2012-13 Swimming and Diving Media Guide (PDF)       Meet Notes: Alabama Dual Meet (PDF)

CLEVELAND - The Delta State University Statesmen & Lady Statesmen will kick off the 2012-13 season with a dual meet against the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Saturday. Delta State will take to the pool at the Alabama Aquatics Center at 1:00 p.m. for the first meeting between the two schools since 2008.

The last time the Statesmen and Lady Statesmen faced off against the Crimson Tide, Alabama picked up a 171-113 victory over the Statesmen and a 162-110 victory over the Lady Statesmen in the dual meet at the Alabama Aquatics Center.

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.

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.

All-NSISC performers
The Statesmen and Lady Statesmen return seven all conference selections from last season. Lady Statesmen Maria Torres Perez, Dani Meerholz, Stephanie Gonzalez and Heidi Nichols were named to the All-New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference team.

Statesmen Vlad Zinca, Tobias Tombers, and Yvan Nys were also named to the All-NSISC team and return in 2012-13. Last year senior Wolfgang Mairinger is the only 2012 All-NSISC award winner not returning this season.

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.

Finding senior leaders
With 34 freshmen and sophomores filling the lanes for the Statesmen and Lady Statesmen this season, leadership is going to be key for the upper class of swimmers.

Piper Marshburn and Stephanie Gonzalez fill the roll of seniors for the Lady Statesmen. Gonzalez comes off a strong season with a selection to the All-NSISC team. Marshburn has consistently been a top swimmer for the Lady Statesmen over the last three seasons.

On the men's side Christian Barrett and Ethan Barrow return as seniors for the Statesmen in the pool. Will Bryer and Emir Sonmez are seniors on the diving boards as well.

A familiar Tide
The Statesmen and Lady Statesmen have faced off against Alabama several times in program history, despite being in different divisions in the NCAA. Alabama has swam at the DSU Aquatics Center when Ronnie Meyers was coach of the swim programs. Alabama, at one point, held several pool records at the DSU Aquatics Center, and still hold eight top times, seven on the women's side.

The last time the Statesmen and Lady Statesmen faced off against the Crimson Tide, Alabama picked up a 171-113 victory over the Statesmen and a 162-110 victory over the Lady Statesmen in the dual meet at the Alabama Aquatics Center.