RED WAVE RESULTS VS. MONTEVALLO - JANUARY 16, 2025

ARKADELPHIA, Ark.  -  The Henderson State Red Wave sent its seniors out in style as the men's and women's squads both picked up wins over Montevallo on Thursday.

The men boasted a winner in every event en route to a commanding 170.5-29.5 victory, while the women used a strong relay finish to cement a 107.5-85.5 win.

Before races began at Wells Natatorium, the team held a ceremony recognizing its senior members. Honorees included Hunter Bullis, Valerie Grigar, Pearl Himelick, Hayden Jestes, Kiara Pozvai, Tate Sloan, Gabriel Vidal Simoes, and Maddox Tidwell.

HSU's Red Wave men opened up the day with a winning performance of 1:34.39 from the 200 Yard Medley Relay team of Jean Ducastel, Oskar Cebula, Colin Candebat, and Patryk Dabrowski. Efe Ertuzun, Mark Eberhard, Nojus Skirutis, and Oliver Pozvai took second place in the event.

Colton Bennett secured the first individual win of the day in the 1650 Yard Freestyle (16:45.98), with teammate Hayden Jestes claiming the second-place spot.

Senior Gabriel Vidal Simoes locked up a win in the 200 Yard Freestyle with a time of 1:48.35. Tate Sloan (1:49.41) and Pozvai (1:49.62) held the remaining spots on the podium.

In another podium sweep, Dabrowski (21.05 seconds), Vitor Sa (21.61 seconds), and Tristin Ferguson (21.96 seconds) went one-two-three in the 50 Yard Freestyle. Zach Ponder (4:11.36), Candebat (4:12.33), and Ertuzun (4:20.66) repeated the feat in the 400 Yard IM.

As the teams entered the back half of the meet, Candebat (51.26 seconds), Pozvai (54.21 seconds), and Stevie Balistreri (54.52 seconds) posted yet another podium sweep.

Sa (47.96 seconds) and Tate Sloan (49.29 seconds) finished the 100 Yard Freestyle in first and a tie for second, respectively.

During the 100 Yard Backstroke, the Red Wave broke out the brooms again as Ducastel (52.67 seconds). Skirutis (52.70 seconds), and Ertuzun (54.84 seconds) issued a one-two-three finish.

Ponder (4:44.27) took first in the 500 Yard Freestyle, while Bennett (4:52.73) claimed second and another podium spot in a distance event.

In a fitting close to the day's individual races, Cebula (58.25 seconds), Skirutis (1:00.90), and Eberhard (1:01.58) swept the 100 Yard Breaststroke.

On the women's side, freshman Daniela Ruiz started things right with an individual victory in the 1650 Yard Freestyle (18:25.16). Kiara Pozvai then posted a Senior Day win of her own with a time of 2:04.06 in the 200 Yard Freestyle, while teammate Tayden Drake followed close behind in second at 2:08.99.

HSU put up another one-two finish in the 50 Yard Freestyle, with Valerie Grigar (25.76 seconds) and Shelby Travis (26.30 seconds) taking first and second, respectively. The duo finished with the same placement in the 100 Yard Freestyle just minutes later.

The 400 Yard IM saw Emma Crowe top the leaderboard with a time of 4:58.83.

After starting the Red Wave's winning streak earlier in the day, Ruiz claimed the Red Wave's last individual victory of the day in the 500 Yard Freestyle (5:27.69).

Looking to put an exclamation point on an overall team win, the relay squad of Travis, Grigar, Emily Hand, and Crowe proved victorious by completing the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay at the 1:43.33 mark.

Following Thursday's triumphant performances, the Red Wave will travel to Arkansas' state capital to take on Little Rock and Southern Illinois on Friday, January 17.