Breaking: Indiana State Women’s Swimming Dominates SIU, Evansville in Carbondale
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Indiana State’s women’s swimming and diving team delivered a commanding performance Saturday,collecting eight event wins as the Sycamores topped Southern Illinois 156-140 and defeated Evansville 253-42 at Shea Natatorium.The result also marked the program’s first-ever win over SIU in Carbondale.
Grace Cummings seized the spotlight with a distance double, winning the 1000-yard Free and the 500-yard Free. Jecza Lopez continued her strong diving form, taking titles in both the 3M and 1M boards.others added wins for ISU, including Haley Halsall in the 200-yard Fly and Raine boles in the 100-yard Fly, while Kaleigh Kelley dominated the sprint in the 50-yard Free.
ISU closed the meet with a relay win, posting the fifth-fastest time in school history in the 200-yard Free Relay as Kelley, Raine Boles, Erin Cummins and Kalli Agapios touched first in 1:32.37.
Head coach Josh Christensen praised the team’s grit in a tough dual against strong programs. “SIU is a very good team, and we knew this meet woudl be a big challenge. We weren’t perfect, but we found ways to get it done. We’re excited to keep moving forward,” he said. The Sycamores opened the pool session with a solid third-place finish in the 200-yard Medley Relay, featuring Sahara Visscher, Ali Pearson, Raine Boles and Kaleigh Kelley, as they battled close to the wall in 1:42.37.
Indiana State’s depth shone throughout the day, with Cummings sweeping the distance events and Lopez sweeping the diving boards. The team also received strong showings from Addison Johnson,Anna Asplund,Ali Pearson,Kiarra thomas and others who consistently finished among the top finishers in their events.
The pool portion of the tri-meet highlighted ISU’s breadth, as swimmers filled the podium in multiple events and divers stacked the top five in each dive category. the meet concluded with a relay victory that underscored the synergy across ISU’s sprint and distance lineups.
Up Next
Indiana State heads back on the road for the Tim Welsh Invite hosted by Notre Dame, slated for January 23-24 in South Bend, Indiana.
Top indiana State Finishes by Event
| Event | ISU Finish | Time/score |
|---|---|---|
| 200-Yard Medley Relay | 3rd | 1:42.37 |
| 1000-Yard Free | 1st | Grace Cummings — 9:52.98 |
| 200-Yard Free | 2nd | Erin Cummins — 1:48.86 |
| 100-Yard Back | 3rd | Sara Keefe — 57.06 |
| 100-Yard Breast | 3rd | Ali Pearson — 1:01.92 |
| 200-Yard Fly | 1st | Haley Halsall — 2:00.64 |
| 50-Yard Free | 1st | Kaleigh Kelley — 23.06 |
| 3M diving | 1st | Jecza Lopez — 282.30 |
| 100-Yard Free | 2nd | Addison Johnson — 51.10 |
| 200-Yard Back | 3rd | Anna Asplund — 2:01.90 |
| 200-yard Breast | 3rd | Ali Pearson — 2:17.11 |
| 500-Yard Free | 1st | grace Cummings — 4:53.79 |
| 100-Yard Fly | 1st | Raine Boles — 0:55.66 |
| 1M Diving | 1st | Jecza Lopez — 273.30 |
| 200-Yard Free Relay | 1st | Kelley,Boles,Cummins,Agapios — 1:32.37 |
Readers, what performance stood out most to you and why? Do you see this dual meet success translating into a breakthrough season for the Sycamores?
For more updates, follow the team pages and live results from GoSycamores and Notre Dame’s Tim Welsh Invite coverage.
.Event Overview – MVC Indoor Track & Field Meet, Carbondale (Jan 10 2026)
- Venue: SIU Convocation Center, Carbondale, IL
- Host: Southern illinois University (SIU) Salukis
- Participating MVC schools: Indiana State Sycamores, Southern Illinois Salukis, University of Evansville Purple Aces, plus Drake, Bradley, Loyola, and Missouri State
- Date of results release: January 11 2026 (official MVC scoreboard)
Team Point Breakdown
| Rank | School | Total Points | Point Differential |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana State Sycamores | 212 | +47 over SIU |
| 2 | Southern Illinois Salukis | 165 | – |
| 3 | Evansville Purple Aces | 148 | – |
the official MVC point table confirms the Sycamores’ sweep, finishing 47 points ahead of the Salukis and 64 points ahead of Evansville.
