A loss is never a positive, but falling to a national swimming power is a building block for success to SIUC sophomore swimmer Gavin Anderson.

The SIUC men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams both lost to the University of Kansas Saturday, but the positives seen during the performance have overshadowed the disappointment.

Both SIUC teams had not competed since first-place finishes in the Missouri Valley Conference Championships early in December. As a result, Anderson and his teammates were concerned with how they would perform returning from the break.

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It was good to have a really fast meet after winter break, Anderson said. We should be getting faster as the season tapers down.

The University of Kansas swimming and diving teams in past years have owned the Salukis. The Jayhawks’ 164-133 victory over SIUC Saturday did not reflect the competitive nature of the meet. This year, the Salukis were able to keep the pressure on throughout the meet.

I am not disappointed at all, men’s coach Rick Walker said. This is the first time in four or five years that we have been able to keep Kansas nervous.

Senior Liam Weseloh took first place in the 1,000-meter freestyle with a time of 9:25.69. Other victories went to senior Steve Munz in the 100-meter backstroke (53.46) and Anderson in the 100-meter freestyle at 47.22.

Walker was also impressed by sophomore Ryan Gallagher’s performances in four events. Gallagher’s top performance was a tie with Kansas swimmer Brian Klapper for first place in the 500-meter freestyle.

Women’s coach Mark Kluemper joined Walker in seeing the positives in Saturday’s 182-108 loss to the University of Kansas.

Entering Saturday’s meet, the Salukis were hampered by injuries, hurting any chance of an upset over the No. 21 Jayhawks. SIUC senior Kiki Sidiropoulou was forced to sit out the meet because of a shoulder injury, and senior Diana Roberts also suffered a shoulder injury that forced her to pull out of the meet.

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We are not ready to beat Kansas yet, Kluemper said. But I am pleased with the efforts of everyone.

Freshman Daniela Muniz and senior Karla Gerzema were the only two first-place finishers for the women. Muniz (4:39.39) took first in the 400-meter individual medley followed by junior Kat Flannery (4:40.71) and senior Nicole Freda (4:43.05), finishing second and third respectively.

Gerzema, who won the 3-meter diving crown at the MVC Championships, earned a score of 347.72 for first place. Freshman Colleen Reardon finished second with a score of 210.07.

Gerzema and Reardon finished behind KU’s Kerri Priebyl (245.47) for second and third place in the 1-meter springboard.

We are not disappointed at all, considering the caliber of their team, Freda said. I think we swam really well.

The SIUC men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams travel to Champaign this weekend for the Illini Classic Invitational at the University of Illinois.