SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Drury swimming and diving opens the 2026 portion of its schedule this weekend with home-and-home meets against cross-town rival Missouri State, beginning with Friday (Jan. 16) afternoon at Breech Pool.
The Panthers and Bears will kick off the first of their two duals with the diving (women's 3-meter and men's 1-meter) competition at 3 p.m., followed by the swimming portion of the event at 5 p.m. The scene shifts to Hammons Student Center on Saturday (Jan. 17), beginning at 10 a.m. Live results for both meets will be available via the Meet Mobile app and DiveMeets.com.
The Drury swimming programs are led by Brian Reynolds, one of the nation's most accomplished collegiate swimming coaches. Reynolds enters his 43rd year as head coach of the Panthers men's team and his 38th season leading the women's program in 2025-26.
LAST TIME OUT...
Both Drury teams are coming off dominant home dual wins over William Jewell and Southwest Baptist in their last meets of 2025 on Dec. 5. Ranked fourth in the December edition of the CSCAA Division II Top 25 dual meet poll, the DU women (2-1) routed SBU (161-13), then cruised past Jewell (156-18) to complete the sweep.
Gwen Bergum claimed a pair of individual wins, taking the 100 IM crown with a swim of 57.26. She also brought home gold the 100 free (52.61), in addition to helping the Panthers' 200 medley relay team to victory (along with Elvira Lonnberg Flores, Juliana Harden and Petra Baumane) with a time of 1:45.13.
On the men's side of the ledger, the Panthers earned the top spot in the CSCAA D-II Top 25 poll for the third consecutive month in December. Drury improved to 3-0 in dual meets with resounding victories over SBU (168-6) and Jewell (165-9).
Alvaro Zornoza turned in a dominant effort to lead the men, particularly in the 100 IM, setting a then-NCAA Division II record with a time of 48.31. Zornoza picked up a second-place finish in the 100 breast (54.92) and he also helped the DU 200 medley relay squad to gold with a swim of 1:31.43 (along with Elliot Weber, Belhassen Ben miled and Marwane Sebbata).
PANTHERS TO WATCH
- Petra Baumane (sprint free) starred for the victorious Drury 200 free and 200 medley relay teams, anchoring the latter's 1:45.13 run; she also posted a fourth-place individual finish in the 100 back with a time of 1:00.60.
- Gwen Bergum (IM/free) was Drury's top scoring female vs. William Jewell and Southwest Baptist with her wins in the 100 IM and 100 free, in addition to her performance with the 200 medley relay team.
- Ashlyn Moore (free/back/relays) logged a third-place finish in the 50 free (25.03) in DU's last outing (Dec. 5); also anchored the Panthers' 200 free (and 200 medley relay teams to second-place finishes.
- Carter Austin (diving) enters Friday's dual riding a hot streak after claiming the top podium spot in his last three meets; Austin won the 1-meter (392.63) competition vs. Jewell and SBU, before sweeping wins in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives Dec. 13 vs. Rockhurst in Lawrence, Kan.
- Colby Hughes (distance/fly) claimed two wins in the Panthers' double dual victory over Jewell and SBU, earning gold in the 1000 free (9:21.85), before grabbing the victory in the 500 free (4:31.47).
- Alvaro Zornoza (back/fly/relays) continued to shine for the Panthers vs. Jewell and SBU with his win in the 100 IM and silver in the 100 breast.
LOOKING AHEAD
Drury swimming and diving will host Oklahoma Christian in a home dual for Senior Day, next weekend (Jan. 23-24) at Breech Pool.
For all the latest information on Drury swimming and diving, visit drurypanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on Instagram.
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