Missouri’s men’s and women’s swimming each had picked up wins over Kentucky, Southern Illinois and Northwestern after a two-day meet ended on Saturday. The men are now 3-1 on the year and 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference, while the women are 4-0, with a 2-0 SEC record.
Here are some takeaways from the Tigers’ victory.
####Men’s team
**Michael Chadwick is carrying the men’s team**
The senior from North Carolina had another strong meet for the Tigers and took first in all three of his individual events. He also helped the Tigers take first in three relays.
**Freshmen continue to shine**
Daniel Hein had another strong meet for the Tigers and took first place in the 100-yard backstroke, with a time of 48.64. He also broke the 50-second barrier in the 100-yard butterfly, touching fourth with a time of 49.31.
Micah Slaton and Nick Alexander also made major contributions to the team. Slaton took third place in both the 100- and 200-yard butterfly, and Alexander finished second in the 200-yard individual medley.
**Long-distance freestyle is still in question**
Missouri has struggled in the 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle events throughout the season, and this weekend was no different. Senior Nick Davis was the Tigers’ top finisher in the 1,000-yard freestyle and placed seventh, with a time of 9:31.15.
In the 500-yard freestyle, freshman Mikel Schreuders led Missouri with a seventh-place finish. Freshman Aidan Keen and Davis were eighth and ninth, respectively.
####Women’s team
**The Tigers are loaded with backstrokers**
Coach Greg Rhodenbaugh has to be happy with his star-powered group of backstrokers.
U.S. National Team member Hannah Stevens placed first in both the 100- and 200-yard backstroke this weekend, and German National Team member Nadine Laemmler followed with a second-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke and a third-place finish in the 200.
Freshman Haley Hynes continued to be a force on the 200-yard medley relay and split a 25.27 in the backstroke leg.
**Breaststroke depth is a problem**
Missouri has one of the best breaststrokers in the nation in senior Katharine Ross. After Ross, though, there is a steep dropoff.
It appears the Tigers are experimenting with junior Sharli Brady in the breaststroke events, and it worked decently this weekend. She finished fifth in the 100-yard event and seventh in the 200.
Still, the Tigers do not have much depth behind Ross. Looking toward next year, the team will need someone to fill her spot on the medley relays.
**Metzger-Seymour continues to develop in the 100 butterfly**
Junior Erin Metzger-Seymour had another strong 100-yard butterfly race, winning with a time of 55.14. She also swam on the team’s winning 400-yard medley relay.
####Looking ahead
Missouri will be back in action on Thursday against Georgia.
_Edited by David Reynolds | dreynolds@themaneater.com_
