Scores
Results

(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 19) – The McKendree University swimming & diving teams faced No. 4 Lindenwood University on Friday night, with the Bearcats women earning an upset victory and the men falling to the Lions.
 
Scores
Women's
NR McKendree University: 174 – #4 Lindenwood University: 82
 
Men's
#4 Lindenwood University: 155 - #23 McKendree University: 103
 
The McKendree women came into Friday's meet unranked, but were able to put together 13 first place finishes to upset No. 4 ranked Lindenwood. Of the women's 13 first place finishes, five were one-two finishes for the Bearcats. The No. 23 ranked McKendree men's team earned first place in over half of their events with nine wins, but were unable to overcome the depth of No. 4 Lindenwood.

"I am extremely proud of how the Bearcats performed against one of the nation's best programs!" said head coach Jimmy Tierney. "We spoke before the meet about swimming with passion and maintaining a high energy or spirit throughout. They did extremely well with that charge. For the women, this is a historic win, maybe the most significant in our short history. For the men, we battled back from a big deficit to outperform them over the latter part of the meet. Overall we won 22 of 32 events against a tremendous team. This was a great team effort. I cannot wait for our championship meets! Go Bearcats!"
 
Sophomore swimmer Milica Sostarec and freshman swimmer Victoria Sananikone each won all four events that they competed in, including the 400 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Sostarec took first place in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle with times of 24.12 and 52.52, respectively. Sananikone placed first in her individual events as well, with a time of 2:09.47 in the 200 butterfly, and 59.49 in the 100 butterfly. Sophomore Sydney Rey, freshman Karlie Rimat, and freshman Meredith Geyer each placed first in three events, and second in one event. Rey and Geyer each took second place behind teammates in their events. Freshman Molly Smalley also had an impressive showing, with three first place finishes, along with one third place finish. Freshman diver Caitlyn Canadi also helped launch the Bearcats over the Lions with her second place finishes in the one and three meter diving competitions.
 
Sophomore swimmer Matija Pucarevic earned three first place finishes and one second place finish on the evening. Pucarevic earned first in his two individual events, with a time of 1:52.60 in the 200 butterfly and a time of 49.99 in the 100 butterfly. Pucarevic, along with sophomore Luca Simonetti, freshman Throstur Bjarnason, and freshman Xander Skinner took first in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:04.01. Bjarnason earned first place finishes in the 500 and 1000 freestyle events as well, with a time of 4:41.49 in the 500, and 9:35.72 in the 1000.
 
The Bearcats are back in action on Saturday at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex against Principia College and the University of Missouri – St. Louis, with diving action beginning at 9 a.m. and the meet beginning at noon.