Stephen Gilbert sets NAIA 400 IM record and claims Milligan’s first-ever swimming national championship

COLUMBUS, Ga. (March 4, 2022) – Stephen Gilbert made history on Friday night as he became Milligan University's first-ever swimming national champion as he set the NAIA's all-time 400-yard individual medley record of 3:51.08. Gilbert's championship was one of six individual All-America efforts and three school records that were set on Friday evening.

After posting the top time of 3:57.27 in morning prelims, Gilbert shaved over six seconds off in the evening to win the race by over three seconds. He bested the previous NAIA record of 3:52.02 set by Keiser's Pol Roch in 2020 by nearly a full second.

"This was a really special swim, one of the best I have ever seen as a coach or a swimmer," said head coach Spencer Scarth. "Stephen was locked in from the time we walked in for warmups, and yet was still able to be his goofy self as he walked into the event to 'We Don't Talk About Bruno'. I'm super proud of how he has represented this team, and I can't wait to see what is next for him."

Andre Bazzana posted a top-three national finish to earn All-America status in the men's 200 freestyle. He swam a collegiate best 1:40.07 to finish third nationally.

Wiktor Perkowski secured All-America honors in the 100 fly and 100 back. He finished sixth in the 100 fly in 49.76 and eighth in the 100 back (51.06).

Maggie Blazo earned All-America laurels in a Milligan-record fifth different individual event as she was fourth in the 200 freestyle with a school record time of 1:53.64. She added a 10th-place finish in the 100 back (58.72).

Tyler Cates took All-America honors in the 100 back with 57.14 effort to finish fifth.

Milligan opened the evening with All-American efforts in both 200 medley relays, the fourth All-America relay award for both Milligan swim teams heading into tomorrow's finale. Cates, Bre Coley, Gabby MacPherson and Blazo combined to swim 1:48.94 to finish sixth. Milligan's men grabbed their fourth top-four relay finish as Perkowski, Ben Hawkins, Bazzana and Gilbert clocked in with a school record time of 1:32.01 to finish third.

In the 100 breast, Kaylee Williams was 10th (1:06.80) and Coley finished 15th (1:10.29). Emma Rae Phillips took 11th in the 400 IM in 4:41.83. Liz Mahan was 16th in the 200 free (1:56.71).

Aubin Dulin was 14th (57.28) in the 100 breast and Hawkins was 16th (57.97). Ethan McCosh took 15th in the 100 fly after swimming 50.18 in the prelims. Cole Brusher was 17th in the prelims with a personal best time of 50.69.

Milligan has already set men's and women's program records for most points at an NAIA National Championship and most All-American awards in a single year. The Buffs wrap up tomorrow with the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly and 400 free relay. Prelims begin at 9:00 a.m. and finals start at 5:00 p.m.