Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University's swimming and diving teams have a packed schedule this weekend. On Friday, the women's team will compete against Little Rock and Henderson State, while the men's team will face Henderson State in Little Rock. The events will take place at the Donaghey Athletic Center starting at 12 p.m.

The following day, both teams return to Carbondale for a home meet against Eastern Illinois, which also marks Senior Day. The competition is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Shea Natatorium with a ceremony honoring seniors at 11:45 a.m.

Head coach Geoff Hanson commented on the upcoming challenges: "We are looking forward to competing against two more quality teams on Friday. The Little Rock women are probably the most improved team in the Missouri Valley Conference and will be a good test for our women in many events, and Henderson State always has top performers in Division II."

In their last outing, Southern Illinois secured wins at the Indiana State Tri-Meet. The men's team defeated UIndy and Ball State, while the women's team overcame UIndy and Indiana State. Overall, SIU swimmers earned 42 podium finishes across 32 events, including 18 gold medals.

Key performers included Olivia Herron, Alex Santiago, Celia Pulido, and Susanna Hernandez. Santiago and Pulido were recognized as the Missouri Valley Conference's Men's and Women's Swimmers of the Week for their achievements.

Celia Pulido excelled in backstroke and butterfly events during her last performance at Indiana State. She won four gold medals, with standout times in individual backstroke races and relay events.

Fans can follow Southern Illinois' swim and dive teams on social media platforms or download their mobile app for updates.