WOMEN'S SCHEDULE | MEN'S SCHEDULE
CLEVELAND, Miss. -- The Delta State University swimming and diving teams open the 2016-17 campaign with a road meet at the University of Alabama on Friday Sept. 9 at the Alabama Aquatic Center.
SEC Network Plus will stream the meet live, beginning at 4 p.m.
The Statesmen, who are coming off their best NCAA Championship finish (fifth) in school history, also claimed their second straight NSISC Championship.
DSU returns six-of-nine members from the team that competed at the NCAA Championships, including
Mattia Schirru, who was named NSISC Swimmer of the Year after claiming each of his individual races (50-Freestyle, 100-Freestyle, 200-Freestyle) at the NSISC Championships.
Schirru wrapped up a stellar freshman campaign at the NCAA Championships where he earned six All-American honors for top-eight finishes in the 100-Freestyle, 200-Freestyle relay, 400-Freestyle relay, 800-Freestyle relay, 200-Medley relay and the 400-Medley relay.
Also returning are First Team All-Americans
Alex Peach,
Matteo Fraschi,
Fabrice Wendel and
Cody Lavoie. Peach was the NCAA runner-up in the 100 and 200-Breaststroke, while Fraschi earned fourth and sixth in the same races.
The Statesmen roster features seven newcomers, including six freshmen
.
Murray will rely on eight upperclassmen, including three seniors.
Five divers round out the DSU roster, including returnees
William Ashwell,
Eli McBride,
Nic Martin and
Ryan Moore. Ashwell, McBride and Martin each earned a trip to the NCAA Prequalifying Meet at the NCAA Championships last season.
The Statesmen have four meets scheduled at the DSU Aquatic Center, including the Christmas Invitational (Dec. 10-13) and the NSISC Championships (Feb. 15-18, 2016).
The Lady Statesmen return six-of-eight members from their team that recorded the second-highest finish in school history (10th) at the NCAA Championships, and 12 members that helped lead the way to a runner-up finish at the NSISC Championships.
Melanie Tombers returns after earning three All-American honors, as she finished in the top eight at the NCAA Championships in three individual events (1650-Freestyle, 400-IM, 200-Breaststroke). Her teammate,
Kierstin Page, was sixth in the 200-Backstroke. DSU also returns three-of-four members (
Anastasia Klyarovskaya,
Kirsten Stroven and
Chloe Bennett) of the 200 and 400-Medley relay teams that finished in the top-eight at the NCAA Championships.
The women's roster includes eight newcomers that will have the opportunity to contribute in various areas of the lineup.
The Lady Statesmen have 11 upperclassmen on the roster, including three juniors and eight seniors.
Divers
Cathryn Laird,
Hailey Leonard return for DSU, while newcomers
Kenzie Blomquist,
Casey Moore and
Grace Veselits will look to contribute. Leonard achieved the qualifying score for the NCAA Championships during her freshman campaign.
The Lady Statesmen have four meets scheduled at the DSU Aquatic Center, including the Christmas Invitational (Dec. 10-13) and the NSISC Championships (Feb. 15-18, 2016).