Final DSU Christmas Invitational Results
CLEVELAND - Trailing by three points, 503.5 to 500.5, to the University of Tampa Spartans, the Delta State University Statesmen Swimming & Diving team rallied to claim a thrilling 21.5 point victory, 810.5 to 789.5, in the annual Christmas Invitational at the DSU Aquatics Center. The Lady Statesmen (474) finished fourth overall behind Rice University (907) in the women's meet.
"I could not be more proud of the team today than I am right now," stated coach Brian Hein, DSU head coach. "Our guy's really answered the bell today and the ladies competed from the start."
The Statesmen finished first with 810.5 points followed by Tampa (789), New Orleans (703.5) and Incarnate Word (465).
Freshman standout
Adam Dajka jumped started the day for the Statesmen with the win in the 200-Backstroke. The Budapest, Hungary native claimed the win with a D2 A-cut time of 1:49.48.
Senior All-American
Justin Ingvoldstad kept the momentum on the side of the Statesmen in the 100-Free, cruising to the victory with a D2 A-cut 45.43.
Adam Milecz, a freshman from Budapest, Hungary, finished second with a D2 B-cut 45.96.
In the 200-Breaststroke, Waldemar Juschin, a junior from Frankfurt, Germany, claimed a second place finish with a 2:08.12, good enough for a D2 B-cut.
The Statesmen sealed the Christmas Invitational title with a blistering victory in the 400-Free Relay.
Justin Ingvoldstad,
Adam Dajka,
Cameron Weidele and
Adam Milecz sped past the competition by almost two seconds, recording a D2 A-cut 3:03.74.
On the women's side, the Lady Statesmen turned in a solid final day of competition, but the Owls of Rice University had claimed a near insurmountable lead en route to the Christmas Invitational win.
Rice tallied 907 points to cruise to the win. Tampa finished second with 652.5 points followed by New Orleans (518), Delta State (474), Incarnate Word (303.5) and Arkansas-Little Rock (181).
The day started off with one of the best finishes in Christmas Invitational history, as Ellie Eschelman of Tampa hit the boards just ahead of DSU's
Hannah Willis, a senior All-American from Pensacola, Fla., in the 200-Back 2:03.51 to 2:03.53, both D2 A-cut times. Willis' 2:03.53 set a personal best and established a new school record in the 200-Back.
Sophomore standout
Sam Fajardo claimed the win in the 100-Free with a D2 B-cut 52.27.
Senior All-American
Amanda Guidry continued her run at DSU with a D2 A-cut victory in the 200-Butterfly (2:04.88).
The Statesmen and Lady Statesmen return to action on Jan. 8, 2010 at the Tunica Invitational. DSU will compete at home on Jan. 16, 2010 versus Ouachita Baptist at the DSU Aquatics Center.