PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Delta State University Swimming & Diving program opened the 2026 New South Intercollegiate Swimming Conference Championships with a strong showing on Tuesday night, highlighted by a pair of podium finishes and a narrow race in the team standings after Day 1.
Women: Statesmen Sit Second After Relay Action
The Lady Statesmen wasted no time making their presence felt in the pool, earning a runner-up finish in the 4x200-yard freestyle relay to open the championship.
The quartet of Kennedy Cleasant, Rhianna Foster, Kaley Davis, and Aspen Shipp combined for a time of 7:28.75, securing second place in the A-Final and 34 team points. Cleasant led off with a strong 1:52.77 split, while Shipp anchored the relay in 1:50.04 to hold off the competition and keep Delta State in striking distance of first-place West Florida.
Delta State also picked up valuable depth points in the B-Final, as Ave Owens, Janne Bodemer, Jessica Gannon, and Mikayla Kloth turned in a time of 7:35.90, finishing ninth overall.
Through two events, the Lady Statesmen sit in second place with 52 points, just two points behind the University of West Florida (54). Ouachita Baptist (44) and Henderson State (40) round out the team standings.
Men: Podium Finish Keeps Statesmen in Contention
On the men's side, Delta State earned a third-place finish in the 4x200-yard freestyle relay to close out the evening.
The team of Austin Huffhines, Adam Rickert, Lars Hetzel, and Mateus Franco clocked a 6:40.84 in the A-Final. Huffhines opened in 1:38.66, while Franco delivered a 1:38.43 anchor leg as the Statesmen secured 32 critical team points in a tightly contested race.
Delta State's B relay squad of Kacper Mochnal, Kostantin Ilijic, Ashtin Wallace, and Sergio Rodriguez Rodriguez added depth with a time of 6:54.07, finishing 11th overall.
After the first day of competition, the Statesmen stand third in the men's team standings with 44 points, trailing Ouachita Baptist (54) and Henderson State (52).
Up Next
The 2026 NSISC Swimming & Diving Championships continue Wednesday with preliminary heats in the morning followed by finals in the evening as Delta State looks to close the narrow gap in both team races.
