Swimming and Diving Meet Notes - Meet 2: Western Kentucky (PDF)
CLEVELAND - The Delta State University Statesmen and Lady Statesmen will return to competition this week with a dual meet against the Hilltoppers and Lady Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. on Saturday. Delta State will take to the pool at the Bill Powell Natatorium at 1:00 p.m. for the first time in the Dan'l Murray coaching era.

A FAMILIAR FOE FROM THE PAST
The last time Delta State swam at Western Kentucky came exactly five years from Saturday on Oct. 13, 2007. The Hilltoppers downed the Statesmen 179-104, while the Lady Statesmen fell 170-105 to the Lady Hilltoppers. Western Kentucky and Delta State have shared a past that has involved several close meets in the history of the programs.

THE BREAKDOWN
The Statesmen and Lady Statesmen will look for another fast weekend in the pool after strong swims to open the season last week at the University of Alabama.

LAST TIME OUT
The Statesmen and Lady Statesmen Swimming and Diving teams wrapped up their first meet of the 2012-13 season last Saturday with a strong showing at the University of Alabama. Vlad Zinca and Karl-Richard Hennebach picked up wins in the 100-Butterfly event (50.44) and 100-Backstroke (50.97), respectively. Freshman Hannah Core picked up a win among scoring swimmers in the 200-Individual Medley (2:16.32). Maria Torres finished with a second place finish in the 1000-Freestyle (10:41.80). In diving, Connor Bennett scored a 210.00 to edge out fellow Statesmen Emir Sonmez (204.45) in the 3-meter diving.

DSU HAS FAMILY TIE TO HILLTOPPERS
Delta State holds a close tie to the Hilltoppers men's team as Statesmen assistant coach Benjamin Rayner will coach against his brother on Saturday. Hilltopper swimmer David Rayner, the younger brother of Ben, is in his senior season with Western Kentucky. The brothers, natives of Louisiana went to separate schools and this will be the first time the two will be on separate teams in the same meet.

BIG IMPACT EARLY
Statesmen newcomers Andy McColl and Karl-Richard Hennebach made a big impact in the opening meet of the season. In the duos very first race, they joined Vlad Zinca and Christian Barrett to give Alabama a run in the 200-Medley Relay, finishing with a 1:33.47, the nation's top Division II time, just .19 seconds off the pace of Alabama.

Hennebach went on to win in his next event, the 100-Backstroke. McColl finished with very respectable times in the 50 and 100-Free, both of which sit currently second fastest in Division II.

AT THE TOP OF THE CHARTS
The Statesmen and Lady Statesmen find themselves in the top 10 in Division II in several events early in the season. The Statesmen hold four of the nations top time, with Vlad Zinca holding best time in the 100-Fly (50.44) and 200-Fly (1:50.83).

Freshman Karl-Richard Hennebach holds a national top time in the 100-Backstroke (50.97). The Statesmen also hold a national top time in the 200-Medley Relay (1:33.47).

As a whole, the Lady Statesmen have 15 top-10 times, including two relays. The Statesmen have 14 top-10 times with the one relay.

Lady Statesmen Maria Torres (1000-Free, 10:41.80) and Laura Nichols (100-Breaststroke, 1:08.15) each hold the second fastest times in their respective events. Heidi Nichols sits behind her sister in fourth in the 100-Breaststroke with a 1:08.65. However, the sisters are flipped in the 200-Breaststroke where Heidi (4th, 2:30.40) edges Laura (7th, 2:31.76).

On the men's side, Freshman Andy McColl boasts a pair of second fastest times with a 21.35 in the 50-Free and a 46.54 in the 100-Free events.Sophomore Yvan Nys holds the third fastest time in the 200-Backstroke with a 1:58.78.

Other Delta State freshman in the top 10 include Shawnee Gundry (8th in 50-Free, 25.23), Zeke Basco (3rd in 200-Fly, 1:54.31), Miles Duke (4th in 1000-Free, 10:14.30), Bryce Anderson (6th in 1000-Free, 10:19.13), and Rhett Guinot (7th in 1000-Free, 10:23.73).

NATIONAL SUCCESS
The Statesmen are coming off of a 2011-12 campaign that saw Vlad Zinca qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships. Vlad Zinca led the way for the Statesmen, picking up a fourth place finish in the 200-Butterfly event. Zinca also won the B-Final of the 100-Butterfly event to take ninth place.

The Lady Statesmen had two swimmers qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships last season. Dani Meerholz and Maria Torres both competed in the event held in Mansfield, Texas. Dani Meerholz finished 13th in the 500-Freestyle and 28th in the 200-Freestyle. Maria Torres took 21st place in the 100-Freestyle and 26th in the 1650-Freestyle.

THIRD TIMES THE CHARM
The 2012-13 season is the third year for Dan'l Murray a top the Delta State Swimming and Diving program. Murray has coached four Statesmen and Lady Statesmen, including three current swimmers to the NCAA National Championships in his two seasons. Murray, who has also coached the Delta Aquatic Club's youth team for the last eight years, has coached numerous state champions and record holders during his tenure as an age group coach.

FRESH SUCCESS
Head coach Dan'l Murray brought in 14 freshmen to last year's Swimming and Diving teams and the move paid off really well in 2011-12. Dani Meerholz (Johannesburg, South Africa) and Vlad Zinca (Pitesti, Romania) made big impacts, reaching the NCAA National Championships. Tobias Tombers (Duesseldorf, Germany) and Yvan Nys (Johannesburg, South Africa) were both named to the All-New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference team after performances in the conference meet.

This season, the Statesmen are poised to have another strong recruiting class hit the water. Murray and staff have brought in 20 freshmen, including six Lady Statesmen and 14 Statesmen. The class features top swimmers from 12 different states, as well as internationally from Australia, Canada, and Germany.