Swimming triumphs against Lynchburg and Roanoke in tri-meet

LYNCHBURG, Va. (January 14, 2023) – Milligan University's swim teams both took first-place in a three-team dual meet with Lynchburg and Roanoke at Liberty University on Saturday afternoon. The Buffs racked up 16 NAIA national provisional qualifying times on the day.

"Really strong weekend given the time of season we are in and with a quick turnaround from last night's meet to today," said head coach Spencer Scarth. "We're starting to do the collective things right as a group at the right time of the year. The team still has some work to do but we are already well ahead of where we were last year at this time!"

Stephen Gilbert won the 100-yard backstroke (53.12) and 100-yard butterfly in 50.77, both national provisional qualifying times. Gilbert added a third win and national cut with a 4:13.98 in the 400 IM.

Mary Grace Bitting (2:09.77) and Gabby MacPherson (2:14.28) took first and second in the women's 200-yard butterfly with national provisional swims. Bitting added another first-place finish in the 200 free with a provisional time of 1:58.17. MacPherson won the women's 100 fly in 59.94, another provisional mark.

Kaylee Williams swept the meet's breaststroke titles with national provisional swims. She won the 100 breast in 1:07.80 and the 200 breast in 2:30.42. Ben Hawkins won the men's 200 breast in 2:13.55.

In the men's 200 fly, Andre Bazzana claimed the meet title with a provisional mark of 1:56.25.

Tyler Cates collected a pair of runner-up finishes and provisional times in the 100-yard backstroke (1:01.57) and 200 back (2:12.57).

Caleb Fry won the men's 100-yard breaststroke in 57.85, a national qualifying time. He was the runner-up in the 100 free with another provisional time (48.53).

Apple Burton won the women's 400-yard individual medley in 4:46.52, good for national qualifying time.

Peter Gilbert won the men's 500-yard freestyle with a provisional time of 4:46.61 and took first in the 1000 free (9:54.18). Jacob Miller finished third in the 1000 free (10:03.48).

Adam Bengtson won won the men's 200 back in 2:04.61.

Samantha van Vuure was the runner-up in the women's 500 free in 5:29.31, followed by Riley Renaud in 5:29.42. Renaud was the runner-up in the 1000 free (10:59.96) and Burton finished third (11:16.28).

Zac Nelson, Bazzana, Jayden Bearden and Fry won the men's 400 freestyle relay in 3:14.97.

Milligan swimming wraps closes its regular season with a home dual meet against Cumberlands next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.