Swimming closes regular season with tri-meet victories at Birmingham-Southern

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (January 27, 2024) – The Milligan University swim team concluded their regular season with a pair of tri-meet victories over Birmingham-Southern and Loyola New Orleans on Saturday afternoon in Alabama.

Milligan's men won 218-71 over Birmingham-Southern and 210-43 over Loyola. The Buffs' women were 180-80 winners over Birmingham-Southern and 196-60 victors against Loyola.

Hanne te Velthuis set Milligan's 100-yard freestyle record at 52.50. She added another provisional national qualifying time with a win in the 50 free (24.17).

Gabby MacPherson picked up three event wins with provisional times in each one. She won the 200 free in 1:55.12 and swept the butterfly events by going 58.71 in the 100 fly and 2:13.22 in the 200 fly.

Stephen Gilbert won three events with a pair of provisional standards. He won the 200 free in 1:43.16, the 200-yard backstroke in 1:54.74 and the 200-yard individual medley in 1:59.61. He notched provisional cuts in the 200 free and 200 back.

Peter Gilbert swam a pair of season-best times in the distance freestyle events. He won the 500 free in 4:40.07 and the 1000 free in 9:38.66. Riley Renaud won the women's 500 free with a provisional time of 5:23.08 and took first in the 1000 free in 10:54.55.

Paxton Smith won a pair of meet titles with provisional times. He won the 50 free in 20.82 and the 100 free in 46.07.

Samantha van Vuure posted provisional times in the 100 back (59.58) and the 200 back (2:06.80). Tyler Cates also had provisional swims in the 100 back (58.95) and the 200 back (2:10.03).

Mary Grace Bitting notched two provisional standards in the 200 free (1:58.27) and the 200 IM (2:11.06). Liz Mahan was a two-time provisional qualifier in the 50 free (24.97) and 500 free (5:25.63). Makayla Best notched a provisional mark in the 200 fly (2:19.84).

Hudson Trammell finished first in both butterfly events with provisional swims. He won the 100 fly in 50.20 and the 200 fly in 1:52.26. Sergio Tudor (50.54) and RJ Brumit (51.79) added provisional efforts in the 100 fly. Brumit won the meet title in the 100 back in 52.00, a provisional mark. Simon Popelka had a provisional time in the 200 back (1:56.39). Tudor added a provisional swim in the 200 free (1:47.50).

Andre Bazzana had a pair of provisional swims in the 100 free (47.64) and 200 fly (1:52.65).

Caleb Fry won the 100-yard breaststroke in 58.02 and was joined in notching a provisional cut by Ben Hawkins (58.48). Hawkins won the 200 breast in 2:08.38. Fry (2:11.82) and Jack Allen (2:11.95) also collected provisional times in the 200 breast.

Kaylee Williams won both breaststroke titles by winning the 100 in 1:11.20 and the 200 in 2:35.43.

Milligan looks to defend its Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) titles at the AAC Championships Feb. 8-10 at the Kingsport Aquatic Center.