Milligan Swimming impresses in season opener at King

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (September 30, 2022) – The Milligan University swimming teams opened their season with strong results across the board at the King Invitational. Milligan collected five NAIA national provisional times and set one school record on the day.

At the end of 10 events on Friday, Milligan topped both team standings. Milligan's men racked up 326 points to rank first of five teams while the women were first of six squads with 324 points.

"Fantastic way to start the season, with a lot of really strong performances across the board and many times right on personal bests," said head coach Spencer Scarth. "We have a very long day tomorrow but looking forward to some more fast swimming!"

Freshman Mary Grace Bitting achieved an NAIA provisional time, a first-place finish and a program record by over two seconds in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:11.66. Emma Rae Phillips finished seventh in the 200 IM in 2:20.61.

Freshman Riley Renaud collected a first-place finish and NAIA provisional mark in the 500 freestyle in 5:16.25. Junior transfer Samantha van Vuure finished fourth in the 500 free in 5:26.87 and Apple Burton placed seventh in 5:31.45.

Junior Gabby MacPherson won the 50-yard freestyle and checked off a national provisional mark in 25.10. Liz Mahan scored in the event in 26.21, good for seventh. In the men's 50 free, Caleb Fry finished third with a provisional mark (21.85). RJ Brumit (22.47) and Andre Bazzana (22.49) finished fifth and sixth in the 50 free.

Freshman Peter Gilbert was the runner-up in the men's 500 free in 4:41.50, good for an NAIA provisional time. Ethan McCosh scored an eighth-place finish in 4:57.49.

Freshmen Jacob Miller (2:02.38) and Jack Allen (2:02.39) finished fifth and sixth in the 200 IM, both marks made Milligan's top-10 all-time leaderboard for the 200 IM.

Bitting, MacPherson, Sammy MacPherson and Mahan swam to a third-place finish in the 200 free relay (1:40.51). Stephen Gilbert, Brumit, Bazzana and Fry swam to a runner-up finish in the 200 free relay in 1:26.86.

The Buffs' grouping of Gilbert, Fry, Ethan McCosh and Bazzana won the 400 medley relay in 3:29.05. In the women's relay, Tyler Cates, Kaylee Williams, Gabby MacPherson and Bitting finished second in 4:01.43.

The Buffs wrap up at the King Invitational tomorrow. The morning session begins at 10:00 a.m.