Barbourville, KY – The fourth-ranked UC men's swimming & diving team posted three wins and 11 NAIA national cuts to lead the field after the first day of competition at the Bulldogs Invitational Friday night.  Cumberlands accumulated 376 points to gap the field heading into the final two days of competition.

The Patriots shined during the relays earning a pair of wins.  UC opened the night session with Ruben Gonzalez de Oliveira, Enzo Esteves, Daniel Ruiz Ramis, and Julio Heck da Silva teaming up to win the 200 free relay with a time of 1:24.39.  That is the fastest time in the NAIA this season and three seconds faster than their previous season best. 

Cumberlands closed out the day with the group of Nicolas Cecioni, Mikolaj Kala, Martin Herion, and Gonzalez de Oliveira taking top honors in the 400-medley relay.  The quartet clocked the second fastest time in the NAIA this season going 3:27.91.

In addition to the relays, Cumberlands had seven swimmers achieve NAIA provisional cuts in their respective individual events.  Esteves led the way for the Patriots capturing the lone individual win on the day in the 50 free.  The junior, who enter the finals with the second fastest time, touched the wall in 20.98 to edge out the competition for the win and tally the second fastest time this season.

Teammate Julio Heck de Silva notched a season best time of 21.53 to place third, while Daniel Ruiz Ramis finished 11^th with a national qualifying mark of 21.89. 

Another Patriot tallied the second fastest time in the NAIA this season as Gonzalez de Oliveira paced a 4:39.01 in the 500 free.  That time was a nine second season-best and earned the freshman a runner-up finish.  John Morgan McDonald touched the wall in 4:43.41 to finish fourth and improve on his NAIA provisional cut.

Posting a three second improvement in the 200 IM gave Andres Caicedo a runner-up finish in the event.  The freshman went 1:55.27, which ranks third in the NAIA this season.  Peyton Berter edged out teammate Kala for sixth place in the event as the duo swam 1:57.33 and 1:58.02, respectively.  Herion posted the fastest time out of the consolation heat as he went 1:56.44 to finish 11^th and clip the provisional cut.

Cumberlands will return to the water Saturday for the second day of competition at the Bulldogs Invitational.  Prelims set to begin at 10 a.m., while the finals will start at 6 p.m.

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