Tunica Invitational Complete Results

TUNICA, Miss. - The Delta State University Swimming and Diving teams took the overall competition at the Tunica Invitational on Saturday. The Statesmen and Lady Statesmen outscored Eastern Illinois 1795.5 – 1628.5.
 
Stephanie Gonzalez (4:41.98) and Maria Torres Perez (4:42.40) got things going for the Lady Statesmen in the 400-Medley, taking the top two spots. Gonzalez picked up her first of two event wins on the day.
 
Gonzalez also won the 100-Butterfly (1:00.11) in another one-two finish for the Lady Statesmen as Laura Nichols finished second (1:02.52).
 
Nichols also had an event win on the day, swimming a 25.68 in the 50-Free.
 
In the Men's 50-Free, William Iles (21.84) and Christian Barrett (22.56) finished first and second. Iles capped off a strong weekend individually as he was also the leadoff of to 400-Free Relay team, along with Yvan Nys, Jared Meredith, and Vlad Zinca, that took first (3:15.92).
 
Barrett, Ben Vaughan, Rick Martin, and Jake Blegen finished second in the 400-Free Relay, giving the Statesmen a one-two finish in the event.
 
Zinca continued to stay at a top level through the break, as he won the 400-Medley (4:12.65). Tobias Tombers (4:16.21) and Ben Vaughan (4:16.72) finished second and third in the event, giving the Statesmen a sweep of the podium positions.
 
Zinca also had an impressive second place finish (9:54.14) in the 1000-Free, less than four seconds off the pace of Wolfgang Mairinger (9:50.84). Zinca had not competed in the event before Saturday.
 
Statesmen Vaughan (9:54.22), Chris Ashton (10:12.54) and Nys (10:21.83) rounded out the top five, giving the Statesmen a larger amount of points that helped solidify first place in the team competition.
 
Ashton also showed his speed in the 200-Free (1:50.19), edging out Meredith (1:50.24) in one of the closest swims of the day.
 
In the Women's 1000-Free, Torres (10:47.84) led the way as four Lady Statesmen finished in the top four spots. Rebekah Napier-Jameson finished second with a lifetime personal best (10:59.80). Piper Marshburn (10:59.98) and Elizabeth Frye (11:09.42) finished third and fourth.
 
The Delta State Swimming and Diving team will host Ouachita Baptist Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Delta State Aquatics Center.