The Tigers look to turn the tide and grab a couple of wins on Senior Day.
Tigers, Bears, and Bearcats, oh my!
It’s been a long and grueling season for the Missouri Tigers as they look to grab their first win since early October this weekend when they host Division II McKendree and Missouri State with a two-day competition.
The meet begins at 5 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday.
This weekend they will also be honoring 14 seniors.
It’s the perfect meet for the Tigers to show off in the pool, as they bring in a winning record against both teams.
The men and women hold a 1-0 all-time record against McKendree, while they hold an even better total against Missouri State.
The Tiger men are 30-70-1 all-time against Missouri State, while the women flaunt a perfect 21-0 record against the Bears.
Brand New Events
According to an MUTigers.com press release, the Friday line-up will be filled with a few non-traditional events.
- 50 Skins Race: Six swimmers (two per team) will face off. The field will then narrow through three rounds. The final two will race head-to-head in the last round. Each race will be four minutes apart. It will be completed in all four strokes.
- 800 Freestyle Knock-Out: The race starts with six swimmers, eliminating one at the 150, 300, 450, and 600 yard marker. The last two swimmers will then race to the end in the final 200.
The rest of Friday will include the 200 free relay, 150-yard events, 300 IM, 100 IM, and 400 medley. Saturday will then follow the standard 16-event format. (Karen’s note: Thank God. I need real events.)
Who to Watch
Due to both storied success against these programs as well as faster recorded times, look for the regular stars to flourish.
Grant Bochenski is undefeated in the 100 backstroke at home and the senior will look to end his campaign on a high note.
Jan Zubik, a consistent stand out in the 200 fly and back, also holds an advantage. Freshman Gonzalo Ruiz of the Missouri State Bears won the 200 back in their last meet with a time of 1:45.15, Zubik however has the fastest time (1:43.42).
The Missouri State women also struggle in the backstroke, an event Abbey Taute will look to capture. The McKendree women also don’t seem to fare too well in the event.
After scanning all three teams’ season-best times as well as looking at previous matchups between the schools, Missouri will be favorites heading into a majority of events.
I also believe McKendree, a D2 team, may keep the competition closer than the D1 Missouri State Bears. After a season of bests, the Bearcats have been competitive against D1 opponents.
However, there may be some fluctuation if the regulars don’t swim certain events.
When Missouri faced Louisville two weeks ago, a few athletes were missing for unknown reasons. This could be illness, injuries from intense training, or rest time due to the approaching NCAA’s.
Learn about the opponents
The McKendree Bearcats are a Division II school based in Southern Illinois. They are 5-0 this season and finished third at the Purdue Invite.
Meanwhile, the Missouri State Bears are a Division I program from Springfield, Missouri. The women are 3-2, while the men are 2-3.
The women also share an opponent in the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Tigers were victorious in the meet, while the Bears took a loss.
The Bears most recent competition was late November in the House of Champions Invitational. Plenty of time to rest and recharge for battle.