This week’s Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer of the Week is Southern Illinois’ Kristin Geppert. Illinois State’s Brittany Tazzioli receives this week’s Diver of the Week recognition.

Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer of the Week

Kristin Geppert, Southern Illinois, So., Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

100 breaststroke- 1^st of 7- 1:04.90
200 breaststroke- 1^st of 7- 2:21.02

Kristin Geppert posted her first two wins of the season and set two new season bests in the 100 (1:04.90) and 200 (2:21.02) breaststroke, helping lead Southern Illinois to a thrilling 151.5-147.5 upset win over Big Ten rival, Illinois. Geppert was one of four Southern Illinois swimmers to win two events each this past weekend. Both marks from the weekend rank third on the Valley Best List.

Other Notable Performances:

Cecilia Holmes, Illinois State, Fr., Bloomington, Illinois

Freshman swimmer Cecilia Holmes led the Redbirds Friday, as they clenched a victory against Illinois-Chicago, 123-119. The Bloomington, Ill., native earned three first-place finishes in the only events she competed in. Holmes’ first-place finishes included the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:32.19, the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:07.32 and the 400-yard IM with a time of 4:36.23.

Isabela Castro, Southern Illinois, So., Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

Isabela Castro set two new season bests and won the 100 and 200 butterfly, helping lead Southern Illinois to a thrilling 151.5-147.5 upset win over Illinois. Castro broke her previous season best in the 200 fly by nearly a second and swam a 2:03.58. She also swam a 57.93 in the 100 fly, her first multi-win meet of the season. 

Missouri Valley Conference Diver of the Week

Brittany Tazzioli, Illinois State, Sr., Libertyville, Illinois
1-meter – 2^nd - 286.65
3-meter – 4^th - 263.55

Senior Brittany Tazzioli competed in the double dual against UIC and Valparaiso Friday, as well as the UIC Diving Invite Saturday. Tazzioli put up points for the Redbirds at the dual meet, finishing first on the 1-meter board (246.08) and third on the 3-meter board (259.35). Her performance helped clench a 123-119 victory over Illinois-Chicago. Tazzioli went on to break the school record on the 1-meter board the next day at the UIC Diving Invite, with a score of 286.65 to place second. The score marks a personal best for the senior, as well as a zone regional qualifying score, which she has hit three times this season. The Libertyville, Ill., native also had a personal best performance on the 3-meter board, scoring a 263.55 to place fourth.

Other Notable Performances:

Anna Beeck, Southern Illinois, Jr., Oakland, Fla.

Anna Beeck set season highs in both the one and three-meter dives in SIU's 151.5-147.5 upset of Illinois on Monday afternoon. Beeck scored a 260.24 on the one-meter dive and a 265.60 on the three-meter dive, both season highs by more than 10 points. Both scores were good for second place, marking her fifth and sixth top-two finishes on the season.