CLEVELAND, Miss. -- The Delta State University Statesmen swimming and diving team secured its fifth consecutive New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference Championship on Saturday night at the Ronald G. Mayers Aquatic Center.
OFF THE STARTING BLOCKS
Events: NSISC Championships - Night 4
Date/Time: Saturday, February 19
Location: Ronald Mayers Aquatic Center
Statesmen: 1,072 Points
Get Social: @DeltaStateSWD
NSIDE THE LANE LINES
- The Statesmen secured first and second place in the 1650-yard freestyle, as Jakob Brougham (1st - 15:41.58) and Ben Kelly (2nd - 15:54.02) got the meet started with gold and silver.
- Federico Bracco placed second in the 100-yard freestyle (44.60), while Tucker Schroer (44.61) finished third overall.
- Berk Ozkul won the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:45.78, and Emanuel Fava finished second in 1:48.99.
- In the 200-yard breaststroke, Savio Ragonesi (2:00.75) successfully defended his title in the event with an NCAA 'B' qualification standard.
- The 400-yard freestyle relay team of AJ Williams, Fava, Bracco, and Schroer placed second with a time of 3:01.22.
NOTABLES
- Kyle Friesenhahn was named NSISC Men's Diving Coach of the Year.
- Bracco was named NSISC Men's Swimmer of the Meet, marking the fifth year in a row a DSU swimmer has accomplished the feat.
- Jawone Blankenship was named NSISC Men's Diver of the Meet, the sixth Statesmen diver to earn the honor.
- The men's team won their fifth straight conference championship. This put them in company with the Delta State women's basketball team as the only other DSU sport team to win five conference titles in a row (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990).
- DSU won the conference championship by 271 points. This is the fourth-largest margin of victory in conference history.
- In the 100-yard backstroke, Delta State had a 1-2-3 sweep. The 29th overall event sweep in conference history.
- The title marks the 13th overall conference team title for the men's team. Henderson State is next closest with 10 titles.
- The win marked the seventh conference team championship for Coach Dan'l Murray, moving him into second all-time along with Coach Doug Grooms of Missouri S&T.
UP NEXT
The Statesmen now prepare for the NCAA Championships to be held in Greensboro, N.C. March 9-12.