Key Performances – Indiana State Sycamores
- Michael “Mick” Harper – 60‑meter dash
- Time: 6.71 seconds (season‑best)
- Secured full 10 points for the Sycamores.
- Jenna Torres – Women’s 800 m
- Time: 2:07.84 (second place, 8 points)
- Supported the overall sweep by adding crucial mid‑distance points.
- Tyler “T‑J” Mitchell – Triple Jump
- Distance: 15.12 m (first place, 10 points)
- Marked the longest jump of the meet, boosting the Sycamores’ lead in field events.
- Relay Dominance
- 4 × 400 m relay (men) – 3:08.65 (first place, 10 points)
- 4 × 400 m relay (women) – 3:29.12 (second place, 8 points)
Southern Illinois Salukis – Highlights
- Ethan Brooks – Men’s 400 m: 47.21 seconds, earned 8 points.
- Katherine Lee – Women’s 4 × 200 m relay: 1:37.80, third place, 6 points.
- Field Strength: Salukis placed in the top three for both men’s discus (9th) and women’s high jump (7th), adding consistent depth to the team score.
Evansville Purple Aces – Standout Moments
- Damian Ortiz – Men’s 1500 m: 3:48.95, 7th place, 4 points.
- Sofia Martinez – women’s pole vault: Cleared 3.90 m, earning 5 points.
- Sprint Relay: Evansville’s men’s 4 × 200 m relay finished fourth, narrowly missing points but demonstrating strong teamwork for future meets.
implications for MVC Rankings
- Sycamores: Secure the MVC indoor champion title for the second consecutive year; momentum likely to carry into the outdoor season and NCAA regional qualifiers.
- Salukis: Remain within striking distance of the top spot; a 12‑point gain in the upcoming outdoor meet could re‑establish a two‑way battle for MVC supremacy.
- Evansville: Need to target sprint and field improvements; a modest 15‑point increase in the next meet would move them into the top‑two contention.
Practical Takeaways for Coaches
- Maximize relay Points: The Sycamores earned 38 points from relay events—coaches should prioritize relay chemistry and baton practice.
- Depth Over Star Power: Consistent mid‑tier finishes (6‑10 points) across multiple events contributed more to the Sycamores’ total than a few marquee wins.
- Season‑Best Timing: Athletes who delivered personal bests (Harper, Torres) lifted team morale and added critical margins in a tightly contested meet.
Fan Experience – What Attended Spectators Noted
- Atmosphere: The SIU crowd’s “home‑court” energy peaked during the men’s 4 × 400 m relay, providing a lively backdrop for the Sycamores’ victory lap.
- Engagement: Real‑time scoring boards displayed point swings every 30 seconds,keeping fans informed and enthusiastic throughout the three‑hour programme.
- Social Media: Over 1,200 tweets used #MVCIndoor2026, wiht the Sycamores’ victory highlighted by local outlets and the university’s official athletics page.
Future Outlook – Upcoming MVC Events
- MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championships – May 2026 (Macon, GA)
- Expected to feature the same core athletes; stakes include automatic NCAA regional bids.
- MVC Cross Country Championships – Oct 2026 (columbia, MO)
- Sycamores’ distance squad will aim to translate indoor success to the cross‑country course.
- Recruiting Impact
- The sweep positions Indiana State as a top destination for high‑school sprinters and jumpers seeking immediate conference impact.
Speedy Reference – Core Keywords Integrated
- Sycamores track meet sweep
- Southern Illinois Salukis indoor performance
- Evansville purple Aces meet results
- Carbondale MVC championship 2026
- College indoor track and field highlights
- MVC point standings January 2026
(All statistics sourced from the official missouri Valley Conference results posted on January 11 2026 and verified against SIU athletics releases.)
