Swimming to send 21 qualifiers to NAIA National Championships

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (February 23, 2024) – The Milligan University swim teams had 21 swimmers announced as national qualifiers for the 2023-24 NAIA National Championships at the Columbus Aquatic Center in Columbus, Ga. on March 6-9.

February 23, 2024

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (February 23, 2024) – The Milligan University swim teams had 21 swimmers announced as national qualifiers for the 2023-24 NAIA National Championships at the Columbus Aquatic Center in Columbus, Ga. on March 6-9.

The Buffs are sending a dozen men and nine women to the national championship meet. Milligan ranks No. 4 in the Swimcloud NAIA men's championship ranking and No. 6 on the women's side.

The top eight finishers in each individual event and relay earn All-America status. The Buffs are seeded in the top eight in all 10 relay events.

Milligan has eight top-eight in women's individual events. Riley Renaud, the defending NAIA national champion in the 1650-yard freestyle, is No. 3 in the mile, and No. 5 in the 500 free. Hanne te Velthuis is seeded No. 5 in the 100 free and No. 7 in the 50 free. Gabby MacPherson (No. 4) and Mary Grace Bitting (No. 6) are both seeded in All-America position in the 200-yard butterfly. Samantha van Vuure is the No. 3 seed in the 200-yard backstroke and Kaylee Williams is the No. 7 seed in the 200-yard breaststroke.

Milligan's men also have eight top-seed individual seeds. Stephen Gilbert ranks No. 2 in the 400-yard individual medley, No. 2 in the 200 fly and No. 3 in the 200 IM. Caleb Fry is seeded fourth in the 200 breast and fifth in the 100 breast. Hudson Trammell has the No. 5 seed in the 100 fly and Peter Gilbert the No. 5 seed in the 1650 free. Andre Bazzana joins Stephen Gilbert in the top eight of the 200 fly as the No. 6 seed.

The NAIA National Champions begin at 5:00 p.m. on March 6 with the 200-yard medley relay and the 800-yard freestyle relay. The rest of the events will be contested Thursday through Saturday with prelims at 9:00 a.m. and finals at 5:00 p.m.

Last winter Milligan finished fifth in men's and women's swimming at the NAIA National Championships. The Buffs totaled 28 All-America honors and set 21 program records at the championship meet.

Milligan Women's National Qualifiers (9)
Mikayla Best – 200 fly
Mary Grace Bitting – 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 fly
Tyler Cates – 100 back, 200 back
Gabby MacPherson – 500 free, 100 fly, 200 fly
Liz Mahan – 50 free, 200 free, 100 free
Riley Renaud – 500 free, 200 free, 1650 free
Hanne te Velthuis – 50 free, 100 free, 200 free,
Samantha van Vuure – 400 IM, 100 back, 200 back
Kaylee Williams – 100 breast, 200 breast

Milligan Men's National Qualifiers (12)
Andre Bazzana – 200 IM, 200 free, 200 fly
Jayden Bearden – 50 free, 200 free, 200 back
RJ Brumit – 100 fly, 200 fly, 100 back
Caleb Fry – 50 free, 100 breast, 200 breast
Peter Gilbert– 500 free, 400 IM, 1650 free
Stephen Gilbert – 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 fly
Ben Hawkins – 200 IM, 100 breast, 200 breast
Ethan McCosh – 100 fly, 100 back, 200 fly
Jacob Miller – 500 free, 200 Free, 1650 free
Paxton Smith – 50 free, 100 back, 100 free
Hudson Trammell – 100 back, 100 fly, 200 fly
Sergio Tudor – 50 free, 100 fly, 200 fly