Both Milligan swim teams earn top-five rankings in first NAIA national poll

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (November 5, 2021) – Both of Milligan University's swim teams appeared among the top five teams in the nation in the first edition of the 2021-22 NAIA Men's and Women's Swim & Dive polls on Friday.

Milligan men's swimming opened the season at No. 2 nationally while the women checked in at No. 4. Both marks serve as the highest rankings in program history after both Milligan squads broke into national top 10 for the first time ever last winter.

The NAIA Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Coaches' Top 10 polls are determined by collegeswimming.com's championship rankings. Milligan's men are second at 480.04 points, only behind No. 1 Keiser at 524.48 points. On the women's side Keiser leads the way with 517.18 points and Milligan sits fourth at 456.70 points.

The Buffs have a number of nationally competitive early-season times, including five NAIA-best times and eight No. 2 times through the early portion of the season.

Sophomore Stephen Gilbert currently holds the fastest 200-yard backstroke (1:52.03) and 200 IM (1:52.17) in the nation. He also ranks third in 100 back (51.40), ninth in 100 fly (51.96) and ninth in 100 free (48.04 converted).

Freshman Andre Bazzana holds the second-fastest 200 freestyle (1:43.06), 500 free (4:42.97) and 200 fly (1:55.21) in the NAIA. He sits third in the 100 fly (51.28), fourth in the 1000 free (9:54.19), fourth in the 50 fly (23.81 converted) and fifth in the 100 free (47.71).

Graduate student Wiktor Perkowski has the second-fastest 50 fly (23.52 converted) and 100 fly (50.58) in the country, is fourth in the 50 back (24.26) and eighth in the 100 back (52.62).

Junior Ben Hawkins is seventh nationally 1650 free (17:46.20), eighth in the 100 breast (59.05), ninth in the 1000 free (10:05.79). Freshman Ethan McCosh is eighth in the 500 free (4:47.70), ninth in the 200 back (1:59.77) and 10th in the 200 fly (1:58.21)

On the women's side, graduate student Maggie Blazo has the second-fastest time in the NAIA in the 200 free (1:55.39) and ranks fifth in the 100 free (54.15) and seventh in the 50 free (24.72).

Sophomore Tyler Cates owns the top time in the nation in the 200-yard backstroke at 2:04.97. She's second in the 100 back (57.62) and ninth in the 50 back (28.11).

Sophomore Gabby MacPherson leads the NAIA in the 500 (5:12.66) and 1000 (10:48.17) freestyle events and is second in the 200 fly (2:10.16).

The Buffs return to action next Saturday for a tri-meet with Lynchburg and Roanoke at Liberty University on Nov. 13 before heading to Charlotte for the Fall Frenzy Invitational, hosted by Queens (N.C.) Nov. 19-21.