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SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State senior swimmers Cabrini Johnson and Samantha Roemer will return to the swimming & diving team for a fifth season, head coach Dave Collins announced on Thursday.
The two have made the All-MVC First Team in all four of their years at Missouri State and have a combined 25 career medals at the MVC Championships. The decorated duo is set to return to help Missouri State’s quest for a ninth consecutive Missouri Valley Conference title and 21st within 23 years.
“It is humbling to have athletes want to extend their careers with us,” Collins said. “Cabrini has been a great ambassador of our program and the university. I am excited to have her back to help lead our group next year.”
Johnson (Sr., Rogersville, Mo.) returns as the defending conference champion in the 100-yard breaststroke thanks to her photo-finish victory over the 2023 MVC Swimmer of the Year Madyson Moore in February. Johnson won four of her nine career MVC medals this past season with golds in the 200 medley relay, 100 breaststroke, 400 medley relay and a silver in the 200 breaststroke.
“It will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to represent MSU swim & dive for another year,” Johnson said. “Missouri State swimming has helped me grow not only as an athlete but as a person and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to see more growth this coming year. Having an environment that encourages positive attitudes and fast swimming is part of what makes me love competing as a Bear. I wouldn’t be able to do it without the unwavering support from my coaches, past and present teammates and ultimately my family. Having a support system as strong as the one I have been blessed with makes swimming my fifth season that much more exciting!”
Roemer (Sr., Bettendorf, Iowa) earned three of her 16 career MVC medals at the 2024 championship meet with a silver in the 100 butterfly and two golds alongside Johnson in the 200 and 400 medley relays, the latter of which set a new MVC record (3:37.10).
“I am so excited that Sami will be returning to compete next season,” associate head coach Chelsea Dirks-Ham said. “Sami encompasses what it means to be a Missouri State student-athlete and she has fully trusted the process every step of the way. I am looking forward to seeing what barriers she will break next year!”
Roemer was also a part of Missouri State’s record-breaking 200 medley relay swim at the 2022 MVC Championships (1:38.60). Her five gold medals at the 2023 conference meet were a league most.
“I am beyond blessed and thankful for the opportunity to represent MSU swimming for a fifth year,” Roemer said. “To continue doing the sport that I love with the people that I love is an honor and a privilege. I cannot wait for another season as a Bear!”
Johnson and Roemer are set to graduate this spring with degrees in psychology and health services, respectively. Each will be enrolled in accelerated master’s programs with Johnson studying behavior analysis & therapy and Roemer studying health administration.
