Paulk, Rytting Post Top-Five National Times as Red Wave Men Lead Little Rock Fall Invite

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — River Paulk and Hunter Rytting recorded two of the top times in NCAA Division II this season as Henderson State's Red Wave men's swimming team took a commanding lead on the opening day of the Little Rock Fall Invite on Friday.

Paulk posted a time of 19.94 seconds in the semifinals of the 50-yard freestyle, tying for the fourth-fastest mark in Division II this season. Rytting added a time of 3:54.80 in the 400-yard individual medley, placing him third in the nation this season.

Paulk followed his semifinal performance with a victory in the 50 freestyle final, touching the wall in 20.02 seconds. He finished more than a second ahead of Delta State's Austin Huffhines, who placed second in 21.27.

Rytting led a sweep of the top three spots in the men's 400 IM. His time of 3:54.80 was nearly nine seconds faster than his previous seed time of 4:03.68. Bartu Akin finished second in 4:13.75, while Emiliano Pina took third in 4:15.14.

The Red Wave men captured six of the seven event titles contested Friday, including both relay events: Fabio Capocci, Avery Henke, Noel Kis and Paulk opened the meet with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay, combining for a time of 1:29.00. Henderson State's second relay team of Curtis Malone, Cam Mask, Colin Candebat and Mate Hosszu finished with a time of 1:30.99.

Kis claimed the 50-yard butterfly title with a time of 21.96 seconds after posting a 21.92 in the semifinals. Henke added a victory in the 50-yard breaststroke, finishing in 25.13 seconds after recording a semifinal time of 25.17.

Capocci earned a runner-up finish in the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 22.97 seconds.

Henderson State closed the men's relay competition with another victory as Kis, Oliver Pozvai, Hosszu and Paulk combined for a time of 3:02.20 in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The Red Wave's second relay team of Bona Benedek, Candebat, Reid Remmert and Tristen Ferguson recorded a time of 3:03.68.

On the women's side, Joanna Miller led Henderson State with a runner-up finish in the 50-yard butterfly, posting a time of 25.11 seconds. Miller improved on her semifinal mark of 25.44. Emma Crowe earned third place in the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 27.00 seconds, while Monroe Chittum took third in the 50-yard breaststroke in 31.11. Emily Hand added a third-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 24.78 seconds.

The Red Wave women also earned third-place finishes in both relay events: Crowe, Ryleigh Wells, Miller and Audrey Cash combined for a time of 1:46.26 in the 200-yard medley relay. Miller, Shelby Travis, Hand and Cash finished the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:32.78.

Henderson State returns to the pool Saturday for the final day of the Little Rock Fall Invite.

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Players Mentioned

Emma Crowe: Back / Breast; 5' 8"; Sophomore

Emily Hand: Sprint Free / Fly; 5' 8"; Sophomore

Joanna Miller: Back / IM / Free; 5' 11"; Sophomore

Shelby Travis: Free / Back / Fly; 5' 8"; Sophomore

Colin Candebat: Free / Back / Breast / Fly / IM; 5' 11"; Sophomore

Emiliano Pina: Distance Free; 5' 11"; Junior

Bartu Akin: 6' 1"; Freshman

Hunter Rytting: 5' 11"; Freshman

Avery Henke: 5' 11"; Junior

Cam Mask: 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Emma Crowe
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: Back / Breast

Emily Hand
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: Sprint Free / Fly

Joanna Miller
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: Back / IM / Free

Shelby Travis
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: Free / Back / Fly

Colin Candebat
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: Free / Back / Breast / Fly / IM

Emiliano Pina
: 5' 11"; Junior
: Distance Free

Bartu Akin
: 6' 1"; Freshman

Hunter Rytting
: 5' 11"; Freshman

Avery Henke
: 5' 11"; Junior

Cam Mask
: 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned

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