While most teams here at Milligan have competing seasons that range from 2-3 months, our swim team, basketball teams, track and field teams, and cycling team do not have that luxury. Though their training seasons and competition seasons are longer than most other sports, they are finally wrapping up the normal season and heading into their Conference Championship seasons.
Milligan’s swim team started training almost as soon as they arrived back on campus this fall, with the second week of classes being their first official practice. Less than a month later, the “Water Buffs” kicked off their competition season on Sept. 29 at the Lindsey Wilson College Invitational. Since then they have had five additional meets spread out from October to January. Last weekend the Buffs faced Mars Hill University for their last normal meet of the season.
Now the “Water Buffs” are training hard so they can taper and rest up for their Conference Championships this weekend, Feb. 9-10, at the Kingsport Aquatic Center. Come and support your Buffs and cheer them on for a job well done as they showcase their racing and techniques after many months of preparation and training.
Milligan’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are also heading into their championship seasons. Though they have not had a season as long as the swim team’s, they have still been competing as early as October.
The men’s team had their first game on Oct. 28 at the University of the Cumberlands and have since played 26 additional games. The Buffs are currently ranked seventh in the Appalachian Athletic Conference standings, with only the top eight teams moving on to play in the AAC tournament. They have five more AAC games to play, and if the Buffs can keep their standing in the top eight after those games they will move on to the tournament. The men’s basketball ACC tournament is set for Feb. 21-24 at the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort & Convention Center in Kingsport, Tenn.
The women’s team started their competition season a little after the men’s, with their first game on No. 3. The Lady Buffs have since played 25 additional games and are also currently seventh in the AAC standings. The Buffs have six AAC games left before the AAC tournament to maintain their current standing or hopefully move up a few spots. The women’s basketball AAC tournament is set for Feb. 22-24 and is also located at the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort & Convention Center in Kingsport, Tenn.
Milligan’s track and field teams kicked off their seasons at indoor meets back on Nov. 29 at the AAC Winter Kickoff Meet. They have since competed at five meets and have one more to go until their AAC Championship Meet. The track and field team’s ACC Championship meet is scheduled for Feb. 16 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
In perhaps the longest season of all, Milligan’s cycling team started their season at their first meet on Aug. 19 at Rock Hill. They have since raced at over 13 meets including two different USA Cycling National Championships (Mountain Bike and Cyclocross). Though they are not yet wrapping up their season, they are heading into the final stretch. They have six more meets until their last USA Cycling National Championship in the Road Racing division, which is scheduled for May 4-7 in Grand Junction, Colo.