2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsMSU, Drury have history
Kevin Price
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Jack Steck created the Drury swimming program back in 1967. Tonight, he faces the juggernaut program that he helped build and the coaches he developed as swimmers.
The head coach at Missouri State, Steck is entering his 24th season with the Bears. Before coming across town to Missouri State, he was instrumental in the development of the Drury program.
Steck started the swim team at Drury as a club and spent 15 years there building the swim team into a varsity team that dominates division II competition. During his tenure at Drury, Steck took the swim team to the last Missouri College Union Championship in 1967.
Steck said he is eager to go up against his former school.
"That is a big meet for us because they are right here in our own town," Steck, the Missouri State swim team's head coach said. "Also they are a very good team in division II."
Steck's tradition has carried over in recent years, as Drury's men and women team both won their national championship last year competing in the Division II level.
Brian Reynolds, the Drury head coach, was a swimmer under Steck in the early 80s. Drury assistant coach Bryan Beatty was also a former swimmer and a graduate assistant coach for Steck at Missouri State, then SMS.
"There are a lot of ties to Drury here," Steck said. "A lot of the swimmers here know Drury so this will be a very exciting rivalry match."
Drury's early schedule thus far has only consisted of an intrasquad meet at home, which basically consists of fun competition between the Drury swimmers.
The meet Friday night will be the first official one for Drury and the third for Missouri State.
The Bears won their last meet against both Delta State and Truman State.
The men's team won eleven of thirteen events last weekend and will try to do the some against the cross-town rivals tonight.
On Saturday, the swimming team will have an intrasquad meet at Missouri State
"It is just some fun that we bring the alumni back and we have some events. It is a really casual, fun day." Steck said.
The head coach at Missouri State, Steck is entering his 24th season with the Bears. Before coming across town to Missouri State, he was instrumental in the development of the Drury program.
Steck started the swim team at Drury as a club and spent 15 years there building the swim team into a varsity team that dominates division II competition. During his tenure at Drury, Steck took the swim team to the last Missouri College Union Championship in 1967.
Steck said he is eager to go up against his former school.
"That is a big meet for us because they are right here in our own town," Steck, the Missouri State swim team's head coach said. "Also they are a very good team in division II."
Steck's tradition has carried over in recent years, as Drury's men and women team both won their national championship last year competing in the Division II level.
Brian Reynolds, the Drury head coach, was a swimmer under Steck in the early 80s. Drury assistant coach Bryan Beatty was also a former swimmer and a graduate assistant coach for Steck at Missouri State, then SMS.
"There are a lot of ties to Drury here," Steck said. "A lot of the swimmers here know Drury so this will be a very exciting rivalry match."
Drury's early schedule thus far has only consisted of an intrasquad meet at home, which basically consists of fun competition between the Drury swimmers.
The meet Friday night will be the first official one for Drury and the third for Missouri State.
The Bears won their last meet against both Delta State and Truman State.
The men's team won eleven of thirteen events last weekend and will try to do the some against the cross-town rivals tonight.
On Saturday, the swimming team will have an intrasquad meet at Missouri State
"It is just some fun that we bring the alumni back and we have some events. It is a really casual, fun day." Steck said.
Be the first to comment on this story