Swimming sweeps AAC Championships in record-breaking fashion

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (February 11, 2023) – The Milligan University swim teams won both men's and women's Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Championships for the second-straight season as the Buffs captured 10 of 12 AAC titles on the final day of the AAC Championships at the Kingsport Aquatic Center on Saturday.

The Buffs won 31 of 36 contested championships over the three-day meet, set 13 AAC Championship meet records and became the first program to sweep men's and women's titles in consecutive seasons.

"Absolutely fantastic way to begin our championship season," said head coach Spencer Scarth. "Countless amazing swims and we can't wait to see what is next for us as we awaits national selections this week!"

Milligan's women set AAC all-time championship records with 16 titles (11 individual, five relay) and set the conference's total points record by over 200 points with a team total score of 1,057 points. The Buffs doubled up second place WVU Tech, who finished with 511 points. With its second-straight team championship, Milligan becomes the third program in AAC history to win back-to-back women's conference crowns.

Milligan's set single-meet records for men's championships (15 titles, 10 individual, five relay) and men's point total (1,034) and finished nearly 500 points ahead of second-place WVU Tech. The Buffs became the AAC's first-ever back-to-back-to-back champions in swimming.

Peter Gilbert and Riley Renaud were tabbed as the AAC Swimmers of the Meet and AAC Freshmen of the Year. Both swimmers won three individual AAC titles. In two of his championship swims, Gilbert set meet records and Renaud set one meet record. Scarth was named the AAC Men's Coach of the Year for the third time in his career and took home AAC Women's Coach of the Year for the first time.

Gilbert and Renaud both set AAC meet records and claimed their third individual championship of the meet in the 1650-yard freestyle. Renaud took the title in 17:29.07 and Gilbert won in 16:02.25.

The Buffs dominated the mile as Emma Rae Phillips finished second (18:42.99) and Apple Burton was third (18:45.76) on the women's side and Jacob Miller was the runner-up on the men's (16:14.47). Adam Bengtson (16:48.47) and Michael Cellucci (16:52.52) also notched top-five finishes in the men's mile.

Stephen Gilbert won the men's 200 back by over two seconds at 1:52.00. Jayden Bearden finished second in 1:54.67 and Ben Tomberlin was third (1:58.07). Gilbert added another title and set the Buffs' program and AAC meet record in the men's 200-yard butterfly (1:49.01). Andre Bazzana was Gilbert's runner-up in 1:53.33.

Kaylee Williams set a program and AAC Championship record in the women's 200-yard breaststroke with a personal best time of 2:22.92.

Gabby MacPherson matched her personal best and school record time in the 200-yard butterfly in 2:06.43 and officially set the championship meet record after swimming the same mark in last year's prelims. Mary Grace Bitting finished second in 2:06.77.

Samantha van Vuure took the AAC title in a competitive 200-yard backstroke championship heat. She touched the wall in 2:06.09. Tyler Cates finished third in 2:06.94.

Ben Hawkins claimed the AAC championship in the men's 200 breast in 2:05.03. Jack Allen finished second in 2:07.57.

Liz Mahan was the runner-up by four hundreds of a second in the women's 100-yard freestyle (54.61). Cole Brusher was the runner-up in the men's 100 free (47.34).

The Buffs wrapped up the record-breaking AAC Championships with a pair of meet records in the 400-yard freestyle relays. Mahan, Bitting, MacPherson and van Vuure touched the wall in 3:35.18 and Gilbert, Bearden, Bazzana and Caleb Fry won in 1:24.94.

The NAIA announces its national championship qualifiers next Friday. The NAIA National Championships will take place in Columbus, Ga. March 1-4.