CLEVELAND, Mississippi – The Delta State University swimming and diving teams return to action on Saturday, Jan. 9 for a 1 p.m. meet with NSISC rival Ouachita Baptist at the DSU Aquatic Center.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
 
The No. 7 Statesmen broke eight school records in a second place finish at the DSU Christmas Invite.
 
The No. 7 Lady Statesmen claimed four school records, as they also finished in second at the DSU Christmas Invite.
 
ABOUT THE STATESMEN:
 
Mattia Schirru's time of 43.50 in the 100-Freestyle (400-Freestyle relay split) is currently No. 1 in NCAA Division II. His time of 1:37.40 in the 200-Freestyle (800-Freestyle relay split) is fifth best, and his 20.24 in the 50-Freestyle is the 10th best in the country.
 
Alex Peach holds the best time in NCAA Division II in both the 100 (53.07) and 200-Breaststroke (1:55.65). Matteo Fraschi has the fourth-best time in the 200-Breaststroke (1:58.18) and the seventh-best in the 100 (54.25).
 
Nathan Sawicki's time of 9:16.21 in the 1000-Freestyle ranks fourth, while his 15:29.38 in the 1650-Freestyle is good enough for sixth.
 
Adam Charlton turned in a 1:48.54 in 200-Butterfly at the DSU Christmas Invite, which is the 10th-best in school history, and is good enough for sixth in NCAA Division II.
 
All five Statesmen relay teams are currently ranked in the top-six in NCAA Division II.
 
Schirru, Fraschi, Fabrice Wendel and Dylon Johnson own the nation's second best time (2:56.04) in the 400-Freestyle relay.
 
The 200 (Cody Lavoie, Fraschi, Wendel and Schirru) and 400-Medley relay (Lavoie, Fraschi, Wendel and Schirru) teams rank third in the nation. The 200-Medley relay team has posted a time of 1:29.42, while the 400-Medley relay team turned in a 3:14.02 at the DSU Christmas Invite.
 
Schirru, Wendel, Nick Zorn and Johnson rank fifth (1:20.57) in the 200-Freestyle.
 
The team of Schirru, Johnson, Lavoie and Wendel own the sixth-best time (6:37.32) in the 800-Freestyle relay.
 
Nic Martin and Bill Ashwell achieved their first career NCAA qualifying standard on the 1-Meter board at the DSU Christmas Invite. Matthew Swaine and Eli McBride have earned the standard multiple times this season. All four Statesmen will represent DSU at the NCAA Pre-Qualifying Meet at the NCAA Championships.
 
DSU was picked to repeat as NSISC champions. The Statesmen claimed all possible first place votes. Max Pendall, Makis Jorgensen, Fabrice Wendel, Nick Zorn, Fraschi, Lavoie and Swaine were named Preseason All-NSISC.
 
 
ABOUT THE LADY STATESMEN:
 
Anastasia Klyarovskaya's time of 54.86 in the 100-Backstroke is currently No. 1 in NCAA Division II. Her time of 2:00.86 in the 200-Backstroke is the sixth-best in the country.
 
Melanie Tombers ranks second in NCAA Division II in the 400-IM (4:18.13), fifth in the 1000-Freestlye (10:12.50) and eighth in the 1650-Freestyle (17:03.77).
 
Chloe Bennett is currently tied for seventh in NCAA Division II with a 23.43 in the 50-Freestyle.
 
Kirsten Stroven's school record (1:03.36) in the 100-Breastsroke is the ninth-best time in the country.
 
Kierstin Page ranks eighth in the 200-Backstroke (2:01.51) and the 400-IM (4:25.07).
 
Three Lady Statesmen relay teams have top-five times. The 200-Medley relay team of Klyarovskaya, Stroven, Danielle Dugas and Bennett ranks second with a time of 1:42.48. The same team ranks third in the 400-Medley relay with a time of 3:44.19.
 
Hannah Core, Klyarovskaya, Celina Batsel and Bennett own the third-fastest time (3:25.61) in the 400-Freestyle relay.
 
Batsel, Bennett, Klyarovskaya and Tombers rank sixth with a time of 7:31.14 in the 800-Freestyle relay.
 
Hailey Leonard has achieved the NCAA Qualifying twice this season, as she finished with a Six-Dive score of 255.30 at Henderson State/Ouachita Baptist. Leonard picked up her second qualifying score of the year with a 401.20 in prelims on the One-Meter board at the DSU Christmas Invite.
 
DSU was picked to finish second in the NSISC Preseason Coaches Poll. Page, Bennett, Klyarovskaya and Tombers were named Preseason All-NSISC.
 
 
SERIES NOTE:
 
Both teams defeated Ouachita Baptist on the road earlier this season. The Statesmen claimed all but two events in a 237-52 victory, while the Lady Statesmen claimed first place in each event, to win 231-51.