Kansas City, MO – Heading into tomorrow's regular season finale against Milligan, the UC men's swimming and diving team is ranked third in the NAIA Coaches' Poll, announced by the national office Friday.  It marks the ninth consecutive poll in which UC is ranked in the top-five of the NAIA.

The Patriots tallied 569.60 points in the poll and has 18 times that rank in the top-16 of the NAIA.  UC has four swimmers with multiple top marks led by Ruben Gonzalez de Oliveira, the four-time MSC Swimmer of the Week, with three top-ten marks.  The freshman is ranked third in the 200 free with a time of 1:40.31, has clocked a 46.04 in the 100 free and 4:39.01 in the 500 free to be ranked sixth and tenth, respectfully.

The trio of Martin Herion, Mikolaj Kala, and John Morgan McDonald have each recorded have a pair of top marks.  Herion continues to be a tear in the fly events as he has gone 1:52.11 to be ranked fifth in the 200 fly, while he is ranked 11^th in the 100 fly with a mark of 50.59.

Earning a pair of top-ten rankings, Kala has achieved the NAIA provisional standard in three events.  His highest ranking came in the 200 breast, where he is ranked sixth with a time of 2:03.48.  The sophomore has also gone 56.56 in the 100 breast, which ranks seventh in the NAIA.

McDonald, the seven time NAIA All-American, looks to add to that resume as he is ranked seventh in the 1650 free with a time of 16:17.23.  He is also in scoring position for the 500 free as he clocked a 4:43.41, which is 16^th-best.               

In the 50 free, Enzo Esteves notched a top-ten time as his mark of 20.98 is ranked seventh.  Julio Heck da Silva is ranked 16^th in the 100 free with a time of 46.71.

Andres Caicedo and Peyton Berter round out the Patriots lineups with one top mark.  Caicedo is ranked 12^th in the 200 IM (1:55.27), as Berter is ranked 15^th in the 200 breast (2:08.16).

Cumberlands relays has performed well this season led by their freestyle relays that are ranked fourth in the country and four of the Patriots five relays have the top time in the Mid-South Conference this season.

Keiser earned 672.25 points to be ranked atop the poll, while St. Thomas, St. Ambrose, and Milligan round out the top-five.  Lindsey Wilson and Campbellsville are also ranked in the top-ten of the poll.

Cumberlands will look to close out their season undefeated in dual meets as they host fifth-ranked Milligan Saturday, January 21, at noon in the Patriots Aquatic Center.  Live video of the meet is available here.

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