CLEVELAND, Miss. – Delta State University Swimming & Diving is gearing up for "Senior Day," as the No. 3 ranked Statesmen and No. 16 ranked Lady Statesmen welcome Emory University (M/W) and the University of West Florida (W) to the Aquatics Center on Saturday, Jan. 20. The meet is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.  
 
"We're excited to host Emory and West Florida for Senior Day," head coach Dan'l Murray said. "After last week's meet with Henderson State was canceled due to winter weather, it's imperative we make the most of this weekend's meet as we start preparing for the upcoming New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference Championships."
 
Prior to Saturday's meet, Delta State will honor its five seniors, including: William Ashwell, Jack Hene, Cody Lavoie, Eli McBride, and Hailey Leonard. Senior Day events will begin at 10:40 a.m.
 
"This senior class is very special to me," Murray added. "We've made great strides over the last four years and they have a lot to do with how we've grown as a program."
 
Saturday's opponents are both nationally ranked. The Argonauts of West Florida enter the meet ranked No. 10 in the latest College Swim Coaches Association/TYR Top 25. Emory is ranked in the top five in both the men's (No. 3) and women's (No. 2) NCAA Division III rankings.
 
"Saturday's meet will offer some exciting races in both the men's and women's meets," Murray said. "I hope to see you all on Saturday for Senior Day versus Emory and West Florida."
 
OFF THE BLOCK: LADY STATESMEN
Lucia Martelli (6-1/Fr.) enters this weekend's meet with two top five times in NCAA Division II. The Bologna, Italy native, swam a 55.21 in the 100-Back and a 54.30 in the 1`00-Fly, both ranking fifth in all of NCAA DII, at the Christmas Invitational on Dec. 18, 2017.
 
Caroline Jouisse (5-9/Jr.) currently ranks ninth in the 1000-Free after swimming a 10:16.20 at the Christmas Invitational. The Louveciennes, France, native is looking to return to the podium once again at the upcoming NCAA DII Championships.
 
DSU also turned in the fourth fastest time in the nation in the 800-Free Relay during the annual holiday meet. Celina Batsel (5-6/Jr.), Nadia Tudo Cubells (5-6, Jr.) joined Martelli and Jouisse to claim the 800-Free Relay victory with a time of 7:27.71 back on Dec. 18, 2017.
 
OFF THE BLOCK: STATESMEN
After claiming the team victory at the Christmas Invitational, the No. 3-ranked Statesmen bring 17 of the fastest times in all of NCAA DII into Saturday's showdown with Emory. Led by Nathan Sawicki (6-3/Jr.), who owns the top time in the 1650-Free (15:23.58), Delta State is looking to claim their fourth dual meet win in a row versus the Eagles.
 
Mattia Schirru (6-0/Jr.) and newcomer Giulio Brugnoni (6-0/Fr.) hold the sixth and seventh fastest time respectively in the nation in the 50-Free entering Friday's meet. Schirru (20.10), who also ranks fourth with a time of 1:36.55 in the 200-Free and third in the 100-Free (43.56), and Brugnoni (20.15) earned their times at the Christmas Invitational.
 
Brugnoni, a native of Perugia, Italy, has burst onto the NCAA DII scene, boasting top 10 times in the 100-Back (2^nd/46.72), 200-Back (4^th/1:45.39) and 100-Fly (5^th/47.66).
 
In the 1000-Free, DSU holds two of the top 10 times in the country, as Sawicki sits fourth (9:10.38) and Michael Maly (5-7, Soph.) is 10^th (9:24.22).
 
Cody Lavoie (5-10/Sr.) is making the most of his final campaign with the Statesmen, ranking fourth in the 200-Individual Medley (1:48.30) and seventh in the 400-IM (3:52.81).
 
On the relay front, the Statesmen will be entering Saturday's clash with Emory holding the fastest time in the nation in the 400-Medley. Adam Charlton, Brugnoni, Schirru and Lavoie swam a 3:13.63 to capture the top spot in the land during the Christmas Invitational on Dec. 18, 2017.
 
DSU also features top 10 times in the 200-Free (3^rd/1:20.43), 400-Free (3^rd/2:57.41), 800-Free (6:35.92), and 200-Medley (4^th/1:27.99).