(O'FALLON, Ill., Jan. 17) – The McKendree University swimming and diving program hosted Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) member Lindenwood University at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex for a dual meet on Saturday afternoon. The meet is highlighted by the Bearcats completing the four relay sweep over the Lions.
 
The men came out on top 172-122 and the women fell 180-116.
 
The meet kicked off with wins in the 200 medley relay. The women's team of senior Sydney Rey (Columbia, IL/Columbia High School), freshman Grace Credit (La Grange Highlands, IL/Lyons Township High School), junior Meredith Geyer (Germantown, TN/Germantown High School), and sophomore Haley Rey (Columbia, IL/Columbia High School) posting a time of 1:47.71. The men's team of freshman Davante Carey (Nassau, Bahamas/Queens College), freshman John Heaphy (Eagle River, AK/Eagle River High School), sophomore Gregg Lichinsky (West Des Moines, IA/West Des Moines Valley High School), and junior Alexander Skinner (Namibia, Africa/Windhoek Afrikaans Private School) finished with a time of 1:30.59.
 
Geyer totaled two more wins in the 100, 200 freestyle events, touching the wall in 53.10 and 1:55.26.
 
Senior Matija Pucarevic (Belgrade, Serbia/Sixth Belgrade Grammar School) totaled three wins, capturing victories in the 100, 200 butterfly and 100 freestyle events. Pucarevic posted times of 49.52 and 1:51.99 in the butterfly events and 45.34 in the freestyle.
 
Junior Victoria Sananikone (Cedar Park, TX/Cedar Park High School) took the top spot in the 100 butterfly, finishing with a time of 59.31.
 
Freshman Fabio Dalu (Cagliari, Italy/Liceo L.B. Alberti Cagliari) won the 1650 freestyle with a time of 15:40.89.
 
In the 500 freestyle, junior Throstur Bjarnason (Reykjanesbær, Iceland/Fjölbrautaskóli Suðurnesja) finished with a time of 4:39.56 to earn first place.
 
Skinner posted his second win in the 200 freestyle, touching the wall in 1:40.98.
 
 Carey closed with two wins, collecting a victory in the 100 backstroke with a time of 50.27.
 
Heaphy also finished with two wins, capturing a win in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 56.84.
 
Lichinsky earned his second win in the 50 freestyle, finishing with a time of 20.98.
 
The meet finished with wins in the 400 freestyle relay. The women's team of H. Rey, S. Rey, sophomore Abigail Rumpp (Knoxville, TN/L&N STEM Academy), and Geyer finished with a time of 3:36.26. The men's team of Pucarevic, Lichinsky, senior Luca Simonetti (Sassari, Italy/Liceo Scientifico Gulielmo Marconi Sassari), and Skinner posted a time of 3:02.47.
 
In one meter diving, Lilia de Oliveira Pelaez (Ile Perrot, Quebec, Canada/Beaconsfield High School) took third with a score of 220.28. Junior Caitlyn Canadi (South Lyon, MI/South Lyon High School) took fourth with a score of 216.51. Sophomore Ethan Larson (Anchorage, AK/Paideia High School) placed first with a score of 289.57. Sophomore Xavier Flores (Fresno, CA/Clovis West High School) took third with a score of 207.59.
 
In three meter diving, de Oliveira Pelaez placed third, scoring 219.15 points. Canadi took fourth with a score of 189.90. Larson took the top spot with a score of 323.40. Flores placed fourth with a score of 222.07.
 
The Bearcats will host their last swim meet on Jan. 24-25 against Missouri-St. Louis and Bellarmine. The meet will serve as senior day for the first four-year class in program history.