaststroke was the men's strongest event this evening. Junior Jared Sutphin led the Aces with an 11^th place tie at 1:01.58. Sophomore Paul Cozzens followed in 13^th with a close 1:01.63. Freshman Eli James took 16^th in a 1:02.51.

Cozzens took his turn in the lead with a 15^th place finish in the 100 butterfly with a final 54.26. Freshman Austin Smith and Sutphin were neck-and-neck for a 16 and 17 finish at 54.47 and 54.52 respectively.

Senior Brendan Ninneman led a pack of Aces in the 100 backstroke with a 56.26 18^th place. Freshman Pete Lingo, Cozzens, and freshman Austin Davidson followed in 19^th, 20^th, and 21^st respectively.

Sutphin once again led the pack with a 48.93 finish for 14^th in the 100 freestyle. Junior Matt Duke edged out Smith's 50.05 with a 50.01 for 17^th and 18^th.

Cozzens switched with Sutphin one last time in the 100 IM, the former taking another 15^th place finish with a 55.81, the latter taking 16^th with 55.85. James kept close in 17^th with a 55.94.

The diving squads held success for the Aces on the 1-Meter contest well. Senior Courtney Coverdale took the win in the only diving event of the evening with 259.35 points. Freshman Natalie Gerard placed 4^th with 197.17, and sophomore Alyssa Vonder Haar scored 141.45 for 6^th.

Junior Miguel Marcano led the men with 267.60 points for 2^nd place, while senior Cory Barnes took 3^rd with 218.77.

With the fall slate now completed, the Aces will prepare to travel south for their annual winter training trip before returning to action on January 13^th with a home meet against Eastern Illinois.
 

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