Columbus, Ga. – [RESULTS] Keiser (Fla.) scored 785 points to run away with their fourth straight NAIA national title Saturday night at the Columbus Aquatic Center.  In addition to capturing the team title, the Seahawks took home three of the top four awards for the meet.

The Seahawks record two more individual national titles and a pair of runner-up finishes during Saturday’s finals.  The Seahawks tallied a one-two finish in the 200 back as Fynn Kunze went 1:46.79 to finish atop the podium, while Marti Ranea Vila placed second with a time of 1:47.07.  Alberto Garcia followed that up by winning the 100 free, touching the wall in 43.93 as Emerson Zaplater garnered a runner-up finish in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 1:59.14.

Garcia’s 100 free win was his third individual national title of the championship as he also took first in the 50 freestyle and 100 fly to help him be named Co-NAIA Men’s Swimmer of the Meet.  Zaplater earned the NAIA Swimmer of the Meet for his national champion swim in the 100 breast stroke, where he posted a winning time of 53.38.  Keiser’s Head Coach Adam Epstein was voted the NAIA Coach of the Year.

SCAD-Savannah’s (Ga.) Joel Thatcher was named the Co-NAIA Men’s Swimmer of the Year after placing first in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle and 1650 freestyle.  Bethel (Ind.) Nick Bohm captured the final award of the evening as his national championship performance in the 1-meter dive earned him NAIA Diver of the Year.  He recorded a 222.20 on the board Saturday night.

SCAD placed second overall in the team standings with 427 points.  Thatcher opened the night for the Bees by pulling away from the field to win the 1650 free by 28 seconds, clocking a time of 15:27.79.  SCAD notched a one-two finish in the 100 fly as Nicholas Kredich went 1:48.96 to earn the national title, while Brandon Vives’ time of 1:50.13 was the national runner.  SCAD closed out the championships with Samuel Page, Kristof Monori, Kredich, and Thatcher teaming up to win the 400 free relay with a time of 3:01.17.

Cumberlands (Ky.) recorded 335 points to place third overall, their highest finish at an NAIA National Championship.  The Patriots had five All-American performances on the final day to fend off a late charge.  Kacper Sobieszuk notched Cumberlands highest individual finish of the day with a third-place finish in the 200 fly.

Competing in their first NAIA championship, St. Thomas (Fla.) notched a fourth-place finish in the team standings with 316.5 points.  Inigo Marina captured the 200 breaststroke title as he touched the wall in 1:58.32. 

Milligan (Tenn.) rounded out the top five team scoring with 289 points.  Stephen Gilbert of Milligan broke the lone NAIA record of the meet when he won the 400 IM with a time of 3:51.08 breaking the national record by almost a second.