The Milligan University swim teams clocked in 16 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) provisional times as they competed in a dual meet hosted by the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY on Saturday, January 22.
Both of Cumberlands squads are ranked No. 3 in the NAIA, while the Lady Buffs came in at fifth, and the men sixth in the national rankings. In the end, the Buffs fell to both Cumberlands squads, with the women falling 177-93, and the men 171-100.
The men came away with eight NAIA provisional standards, with Stephen Gilbert and Andre Bazzana leading the way. Gilbert secured three wins in the 100 free (47.32), 200 back (2:02.50), and 200 IM (1:55.03), all with national provisional times. Bazzana was not to be outdone, as he tallied three national provisional times of his own in the 200 free (1:43.92), 100 fly (51.38), and 200 fly (1:57.47), where he finished 1st, 2nd, and 2nd, respectively.
Wiktor Perkowski also posted a national provisional time of 21.91 in the 50 free, which was also a season-best for him. The 200 medley relay team, swam by Perkowski, Aubin Dulin, Bazzana, and Gilbert, also notched a national qualifying time of 1:35.9, even without key relay member Ethan McCosh.
The women were without key swimmer Tyler Cates but that did not stop them from picking up the second half of the national qualifying times, with Maggie Blazo picking up three in the 50 free (25.50), 100 free (55.66), and 200 free (1:58.68).
Gabby McPherson was a national qualifier and winner in both the 1000 yard freestyle (11:18.89) and the 200 fly (2:16.09), with Emma Rae Phillips joining her with a qualifying standard in the 200 fly (2:18.25). Kaylee Williams also posted wins and qualifying times in the 100 breast (1:09.52) and 200 breast (2:31.45).
Sophomore Riley Gregor weighed in on his team’s performance and their focus for the future as the season wraps up:
“This meet was definitely a good meet for us,” he said. “Our national-caliber swimmers can finally go head-to-head with other nationally-ranked competitors. We are missing quite a few key swimmers so we were not at full depth, but putting up the times we did this weekend bodes well for conference in two weeks and nationals further down the line.”
The Water Buffs will conclude their regular season at Lees-McRae next weekend before the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championships take place beginning February 10.
Caption: Freshman Andre Bazzana leading the 200m free, which he won and posted a national qualifying time of 1:43.92
Headline photo was taken from the Milligan Athletics webpage