Swimming records eight No. 1 times in final day of Gamecock Invite

COLUMBIA, S.C. (November 17, 2023) – The Milligan University swimming teams closed their midseason meet with two school records, eight national No. 1 times and dozens of provisional national standards on the final day of the Gamecock Invitational on Friday.

"Really good meet that puts us where we need to be nationally," said head coach Spencer Scarth. "This will be the fastest competition we see all season, including nationals, and the way we handled it was really well done. Proud of what we've accomplished, but we still have some more work to do to get us to where we want to be."

The Buffs recorded a pair of national No. 1 times in the 400 free relay. Gabby MacPherson, Liz Mahan, Hanne te Velthuis and Samantha van Vuure swam to a school record time of 3:32.17. Paxton Smith, Caleb Fry, Stephen Gilbert and Jayden Bearden went 3:03.31 to post the NAIA's top time.

Fry finished fifth in the championship finals in the 200-yard breaststroke with an NAIA-leading time of 2:0.58. Jack Allen (2:06.85) and Ben Hawkins (2:06.96) also achieved provisional times in the 200 breast.

In the 200-yard backstroke, van Vuure improved upon her own national No. 1 time with a 2:04.13 effort. Tyler Cates also notched a provisional mark of 2:05.82.

Riley Renaud, the defending 1650 free champion, set the NAIA No. 1 time in the event in 17:44.50. The Buffs had four swimmers achieve the provisional standards in the men's mile with Jacob Miller (16:22.23), Peter Gilbert (16:38.43), Michael Cellucci (16:44.48) and Adam Bengtson (17:05.33) hittin the standard.

Gilbert posted the NAIA's No. 1 mark in the men's 200 back (1:49.48) and 200-yard butterfly (1:50.77).

Jayden Bearden (1:54.85), Bengtson (1:55.40), Ben Tomberlin (1:57.18), Simon Popelka (1:55.95) and Peter Gilbert (1:57.58) made it six provisional swimmers for the Buffs in the 200 back. Andre Bazzana (1:51.29), Sergio Tudor (1:54.65), Ethan McCosh (1:55.91), RJ Brumit (1:55.92) and Nate Halloran (1:56.52) rounded out six provisional marks for the Buffs in the 200 fly.

Te Velthuis led a trio of provisional swimmers in the women's 100-yard freestyle with a school record time of 52.73 in the morning session. Liz Mahan (54.39) and Suzy Aguirre (55.39) also achieved provisional standards.

Smith notched the nation's No. 1 time in the men's 100 free (45.42) in the prelims. Cole Brusher (47.08), Tudor (47.52), Nicholas Harviel (48.12) and Riley Gregor (48.38) joined him with provisional times.

Kaylee Williams secured a provisional standard in the 200 breast in 2:23.31. MacPherson hit a provisional mark in the 200 fly in 2:06.97, as did Mary Grace Bitting (2:08.97).

Milligan returns to action Dec. 9 at Lenior Rhyne.