RESULTS: HENDERSON STATE VS. OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN (OCTOBER 12, 2024)
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - The Henderson State Red Wave hosted its first home meet of the 2024-25 season at Wells Natatorium on Saturday. The men's team defeated the Eagles 134-69, while the women's team fell by a score of 121-81.
In a showdown between two of the nation's top 15 teams, the Red Wave men boasted 12 of the meet's top 15 performances. Oskar Cebula provided the team's best individual performance of the day by winning the 100 Yard Breaststroke in 56.91 seconds. Patryk Dabrowski followed close behind with a winning time of 1:42.48 in the 200 Yard Freestyle. Colton Bennett (9:49.35) bested teammate Hayden Jestes (9:49.50) by fifteen hundredths of a second to earn a victory in the 1000 Yard Freestyle event. Accounting for two top 15 performances, Colin Candebat paced the 100 Yard Butterfly at 23.72 seconds. Henderson swept the podium in the 50 Yard Freestyle, with Tate Sloan (21.80 seconds), Oliver Pozvai (21.86 seconds), and Vitor Sa (21.90) finishing in first, second, and third place, respectively.
HSU's 200 Yard Medley Relay team made up of Jean Ducastel, Cebula, Candebat, and Luka Herceg won with a time of 1:34.98. Pozvai, Sa, Sloan, and Debrowski also took first in the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay by posting a team time of 3:11.92.
On the women's side, Kiara Pozvai earned a Division II B-cut with a first-place time of 51.21 seconds in the 100 Yard Freestyle. She also won the 200 Yard Freestyle by recording a time of 1:57.93.
In a tight 1000 Yard Freestyle race, Red Wave freshman Daniella Ruiz (11:10.01) finished four hundredths of a second ahead of Oklahoma Christian's Grace Bourque (11:10.05) to claim an individual victory. With a time of 2:14.59, fellow freshman Emma Crowe topped the leaderboard in the 200 Yard IM. Valerie Grigar (50 Yard Free, 100 Yard Free) and Shelby Travis (100 Yard Free) also posted top 10 performances at the meet.
Following Saturday's meet, the Red Wave will have more than a week to prepare for its next meet at Wells Natatorium against Texas Permian Basin. Races will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24.
