Records, “A” cuts, top-10s and provisional times about on day two of High Performance Invite

GAMBIER, Ohio (November 18, 2022) – The Milligan University swimming teams continued to impress on the second day of the High Performance Invitational at the Steen Natatorium on Friday. The Buffs posted five top-10 individual finishes, two NAIA "A" cuts, four school records and 27 national provisional qualifying times on the day.

Stephen Gilbert earned another individual invitational title in the men's 400-yard individual medley after taking first in the 200 IM yesterday. The defending national champion in the event, Gilbert swam 3:54.24, an NAIA "A" cut and the No. 1 time in the nation this season. Peter Gilbert (4:06.82), Jacob Miller (4:10.83) and Michael Cellucci (4:22.54) each notched provisional times in the 400 IM as well.

Caleb Fry was the meet runner-up with an "A" cut in the 100 breast with a swim of 55.04. He broke Evan Alfano's previous school record set in 2012 by nearly two seconds and swam the second-fastest time in the event in the NAIA this season. Ben Hawkins (56.96) and Jack Allen (58.70) joined Fry with national provisional swims.

Andre Bazzana swam to a third-place finish in the men's 200-yard freestyle. He posted the No. 2 recorded time in the NAIA this season at 1:40.04. Jayden Bearden (1:43.21), Peter Gilbert (1:43.23) and Miller (1:43.99) also secured provisional times in the 200 free.

Kaylee Williams was fifth in the women's 100-yard breaststroke and broke her own program record with a 1:04.82, the No. 2 time in the NAIA this year. Virginia Rainer also swam to a provisional mark in the event in 1:09.35.

Tyler Cates reached the fastest finals in the women's 100-yard backstroke and posted the NAIA's top time of 57.85. Samantha van Vuure (59.39), Sammy MacPherson (1:00.06) and Rachel Connell (1:00.75) all made the evening session in the event and recorded provisional swims.

In the women's 400 IM, Apple Burton (4:39.72), van Vuure (4:43.96) and Emma Rae Phillips (4:48.15) posted provisional qualifying times. Burton's effort set a program record. 

In the women's 100-yard butterfly, Alex Hayashi (58.56) a team record and Connell (1:01.14) also made a provisional mark. In the men's 100 fly Ethan McCosh (50.33), RJ Brumit (50.58) and Cole Brusher (51.01) had provisional swims.

Gabby MacPherson (1:55.61) and Liz Mahan (1:57.39) hit provisional standards in the women's 200 free. McCosh (51.90), Brumit (52.22) and Bearden (53.88) were provisional swimmers in the men's 100 back.

Both of Milligan's 200-yard medley relays were top-four national swims in the event this season. The women's grouping of Cates, Williams, Mary Grace Bitting and Gabby MacPherson matched the Buffs' school record of 1:48.64. The men's unit of Brumit, Fry, Bazzana and Stephen Gilbert finished in 1:32.02, two hundredths of a second behind Milligan's team record.

Milligan posted the fastest times to date this season in both 800 free relays. Bitting, Gabby MacPherson, van Vuure and Sammy MacPherson swam 7:49.43. Stephen Gilbert, Peter Gilbert, Bearden and Bazzana touched the wall in 6:49.96. The Buffs' men's 800 free relay was second only to Kenyon's top grouping at the event. All four of Milligan's top relays were top-10 finishers on the evening.

The Buffs wrap up the High Performance Invite tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. with the evening session at 5:30 p.m.