Milligan swimming delivered a historic performance at the NAIA Swimming and Diving National Championships, securing the school’s first relay national title, five runner-up finishes, nine All-American honors, and 16 school records.
The men’s team placed third in the nation with 343.5 points, while the women’s team finished eighth with 191 points.
All-American honoree Caleb Fry earned runner-up finishes in the men’s 100-yard breaststroke and 200 breaststroke with times of 53.92 and 1:59.00, respectively. Fellow All-American swimmer Robert Adam placed second in the men’s 200 individual medley with a time of 1:48.09. The Buffaloes also finished second in the men’s 400 freestyle relay with a time of 2:58.97.
Fry, a junior computer science major, broke school records in the men’s 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, and 50 freestyle. He was also part of three school record-breaking relay teams: the men’s 200 freestyle, 200 medley, and 400 freestyle.
“Nationals was a ton of fun,” Fry said. “It was really exciting to be part of the first Milligan relay to win a national title. Swimming with this team is always a blast, and I’m very fortunate that I get to swim with them for one more year.”
On the women’s side, standout All-American honoree Mary Grace Bitting, a junior biology major, set a school record in the women’s 100 butterfly with a time of 57.15, placing ninth. Junior nursing major Riley Renaud earned the women’s team’s only podium finish, placing third in the 1,650 freestyle.
The championship meet took place March 5-8 at the Elkhart Aquatic Center in Elkhart, Indiana.
Photo 1: Fry Nationals, by Duncan Arnold
Photo 2: Nationals pool, by Emily Haas
by Alissa Smith