Mizzou Swimming and Diving Place Fourth at SMU Classic Season Opener
The Mizzou men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams both secured fourth-place finishes at the SMU Classic in Dallas, Texas, concluding their two-day season opener on Saturday, Oct. 10. Arizona State captured first place overall with 324 points in the men’s competition, followed by Virginia Tech with 256 points, SMU with 234 points, and Arizona in fifth place with 183 points. Arizona State also swept the women’s side by winning with 369 points, while fellow Southeastern Conference member Arkansas placed second with 310 points, SMU landed 271 points for third place, and Virginia Tech and Arizona finished with 238 and 228 points, respectively.
The men’s squad finished the weekend with 229 points, supported by three silver medals and nine bronze medals. The women’s team totaled 246 points, earning three silver medals and four bronze medals during the competition at the Robson & Lindley Aquatic Center.
Performance Breakdown at the SMU Classic
The men’s team effort was led by several standout performances, including Matthew Mortenson, who scored 34 points across six events. Mortenson secured third place in the 400 individual medley with a time of 3:47.99 as well as third in the 200 breaststroke with a 1:58.21. Additional individual highlights for the men included Matthew Judkins, who placed second in the 200 fly with a 1:44.12, and Quinlan Gould, who took silver in the 100 backstroke with a time of 46.48. Tanner Braunton added a third-place finish in the 1-meter dive and placed fourth in the 3-meter dive.
On the women’s side, Natalie Zapotocka led the team in scoring with 35 points, placing third in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:14.85. Other notable contributors included freshman Tori Yamamura, who earned silver in the 100 fly with a time of 53.28, and Megan Jolly, who secured second place in the 1-meter dive with a 261.00 score and third in the 3-meter dive. Freshman Lexi Cook added a second-place finish in the 200 backstroke, touching the wall with a time of 1:55.10, and Piper McNeil took third in the 400 individual medley with a 4:19.37.
Upcoming Schedule
Following the conclusion of the meet, the Tigers are set to return to Columbia to host their first home meet of the season. Mizzou will face Missouri State and Indiana State on Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17.