The Iowa State men’s swimming team remained unbeaten this season after racing past visiting Southwest Missouri State on Saturday afternoon.

The men dominated the meet, winning by a final tally of 127-89. However, it was even more of a Cyclone flood than the score indicated. For the second-straight dual meet, the team stopped accepting points in the later events in order to keep the team scores closer.

The victory pushed the Cyclones to 2-0 in the young season.

Race champions who recorded season-best times in the process included Brian Roska in the 1,000 freestyle, Martin Andersson in the 200 freestyle, Jeff Gahan in the 50 freestyle, Mark Ritcey in the 200 individual medley, Mitch McGinty in the 200 butterfly, Bob Bredice in the 100 freestyle, Johan Andersson in the 200 backstroke and Bryan O’Neill in the 500 freestyle.

Men’s Swimming Coach Trip Hedrick said although Southwest Missouri State was not a formidable opponent, his swimmers performed well in the “low-key affair.” He said they continue improving as the season progresses.

“We were pleased with how they competed,” he said.

In addition to his racers’ times, Hedrick was especially happy with the diving team’s performances. Diving Coach Jerry Symons was also impressed.

“They had their best diving scores ever for me,” he said. “They’re working extremely hard.”

Two men the coaches singled out on the diving squad were sophomore Steve Mohabir and freshman Jim Zagaria. Mohabir claimed the one-meter diving crown on Saturday, while Zagaria placed second. In the three-meter event, Zagaria took home first place, while his teammate nabbed second.

Zagaria said he is happy with his freshman year so far. “It’s going great. I’m having a real good time,” he said. “We’re kicking some butt.”

He said Symons and his teammates have helped him improve by teaching him new dives and how to compete at the collegiate level.

He said he is starting to get comfortable with college diving, thanks in large part to Mohabir. “Steve Mohabir’s a great teammate. He’s helped me a lot,” he said.

Hedrick said the meet served as a nice break from the hard training schedule the athletes have been under. It also let ISU showcase its depth; as the regular Cyclone line-up was altered, several swimmers were allowed to gain experience under real competition.

This weekend the team travels to Minneapolis for the Minnesota Invitational, a three-day, multi-team event which will serve as a “first semester dress rehearsal” for the Big 12 meet in the spring, Hedrick said.

Symons is looking forward to the meet because the team will gain “valuable experience against good people.” He hopes his divers can “mount to the challenge.”

Zagaria is also ready for the upcoming meet. “We should give Minnesota a run for their money,” he said.