Swimming starts strong at King Invitational

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (September 30, 2023) – The Milligan University swimming team opened its 2023-24 season at the King Invitational at the Kingsport Aquatic Center on Saturday.

Through the first two sessions of the invitational, Milligan tops the eight-team men's standings with 846 points, almost doubling second-place Mars Hill. The Buffs' women sit second of nine teams with 484 points.

Gabby MacPherson won the meet title in the 200-yard freestyle with a national provisional time of 1:58.59. Hanne te Velthuis made her Milligan with a provisional swim in the 200 free (2:01.87) and 50 free (24.88), finishing as the meet runner-up in the 50.

MacPherson (5:18.52) and Riley Renaud (5:18.53) met the provisional standard in the 500 free. Renaud also notched a provisional time and a runner-up finish in the 1650 free (18:26.66).

Andre Bazzana took silver in the men's 200 free in 1:45.97. He was joined by Sergio Tudor (1:47.07) as a national provisional qualifier.

Peter Gilbert finished second and Jacob Miller was third in the men's 1650 free. Both posted provisional swims with Gilbert clocking in at 16:54.04 and Miller in 17:17.25. Miller added a third-place finish in the 500 free in 4:54.94.

In the women's 200-yard individual medley, Mary Grace Bitting (2:11.52) and Samantha van Vuure (2:16.72) secured provisional standards. Bitting took home the meet title in the 100-yard individual medley (1:02.15).

Tyler Cates met the national provisional standard in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:12.06. Van Vuure also met the mark in 2:13.95.

In the men's 50 free, Caleb Fry was second in 21.54 and Paxton Smith finished fourth (21.70) as both Buffs hit provisional marks in the event. Smith was the meet runner-up in the men's 200 back in 2:00.08.

Three Buffs had provisional swims in the men's 100-yard butterfly. Tudor (51.23), Hudson Trammell (51.30) and Stephen Gilbert (52.05) finished second-through-fourth in the event. Stephen Gilbert set the Buffs' program record in the 100 IM, finishing in 53.78.

Kaylee Williams opened her season with a provisional time in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:34.82).

The Buffs won the men's and women's 200 free relays and were the runners-up in all four medley relays on the day.

The Buffs conclude the King Invitational tomorrow morning.