Southwest Missouri State, with 898 team points, won the 2004 Missouri Valley Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Championship, edging second-place Southern Illinois, after Saturday's finals in Carbondale, Ill.
SMS head coach Jack Steck was named the 2004 MVC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year. Julie Cocks and Krystal Featherston of Illinois State took home Valley Swimming and Diving Athletes of the Year honors while Carly Weiden of Illinois State was named diving coach of the year.
Following behind Southern Illinois in the women's standings was Illinois State (691), Evansville (477.50) and Northern Iowa (281). In Saturday night's finals, Liz McGowan of Southern Illinois set a new Valley record in the 1,650 yard freestyle with a time of 17:05.08 while Cocks placed first in the the 200-yard backstroke (2:07.64).
Kelsy Kinsella paced the Salukis with a first-place performance in the 100-yard freestyle (53.95) while Michaela Sceli of SIU won the 200-yard breaststroke (2:21.17).
Gaby Flores of Southern Illinois set a new Valley record in the 200-yard butterfly, breaking the old mark that was set ten years ago. Her tim of 2:03.46 was over two seconds faster than the old mark set by Jennifer Bobanic (2:05.93).
2004 Women's Swimming and Diving Championship
1. SMS, 898 (Champions)
2. Southern Illinois, 771.50
3. Illinois State, 691
4. Evansville, 477.50
5. Northern Iowa, 281
2004 Men's Swimming and Diving Invitational
1. Southern Illinois, 821.50 (Champions)
2. SMS, 779
3. Western Kentucky, 742.50
4. Evansville, 369
5. Louisianna-Monroe, 344
2004 Women's Swimming Coach of the Year
Jack Steck, SMS
2004 Women's Diving Coach of the Year
Carly Weiden, Illinois State
2004 Women's Swimmer of the Year
Julie Cocks, Illinois State
2004 Women's Diver of the Year
Krystal Featherston, Illinois State
2004 Men's Invitational Swimming Coach of the Year
Rick Walker, Southern Illinois
2004 Men's Invitational Diving Coach of the Year
Joy Zhou, Southern Illinois
2004 Men's Invitational Co-Swimmers of the Year
Chad Waits and Karl Swanson, Western Kentucky
2004 Men's Invitational Diver of the Year
Brandon Birchak, Southern Illinois