FINAL RESULTS: Ouachita Baptist at Delta State (1.15.11)

CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Delta State University Statesmen and Lady Statesmen fell Saturday in a dual meet to the Tiger Sharks of Ouachita Baptist University at the DSU Aquatics Center on "Senior Day."  Despite dropping the meet, both squads were in the thick of it until the very end. 

OBU edged the Lady Statesmen 127-101, while the Statesmen were topped by the Tiger Sharks 135-70.  Saturday's meet was the final regular season competition until the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference Championships. 

"Both teams competed from the jump today," stated DSU head coach Dan'l Murray.  "Our ladies had several chances today and the guys just missed out on some opportunities to add some points.  It was a good chance to start preparations for next months NSISC Championships."

       Women - Team Scores                             
            Place School                                          Points
       ===================================================================
                1 Ouachita Baptist University        OBU-AR          127 
                2 Delta State University                 DSU-MS          101 
 
        Men - Team Scores                              
            Place School                                          Points
       ===================================================================
                1 Ouachita Baptist University        OBU-AR          135 
                2 Delta State University                 DSU-MS           70


The Lady Statesmen made a splash in the first event of the day with a victory in the 400-Medley Relay.  All-American Alyce Meador, Heidi Nichols, Maria Torries and Mark Katherine Waddell combined to record a 4:01.60 to edge OBU's A-squad by over four seconds. 

All-American Mary Katherine Waddell gave the Lady Statesmen their second win of the day with a victory in the 200-Free.  The junior from Florence, Ala., edged OBU's Megan Young 1:57.34 to 1:57.58. 

Waddell took her third victory in the 100-Free, downing OBU's Ruth Megli 54.41-55.55. 

Freshman standout Maria Torres blistered the competion in 500-Indvidual Medley, besting the field by almonst 10 seconds.  The Lima, Peru native recorded a 5:11.16 in the win. 

The tandem of Heidi Nichols and Amiee Blegen finished 1-2 in the 200-Breaststroke for the Lady Statesmen as well.  Nichols hit the boards in 2:26.63, while Blegen was right behind with a 2:38.22. 

Hannah Mantooth also had a great day on the diving boards for the Lady Statesmen, finishing second in the 1-Meter and 3-Meter events.

The Statesmen also proved to be a formidible opponent for the Tiger Sharks with All-American Wolfgang Mairinger serving notice to OBU in the 1000-Free.  The Traun, Austria native claimed the win in the event by almost 35 seconds, 9:35.36 to 10:10.61 over OBU's Will Wood. 

Mairinger made it 2-for-2 with the win in the 500-Free with his second victory over Wood posting a 4:40.4 to 4:52.99. 

Joey Morgan narrowly missed out on the win in the 200-Free, falling to OBU's Marcu Schlesinger1:45.66 to 1:46.66. 

In one of the tightest contests of the day, OBU's Tim Ferris (21.43) edged a trio of Statesmen for the win in the 50-Free.  Hank Stanton (22.16), Aaron Casper (22.45) and Bear Iles (22.53) finished second through fourth all by less than 1.1 seconds. 

Delta State also honored its 2010-11 senior class for their accomplishments in the pool on Saturday.  The Lady Statesmen recognized Aimee Blegen, Caitlin Dudley and Alyce Meador.  Tucker Marshburn, Ben Rayner and Zach Stein were recognized by the Statesmen.