Swimming collides with Cumberlands for nationally-ranked dual meet

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (January 22, 2022) – The Milligan University swim teams logged 16 NAIA provisional times in a high-profile dual meet against Cumberlands on Saturday.

Cumberlands entered the meet as the No. 3 team in the NAIA in the latest men's and women's rankings. Milligan's men were slotted at No. 5 and the Buffs' women sit sixth nationally. The Buffs swam without several key swimmers as Cumberlands earned a 171-100 men's win and a 177-93 triumph on the women's side.

Stephen Gilbert posted three individual wins and with three national provisional swims on Saturday. He won the 100 free (47.32), 200 back (2:02.50) and 200 IM (1:55.03).

Andre Bazzana logged three NAIA provisional times of his own with a first-place finish in the 200 free (1:43.92) and runner-up showings in the 100 fly (51.38) and 200 fly (1:57.47).

Gabby MacPherson earned a pair of first-place finishes on the day in the 1000 yard freestyle (11:18.89) and the 200 fly (2:16.09). Her 200 fly time was a national qualifying time, as was he 500 free (5:26.19). Emma Rae Phillips joined MacPherson with an NAIA provisional time in the 200 fly (2:18.25).

Kaylee Williams won the 100 breast (1:09.52) and 200 breast (2:31.45) with NAIA provisional times.

Maggie Blazo notched three NAIA provisional times in the 50 free (25.50), 100 free (55.66) and 200 free (1:58.68).

Wiktor Perkowski posted a season-best and provisional 100 free time (48.32) leading off the 400 free relay and notched a second provisional mark in the 50 free (21.91).

Rachel Scheffer finished third in three events, the 100 back (1:03.79), 200 back (2:22.05) and 100 fly (1:03.78).

Perkowski, Aubin Dulin, Bazzana and Gilbert notched another NAIA "A" standard in the 200 medley relay in 1:35.92.

"In one of our most challenging meets this year against a top-notch opponent, our team performed admirably despite being down a number of key swimmers," said head coach Spencer Scarth. "Our training load has also been fairly high this week, both in the weight room and in the pool, so I'm very encouraged by the results we got today in spite of that."

Milligan swimming wraps up its regular season schedule at Lees-McRae next weekend before the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) championships Feb. 10-12.