Swimming sets records and posts top times on first day of Total Performance Invitational

GAMBIER, Ohio (November 17, 2022) – Milligan University's men's and women's swimming teams set three records, recorded four national No. 1 times and notched 19 national qualifying times on the first day of the Total Performance Invite at Keyon's Steen Aquatic Center on Thursday.

Freshman Peter Gilbert set Milligan's 500-yard freestyle record, met an NAIA provisional standard and finished second overall in 4:32.10. Jacob Miller also posted a top-10 meet finish with a provisional time in 4:38.48. Andre Bazzana (4:42.90) and Ben Hawkins (4:47.75) nabbed provisional swims in the event as well.

Mary Grace Bitting recorded a school record in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:09.47. Bitting and Apple Burton recorded provisional swims in the event with Burton swimming 2:13.06.

Caleb Fry posted a Milligan record in the 50-yard freestyle. His down-and-back sprint of 20.59 was the top time placed him 11th overall in the meet. Fry, Stephen Gilbert (21.00) and Cole Brusher (21.64) had provisional times in the event. Fry's time was the fastest for any NAIA swimmer thus far this season.

Stephen Gilbert picked up the invitational title in the men's 200 IM. He swam an NAIA "A" cut, 1:49.51 to top the field. His time was the fastest for any NAIA swimmer in the event this season.

In the women's 500 free, Gabby MacPherson (5:12.21), Riley Renaud (5:12.82) and Samantha van Vuure (5:12.85) each collected national provisional times. Burton, Sammy MacPherson and Tyler Cates recorded provisional mark of their own in the 500 free prelims. Burton clocked in at 5:18.87 and MacPherson swam 5:23.32 and Cates finished in 5:24.25.

Van Vuure (25.02) and Liz Mahan (25.05) notched provisional swims in the 50 free.

The Buffs' women approached the school record in the 400 medley relay with Cates, Kaylee Williams, Gabby MacPherson and van Vuure swimming 3:53.95, less than two tenths of a second behind their time at nationals last winter and the top time in the NAIA this season.

Milligan's 200 women's free relay also threatened the Buffs' team record set last year at the NAIA National Championships. Mahan, Bitting, van Vuure and Gabby MacPherson swam 1:38.63, less than half a second behind the program record.

The Buffs' men's 400 medley relay also had the fastest time in the NAIA this season as Stephen Gilbert, Fry, Ethan McCosh and Bazzana swam 3:22.95.

The Buffs' top men's 200 free relay unit of Brusher, Fry, Bazzana and Stephen Gilbert swam 1:23.83, less than a second behind the team's NAIA National Championship time last winter.

The Buffs continue the Total Performance Invite tomorrow with prelims at 10:30 a.m. and finals at 6:00 p.m.