Delta State University

Mattia Schirru ends his career with Statesmen Swimming & Diving as one of the most decorated student-athletes in Delta State history, as he was named the Charles S. Kerg Male Student-Athlete of the Year . The Nichelino, Italy native is a 19-time NCAA All-American, capturing seven individual New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference titles while earning 11 more as member of a NSISC championship relay during his illustrious four-year career. He currently holds all 10 of the top times performed in the 100-Free at Delta State and nine of the 10 in the 200-Free. This past season, he led the Statesmen to a national runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships after a month earlier leading the team to the its third-straight NSISC title.

Schirru is just the second swimmer in DSU history to top 100 career points earned at the NCAA Championships, breaking the previous record of 110.5 points held by Justin Whitaker (2001-2003) with 128. He also joins Whitaker as the only Statesmen to be named NCAA All-American all four years of his career with a top eight finish in an event.

He is a four-time NCAA Academic All American and NSISC Academic All Conference selection. He graduated with a bachelors degree in psychology with minor in marketing in just three years and will complete his Master of Business Administration with a CIS emphasis in May. During his three-year academic career, he carried an undergraduate GPA of 3.85 and currently holds a 3.77 GPA in graduate school.

Schirru was also highly active within the community, participating in several on campus events each year at Delta State. He served as a volunteer for Delta Aquatic Club swimming & diving events, Trunk or Treat and Delta Down and Dirty. He also raised funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, served a reading Volunteer at local elementary schools, and helped organize the program's involvement in town parades.