Men’s swimming takes AAC crown, women narrow second

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (Feb. 13, 2021) – Head Coach Spencer Scarth won Appalachian Athletic Conference men's coach of the year, freshman Stephen Gilbert won AAC men's swimmer of the year, and the No. 7 Milligan University men's swimming team won the AAC Championship Saturday at the Kingsport Aquatic Center. The No. 9 Milligan women landed runner-up to No. 4 Asbury by 12 points.

Milligan won four individual AAC titles and two relay titles to wrap up the final day. It helped the men expand their lead over No. 4 Asbury and win by a 64 ½ point margin (818.5-754). Milligan's women held a narrow lead of seven points after day two but saw the Eagles take the women's crown, 740-728.

"Our team's goals going into this season were to get the conference title," Scarth said. "This was something neither team had ever accomplished nor had we ever won a relay or a men's individual title. All of those things happened this weekend."

In all, Milligan won 19 events, including 10 on the men's side and nine on the women's side. Gilbert led the men as a part of eight titles. Tyler Cates and Gabby MacPherson led the women as a part of five titles.

"It's really a testament to the willpower and perseverance of this group in the face of being overlooked and overshadowed time and again," Scarth added. "We overcame a seemingly insurmountable amount of obstacles, COVID-19 and otherwise, and I could not be more proud of all that we accomplished this season."

Gilbert highlights men's side with eight AAC titles

Gilbert won three individual AAC titles and was part of five relay titles on the way to winning AAC swimmer of the year honors. He captured an individual title each day, including Saturday's 200 backstroke by over two seconds, also setting his third AAC championship record with a Milligan record time of 1:49.17.

"Stephen had an exceptional meet, despite really only having a week to prepare as we found out the national championships were not happening just last week," Scarth said. "He not only won the swimmer of the meet, but won in a landslide and shattered three conference and school records. I cannot wait to see where the next three years take him and his teammates."

Gilbert, Logan Garzonio, Aubin Dulin and Ben Hawkins earned the AAC championship in Saturday's 400 free relay in 3:10.80.

The Milligan men won 10 titles: five individual titles and five relay titles.

Freshman trio leads women

Freshmen Tyler Cates, Kaylee Williams and Gabby MacPherson led Milligan's women with a combined five individual championships, and all three capped their season with one on Saturday.

Cates, Friday's 100 backstroke winner, won Saturday's 200 backstroke in 2:04.99. Williams, Friday's 100 breaststroke winner, won Saturday's 200 breaststroke in 2:25.06. MacPherson won Saturday's 200 butterfly with an AAC championship record 2:09.61. All three set new Milligan records.

In addition to five individual winners, Milligan captured four relay titles on the women's side. This included Saturday's 400 free relay won by Maggie Blazo, Rachel Scheffer, Taylor Bartlett and MacPherson in a Milligan record 3:37.64.

Buffs end season on high note

The AAC Championships concluded Milligan's 2020-21 season, as the NAIA Swimming & Diving National Championships have been canceled.

"Although we are disappointed that we will not even get the opportunity to have a national championship this year, we could not have asked for a better way to end our season," Scarth said. "I am exceptionally proud of them, especially the senior class, for how they have transformed this team in the two years I have been privileged enough to coach them. We will miss their guidance and leadership, but we look forward to what lies ahead next year."

For a complete list of Milligan's AAC titles, please see below.

Milligan's AAC Champions

Thursday

200 Medley Relay – Stephen Gilbert, Aubin Dulin, Ben Hawkins, Logan Garzonio – 1:35.78
500 Free – Ben Hawkins – 4:42.30
200 IM – Stephen Gilbert – 1:49.63 *
800 Free Relay – Hannah Wheatley, Tyler Cates, Maggie Blazo, Gabby MacPherson – 7:50.43 *
800 Free Relay – Logan Garzonio, Aubin Dulin, Ben Hawkins, Stephen Gilbert – 6:59.59

Friday

200 Free Relay – Maggie Blazo, Rachel Scheffer, Tyler Cates, Gabby MacPherson – 1:38.89 #
200 Free Relay – Logan Garzonio, Aubin Dulin, Ben Hawkins, Stephen Gilbert – 1:25.72
400 IM – Stephen Gilbert – 3:58.98 *#
100 Breast – Kaylee Williams – 1:06.41 #
100 Breast – Aubin Dulin – 57.89
100 Back – Tyler Cates – 57.80 *#
400 Medley Relay – Tyler Cates, Kaylee Williams, Gabby MacPherson, Maggie Blazo – 3:59.12 *#
400 Medley Relay – Stephen Gilbert, Aubin Dulin, Ben Hawkins, Logan Garzonio – 3:27.75 #

Saturday

200 Back – Tyler Cates – 2:04.99 #
200 Back – Stephen Gilbert – 1:49.17 *#
200 Breast – Kaylee Williams – 2:25.06 #
200 Fly – Gabby MacPherson – 2:09.61 *#
400 Free Relay – Maggie Blazo, Rachel Scheffer, Taylor Bartlett, Gabby MacPherson – 3:37.64 #
400 Free Relay – Logan Garzonio, Aubin Dulin, Ben Hawkins, Stephen Gilbert – 3:10.80

* - AAC record
# - Milligan record