Swimming excels on final day of King Invite

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (October 1, 2022) – Milligan University's men's and women's swimming teams racked up 29 NAIA provisional marks and one program record on final day of the King Invitational over two sessions at the Kingsport Aquatic Center on Saturday.

The Buffs finished first of five teams in the men's standings with 1056.5 points, over 100 points ahead of second-place Emmanuel. Milligan's women recoded 956 points, good for second of six teams, behind Emmanuel. The Buffs will return to the Kingsport Aquatics Center in February for the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Championships in February.

"Lot of really solid swims today," said head coach Spencer Scarth. "Our first years gained valuable experience in swimming at the KAC that they'll need to rely on in February. We showed resilience in swimming up to seven events in less than 24 hours..this will make future meets seem much easier!"

Peter Gilbert set a program record in the men's 1650-yard freestyle (16:25.27). Jacob Millier (17:10.98) and Michael Cellucci (17:18.84) joined Gilbert with NAIA national provisional times.

The Buffs had four a dominant showing in the men's 100-yard breaststroke. Caleb Fry (1st, 59.55), Stephen Gilbert (2nd, 1:00.75), Jack Allen (4th, 1:01.42) and Ben Hawkins (5th, 1:01.55) all posted top-five finishes in the event. Fry's effort was an NAIA provisional mark. Fry took another win in the 200 breast with another national provisional time (2:10.21). Allen followed in fourth in 2:14.96.

Peter Gilbert also achieved a provisional time in the 400 IM as he finished second in 4:12.66. Jacob Miller finished seventh in 4:26.97.

Stephen Gilbert took the meet title in the 200 back with a provisional time of 1:52.86. He also collected a first-place finish with a provisional time in the 200 fly (1:54.63). Andre Bazzana joined Gilbert with a provisional time in the 200 fly at 1:59.68.

Stephen Gilbert (51.62) and Ethan McCosh (54.09) secured provisional times in the 100 back. Gilbert finished as the invitational runner-up and McCosh finished sixth. Miller finished fifth in the 200 back in 2:04.10.

Gabby MacPherson took first and earned a provisional time in the 100 fly (59.45). Rachel Connell placed seventh in 1:03.01. MacPherson also took the meet title in the 100 free with a provisional mark (55.24).

A trio of Buffs posted NAIA provisional times in the women's 1650 freestyle. Riley Renaud took first in 18:17.67, Gabby MacPherson was fourth (18:53.78) and Van Vuure placed fifth in 19:01.90. Burton finished seventh in 19:16.71.

Freshmen Mary Grace Bitting and Apple Burton both recorded NAIA national provisional marks in the 400-yard individual medley. Burton finished second in 4:45.48, Burton was third in 4:49.64 and Emma Rae Phillips placed seventh in 5:03.27.

Bitting and classmate Sammy MacPherson both posted national provisional efforts in the 200 freestyle. Bitting took first in 1:57.51 and Sammy MacPherson finished third in 2:01.93. Liz Mahan scored in the event with a seventh place showing (2:06.82).

Bitting picked up her third provisional time in the 200 fly (2:12.47) with a second place showing. Van Vuure finished fourth with a provisional effort of her own (2:18.83).

Kaylee Williams swam to a pair of runner-up finish and provisional times in the 100 breast (1:08.63) and 200 breast (2:32.80).

Tyler Cates swam to a second-place finish and provisional time in the 100 back (1:00.68). Samantha Van Vuure was fourth in 1:02.79 and Connell placed seventh in 1:04.19. Cates was also the runner-up with a provisional time in the 200 back (2:10.89). Sammy MacPherson joined Cates with a provisional mark in the 200 back as she finished third in 2:14.21. Burton was fifth in the 200 back in 2:17.15.

The Buffs had three swimmers notch provisional marks in the men's 100 butterfly. Andre Bazzana took third (51.46), McCosh was fifth (51.70) and RJ Brumit placed sixth in 52.79.

The Buffs' grouping of Gilbert, Hawkins, McCosh and Brumit won the 200 medley relay in 1:36.45. Cates, Williams, Sammy MacPherson and Gabby MacPherson finished second in the women's 200 medley relay in 1:54.04.

The Buffs head to perennial NCAA Division II contender Carson Newman on Oct.15.