Meet NotesCLEVELAND, Miss.- The Delta State University men's and women's swim teams welcome two programs into the DSU Aquatics Center for the final home meet of the season before hosting the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference conference finals. Delta State will host Henderson State's men's and women's program and West Florida's women's program on Friday, Jan. 16 at 4 p.m.
With this being the final regular season meet at home; head coach
Dan'l Murray and his staff will recognize five seniors for their dedication over the last four years to the program. This class includes:
Dani Meerholz,
Yvan Nys,
Tobias Tombers,
Hannah Williams, and
Vlad Zinca.
Meerholz, a native of Johnnnesburg, South Africa, has contributed four years to the program. As a freshman she qualified for the National Championship in the 200- Freestyle and 500- Freestyle. She has many accolades in her career at Delta State. During the 2014 season she was named Honorable Mention All-American in several events (200-Freestyle, 500-Freestyle, 800- Freestyle Relay), a member of the All-NSISC team in the 1,000-Freestyle, 500-Freestyle, and 200-Freestyle, a member of the NSISC All-Academic team, and received honorable mention to the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America team. Meerholz holds the school record for the 200-Freestyle event (1:50.77).
Nys has also been a member of the team for four seasons and is a native of Johannesburg, South Africa. Last season Nys set four personal best in individual events (100-Freestlye, 50-Backstroke, 100-Backstroke, and the 200-Backstroke). In the 2014 season he earned First-Team All- American in the 400-Medley Relay, Honorable Mention All-American (100-Backstroke, 200-Medley relay, 800- Freestyle Relay), a member of the NSISC All-Conference team (100-Backstroke and 200-Backstroke), the NSISC All-Academic team, and a member of the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team. Nys holds the school record for the 200-Backstroke (1:46.53), 200 (pool record) and 400-Medley relay (1:28.40, 3:13.28) and the 800-Freestyle Relay (6:36.27).
Tombers, a native of Duesseldorf, Germany, is also a four-year senior. During his freshman season her swam two personal best marks at the NSISC conference meet and was named a member of the All-NSISC team. His next two years he continued to set PR's in several events and earned a spot on the 2014 NSISC All-Academic team.
Williams, a four-year senior from Talladega, Alabama, as a freshman hit fsix personal records, including three at the NSISC championships. Last season she set two personal bests in the 50-Freestyle and the 100-Butterfly.
The final senior to be recognized on Friday will be Zinca. He is from Pitesti, Romania. As a freshman, he earned All-America status after placing fourth in the 200- Butterfly event at the NCAA National Championship meet. He was also named the NSISC Male High Point Athlete at NSISC Conference Championships after winning three championships at the event and a member of the NSISC Championship team. Last season he earned 2014 First-Team All-American (100-Butterfly, 200-Butterfly, 400-Medley Relay), Honorable Mention All-American (200-Medley Relay, 200-Freestyle Relay, 800-Freestyle Relay), All-New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference (200-Butterfly), NSISC All-Academic Team, and College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America Team. Zinca owns the school records in the 100-Butterfly (47.81), the 200-Butterfly (1:47.20, pool record) and as a member of the 200 (pool record), 400 and 800-Freestyle Relay team (1:21.03, 3:00.36, 6:36.27).
