Men's Swimming places 4th at Nationals; Scarth named Coach of the Year

COLUMBUS, Ga. (March 10, 2024) - The Milligan University men's swim team posted a fourth-place finish at the 2024 NAIA Swimming Championships, and head coach Spencer Scarth was named the NAIA Coach of the Year.

The four-day event took place at the Columbus Aquatic Center in Columbus, Ga., from March 6-9.

The Buffaloes amassed a total of 364 points to land fourth overall. St. Thomas (640.5), Keiser (624.5), and Cumberlands (400) made up the top three.

Milligan was the lone Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) team to score any points.

Stephen Gilbert recorded Milligan's only individual national championship this year as he won the 400 IM with a time of 3:53.52.

Caleb Fry nearly collected an individual national title twice as he placed second in the 100 breaststroke (53.56) and 200 breaststroke (1:59.10).

In all, Milligan collected 31 NAIA All-American honors in 14 events. The All-Americans are:

• 200 Medley Relay - Paxton Smith, Fry, Hudson Trammell, Stephen Gilbert (third, 1:28.85)
• 800 Freestyle Relay - Andre Bazzana, Jayden Bearden, Peter Gilbert, Stephen Gilbert (fourth, 6:42.64)
• 200 IM - Stephen Gilbert (fourth, 1:50.73)
• 500 Freestyle - Smith (eighth, 20.46)
• 200 Freestyle Relay - Smith, Bazzana, Fry, Stephen Gilbert (third, 1:21.02)
• 400 IM - Stephen Gilbert (first, 3:53.52)
• 100 Butterfly - Trammell (fourth, 48.92)
• 100 Breaststroke - Fry (second, 53.56)
• 100 Backstroke - Smith (seventh, 49.72)
• 400 Medley Relay - Smith, Fry, Trammell, Stephen Gilbert (fourth, 3:16.95)
• 200 Breaststroke - Fry (second, 1:59.10)
• 200 Butterfly - Trammell (third, 1:49.67); Stephen Gilbert (fourth, 1:49.79); Bazzana (sixth, 1:51.52)
• 1650 Freestyle - Peter Gilbert (fourth, 16:03.91)
• 400 Freestyle Relay - Smith, Bazanna, Fry, Stephen Gilbert (3:00.90)