Men’s and Women’s Swimming finishes fifth at NAIA National Championships

COLUMBUS, Ga. (March 5, 2022) – Milligan University's swim teams wrapped up their most successful NAIA National Championships in program history as the Buffs' men and women finished both notched fifth-place team finishes with a combined 22 NAIA All-Americans and 14 school records at the NAIA National Championships.

Milligan set program records for highest men's team finish, highest women's team finish, most men's points at an NAIA National Championships (289), most women's points at the NAIA National Championships (262), most men's All-America awards (12) and most women's All-America awards (10). Milligan earned All-America honors is all 10 relay events. Milligan's men finished in the top four with team records in all five relays.

"Fantastic finish to a fantastic year," said head coach Spencer Scarth. "Really proud of this team and can't wait to see what's in store for us next."

Stephen Gilbert made history as Milligan's first-ever swimming national champion when he claimed the men's 400-yard individual medley crown in an NAIA all-time record time of 3:51.08. Gilbert was an All-American in three individual events and all five relays. He set Milligan's all-time national championship meet record with 51 points. Andre Bazzana (37 points) and Wiktor Perkowksi (30 points) were two-time individual All-Americans and swam in all five of the Buffs' record-breaking relays.

Gabby MacPherson (36 points) and Tyler Cates (33 points) led Milligan's women with two individual All-America awards apiece. MacPherson swam in all five of the Buffs All-American relays and Cates was featured in four. Maggie Blazo (29 points) concluded her Milligan swimming career with her eighth individual All-American honor spread over five different events and four national championship meets.

On Saturday, MacPherson opened the evening session with a personal best swim (17:50.19) in the 1650-yard freestyle timed finals to finish fourth and earn All-American status. She came back for the 200 fly championship finals and swam 2:07.52 to finish seventh and earn a second individual All-America honor.

Gilbert pocketed his third individual All-American award with another top-four finish in the 200 backstroke. Gilbert set his third individual school record of the meet (1:47.09) to finish third.

Bazzana snagged his second individual All-American plaque with a fourth-place finish and school record in the 200 fly (1:50.98). Cates picked up her second All-American nod of the championships with a team record time of 2:03.53 to finish fourth in the 200 back.

In the consolation finals, Kaylee Williams swam to a 13th-place finish (2:26.25) in the 200 breast. Ben Hawkins was 14th in the 1650 freestyle (16:52.51).

Emma Rae Phillips finished 17th in the mile in 18:44.76. Bre Coley was 20th in the 200 breast (2:31.65). Cole Brusher was 31st in the 100 free (47.68).

NAIA All-Americans

Maggie Blazo – 200 Free – 4th, 1:53.64*
Tyler Cates – 100 Back – 5th, 57.14
Tyler Cates – 200 Back – 4th, 2:03.53*
Gabby MacPherson – 1650 Free – 4th, 17:40.19
Gabby MacPherson – 200 Fly – 7th, 2:07.52
Tyler Cates, Bre Coley, Gabby MacPherson, Maggie Blazo – 200 Medley Relay – 6th, 1:48.94
Tyler Cates, Kaylee Williams, Gabby MacPherson, Maggie Blazo – 400 Medley Relay – 3rd, 3:53.90
Maggie Blazo, Emma Rae Phillips, Liz Mahan, Gabby MacPherson – 200 Free Relay – 5th, 1:38.18*
Maggie Blazo, Liz Mahan, Tyler Cates, Gabby MacPherson – 400 Free Relay – 5th, 3:35.13*
Maggie Blazo, Tyler Cates, Liz Mahan, Gabby MacPherson – 800 Free Relay – 4th, 7:41.84*

Andre Bazzana – 200 Free – 3rd, 1:40.07
Andre Bazzana – 200 Fly – 4th, 1:50.98*
Stephen Gilbert – 400 IM – 1st, 3:51.08*%
Stephen Gilbert – 200 Back – 3rd, 1:47.09*
Stephen Gilbert – 200 IM – 4th, 1:48.48*
Wiktor Perkowski – 100 Fly – 6th, 49.76
Wiktor Perkowski – 100 Back – 8th, 51.06
Wiktor Perkowski, Ben Hawkins, Andre Bazzana, Stephen Gilbert – 200 Medley Relay – 3rd, 1:32.01*
Wiktor Perkowski, Aubin Dulin, Andre Bazzana, Stephen Gilbert – 400 Medley Relay – 4th, 3:21.51*
Cole Brusher, Andre Bazzana, Wiktor Perkowski, Stephen Gilbert – 200 Free Relay, 4th, 1:23.13*
Cole Brusher, Andre Bazzana, Wiktor Perkowski, Stephen Gilbert – 400 Free Relay – 3rd, 3:03.92*
Andre Bazzana, Ethan McCosh, Wiktor Perkowski, Stephen Gilbert – 800 Free Relay, 3rd, 6:43.09*

* - Milligan Record
% - NAIA Record