TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Delta State University Statesmen swimming and diving team opened its 2021-2022 season against the University of Alabama for the ninth time in the last decade on Friday afternoon at the Don Gambril Olympic Pool.

OFF THE STARTING BLOCKS

• Events: Dual meet with Alabama
• Date/Time: Friday, Sept. 24
• Location: Don Gambril Olympic Pool
• Statesmen: 72 Points
• Get Social: @DeltaStateSWD  

INSIDE THE ROPES

• Emanuel Fava, Savio Ragonesi, Federico Bracco, and Tucker Schroer swam a 1:36.47 to place fourth in the 200 medley relay.
• In the men's 1000 freestyle, Copper Womack swam a 10:11.98 in his collegiate debut to finish in fourth place. Jakob Brougham, Joseph Anderson, and Ben Kelly finished fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively.
• Nathan Garick placed fifth in the 200 freestyle with a 1:46.43, while Alex Miller and Ben Hemming finished sixth and seventh in the same event. 
• Fava raced to fifth (55.05) in the 100 backstroke, while Cuevas (sixth - 56.14) and Jonah Troup (58.68) rounded out the Statesmen competitors.
• Ragonesi's 58.75 led the Statesmen as he finished fourth against the Crimson Tide, while Williams, Tanner Schroer, Gabe Rissman, Conner Shearer, and Matthew Poulin closed in fifth through ninth place in the 100 breaststroke.
• Bracco and Traylor finished back-to-back in the 200 butterfly for the Statesmen.
• Tucker Schroer and Garick also touched the wall back-to-back in the 50 freestyle.
• Fava swam to fifth in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:00.49, and Ragonesi captured fourth place in the 200 breaststroke.
• Broughham, in his collegiate debut, posted a 4:56.39 to close in fifth place in the 500 freestyle.
• Garick secured fourth place overall in the 100 butterfly with a 51.87.
• Williams finished first overall in 2:01.92, while Fava, Ragonesi, Traylor, Troup, and Rissman finished second through sixth.
• In the final event of the day, Delta State's 'A'  relay (1:27.56), 'B' relay (1:33.52), and 'C' relay (1:39.70) teams finished first, second, and third to close out the meet.

ON THE BOARDS:

• Jawone Blankenship finished fourth (286.20) and Levi Ward finished fifth (226.13) for the Statesmen in the one-meter diving competition.
• Blankenship also placed first with a score of 237.38 on the three-meter diving board, while Ward placed second (233.93) and Nick Stark finished third (225.53).

TEAM SCORES

• Alabama - 223
• Delta State - 72

UP NEXT
 
The Lady Statesmen open up the 2021-2022 home competition season at the Ronald G. Mayers Aquatic Center against Rhodes College on Saturday, Oct. 9 at noon.