Top Times
2020-21 (Shortened season due to COVID)
• Competed in seven meets during the 2021 season
• Placed top-five 14 times, including nine first-place finishes
• Competed in three events at the Horizon League Championships, placing top-five in all three events
• Horizon League Champion in the 100-yard breaststroke
• Member of the 400 and 200 medley relay Horizon League Championship team, finishing in 3:40.32 and 1:40.26
2019-2020
• Tallied 26 top-five finishes
• Ranked third at Oakland and in the Horizon League in points
• Placed first in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:12.35), first in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.81) and third in the 200-YARD individual medley (2:01.11) at the Horizon League Championships (Feb 19-20)
• Placed 12th in the 50-yard breaststroke (28.81) at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship (Mar 12)
2018-2019
• Horizon League Champion in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.21), setting a new school record
• Horizon League Champion in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:14.74)
• Horizon League runner-up in the 200 IM (2:02.92)
• Part of the Horizon League Champion 400-yard medley relay that set a new league and school record with a time of 3:39.45
• Part of the Horizon League Champion 200-yard medley relay (1:39.63)
• Placed fifth in the 50-yard breaststroke (28.52) and eighth in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:17.64) at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship
• Member of the 400-yard medley relay that placed third (3:39.90) at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship
• Member of the 200-yard freestyle relay that placed seventh (1:32.88) at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship
• Member of the 400-yard freestyle relay that placed 12th (3:25.42) at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship
• Also competed in the 50-yard freestyle (24.48) during the season
2017-18
• Horizon League Freshman of the Year
• Horizon League runner-up in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:18.59
• Part of the Horizon League Champion 200-yard medley relay that set a new league and school record with a time of 1:39.47
• Part of the Horizon League Champion 400-yard medley relay that set a new league and school record with a time of 3:40.85
• Placed third in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.89), seventh in the 200-yard IM (2:04.51)
• Also competed in the 50-yard freestyle (24.37) during the season
HIGH SCHOOL
• 2015 and 2016 Division I State Champion in the 100 breast
• Eight-time All-American
• 10-time All-State
• All-Area in 2015 and 2016
• All-League four straight years
• Member of the 2016 Division I State Championship team at Rockford
• Two-time team MVP
PERSONAL
Full Name: Sydney Lena McDowell
Parents: Scott and Sandy McDowell
Siblings: Colin
- Mother, Sandy, played basketball at Illinois State
WHY MCDOWELL CHOSE OAKLAND
1. Excellent academic and athletic reputation
2. Outstanding team atmosphere
3. State-of-the-art facilities
