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Big cats take out the Dawgs

The Salukis were unable to topple Big 12 powerhouse Missouri at Saturday's dual meet in Columbia, Mo.

The women's team notched three individual victories and 76 points in the process, but Missouri accumulated 167 points to take the meet. The Saluki men took five individual titles to score 95 points to Missouri's 148.

Missouri was the second Big 12 team in two weeks to hand the women a loss, Nebraska having done the same Oct. 23.

SIU's men experienced their first loss of the season after sweeping all 13 events against Evansville Oct. 16. Missouri, a Big 12 Conference school, obviously posed a greater threat than Evansville due to sheer size and depth - and a chip on its shoulder.

The SIU men defeated Missouri last season, marking the first time in eight years the Salukis managed to do so. SIU head coach Rick Walker expected the Tigers would relish the chance to serve up some revenge in their own pool.

Despite the losses, both teams made strong showings with the combined total of eight individual titles.

Junior Briley Bergen took two events on the women's side. She finished first in the 500-yard freestyle with times of five seconds and 7.97 seconds, and also the 1000 freestyle (10:26.34).

Sophomore Nora Bunford also won the 100 breaststroke for the Salukis with a time of 1:05.30. Bunford said the meet was a success despite the loss.

"It was a really good meet," Bunford said. "They're a Big 12 school, and we could keep up with them, even after a five-hour ride."

For the Saluki men, freshmen competitors took home three of SIU's five individual titles.

Antonio Santoro snagged top honors in the 200 freestyle (1:42.30) and the 200 butterfly (1:52.46) less than a week after being named Missouri Valley Conference Male Swimmer of the Week for his performance against Evansville. Freshman Gareth McGee also won the 200 backstroke (1:49.59).

Walker was excited by the performance of his freshman and said he looked forward to four years of solid swimming and leadership from the collegiate newcomers.

"The tone they set this year will be what they go off of for every year after this," Walker said. "They'll set the tone for freshmen coming in here after. It bodes very well for us."

Jason Sigler, not to be outdone by his younger teammates, also took two events for the Salukis. His times of 4:39.34 in the 500 freestyle and 9:35.26 in the 1,000 freestyle secured first-place finishes.

Sophomore Brandon Birchak was sidelined with an injury and was unable to compete. Walker said the sophomore is having some back pain and is unsure when he will able to return.

Walker was impressed with the men's team, saying that in his coaching career, SIU has a history of not swimming well in the Tigers' pool. But Walker said the men swam remarkably well, surprising him with their times.

Walker said both teams were right on schedule for where he wants them to be.

"If something isn't going right, red flags go off," Walker said. "I'm not seeing any red flags here."