Milligan swim teams conclude historic 2021-22 season with top-five national rankings

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (March 11, 2022) – Milligan University's men's and women's swim teams were both ranked fifth in the nation in the postseason NAIA Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Top 10 Polls, the NAIA released on Friday.

The Buffs' No. 5 rankings are the final highest rankings in program history. Milligan's men spent the entire season ranked in the top five nationally and backed it up with a fifth-place showing at the NAIA National Championships last week. The Buffs' women's swim team also notched a fifth-place finish at the NAIA National Championships after spending the entire season ranked inside the top 10. During the season, the Buffs peaked at No. 2 in the men's poll and No. 4 in the women's rankings.

At the NAIA National Champions, Milligan posted its highest-ever team finishes and set team records for most points and All-Americans at the national championship meet. Sophomore Stephen Gilbert make Milligan history as the Buffs' first-ever NAIA national champion in the 400-yard individual medley with an NAIA all-time record of 3:51.08. Gilbert headlined a parade of individual and relay All-Americans as the Buffs reeled in 12 individual (seven men's, five women's) All-America honors and swam to All-America status in all 10 relay events.

In addition to his national title, Gilbert swam to national top-four finishes in the 200 IM and 200. Freshman Andre Bazzana earned individual All-American honors with top-four finishes in the 200 free and 200 fly. Graduate transfer Wiktor Perkowkski had a distinguished career at Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) member Union (Ky.) and swam to All-America honors in the 100 fly and 100 back. Gilbert, Bazzana and Perkowski swam on each of the Buffs' All-American relays, each of which finished top-four in the nation.

On the women's side, graduate student Maggie Blazo concluded her illustrious career as the most decorated women's swimmer in program history. She earned her eighth individual All-America award with a school record 1:52.83 to finish fourth in the 200 freestyle. Sophomores Tyler Cates and Gabby MacPherson reeled in multiple individual All-American honors in their national championships debut. Cates finished top-five in the 100 and 200 backstroke events and MacPherson earned All-American status in the 1650 free and 200 fly. The trio of Blazo, Cates and MacPherson swam on all five of Milligan's All-American relay units at the national championships.

At the AAC Championships, Milligan claimed its second-straight men's swimming championship and its first-ever women's conference crown. The Buffs won 27 of 36 total AAC championships and became the second team in conference history sweep the men's and women's AAC championships (Wheeling, 2014). Head coach Spencer Scarth was honored as the AAC Men's Coach of the Year and Bazzana and MacPherson were tabbed as AAC Swimmers of the Meet. Milligan set nine AAC Championship records (four individual, five relay) at conference championship meet. In total, Milligan earned 41 All-AAC awards for first-place or second-place finishes at the AAC Championships. Gilbert, Bazzana, Perkowksi, Cates, MacPherson and Kaylee Williams won multiple individual titles at the AAC Championships, while Milligan claimed nine-of-10 relay titles. Milligan's men became the first team to sweep all five relay titles at the conference championship meet.

The Buffs re-wrote their team record book in 2021-22. The Milligan's men set 15 individual and five relay records while Milligan's women recorded 14 individual and five relay records.