Delta State Swimming and Diving Teams Finish Strong at NSISC Championships
Cleveland, Miss. — The Delta State University swimming and diving teams concluded the final day of the NSISC Championships with notable performances, including a NCAA qualifying time, several podium finishes, and multiple consideration times for NCAA Division II. The Lady Statesmen finished second overall with 916 points, while the Statesmen placed third with 875.50 points, according to meet results.
Senior Mateus Franco defended his distance crown in the men’s 1650-yard freestyle, clocking in at 15:25.86. His time met the NCAA Division II invite standard of 15:33.48 and secured a conference title. Franco, a four-time NSISC champion in the event, led from the start and finished strong with a 26.74-second final 50-yard split, helping him earn the victory and boost his postseason prospects.
On the women’s side, senior Jessica Gannon led the Lady Statesmen with a fourth-place finish in the 1650 free in 17:25.39. Freshman Rhianna Foster added a sixth-place showing in 17:38.93, with Julia Maciak and Emma Greene also contributing valuable points in the demanding event.
In sprint events, sophomore Olivia Murphy posted one of the top performances of the meet, finishing second in the women’s 100-yard freestyle in 49.22 seconds. Her time surpassed the NCAA Division II automatic qualifying standard of 49.47 seconds. Murphy’s prelim time of 49.40 seconds also met the A cut, placing her among Division II’s top sprinters. Delta State’s four swimmers in the A final of the event contributed significantly to the team’s score, with Ave Owens (50.79), Zinna Nimander (50.80), Kennedy Cleasant (51.26), all earning NCAA B consideration.
On the men’s side, Ethan Baylin led Delta State in the 100 free with a fourth-place finish in 44.03 seconds, meeting NCAA Division II B consideration standards. Lars Hetzel and others added depth with top finishes, helping the team remain competitive. Additionally, Kaley Davis won the women’s 200 backstroke in 1:59.86, and Eudald Tosquela claimed victory in the men’s 200 breaststroke in 2:01.34. The women’s 4×100 freestyle relay team set a school record with a time of 3:20.71, featuring Murphy, Nimander, Owens, and Aspen Shipp.
With multiple NCAA qualifying standards achieved and strong performances across events, Delta State continues to build momentum heading into the NCAA postseason. The teams’ efforts highlight their readiness for the upcoming national championships, according to meet organizers.
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