Boiling Springs, NC – The #4 Cumberlands men's swimming team posted five wins and had ten swims that clipped national cuts as the Pats faced their first NCAA DI opponent since 2019.  The Patriots fell to Garner-Webb 119.5-84.5 but had several strong performances on the day.

Titouan Bernot had a strong debut posting a pair of individual wins.  The Nancy, France native opened the meet clocking a 1:39.70 to win the 200 free.  That time hit the NAIA provisional cut and ranks tenth in the NAIA this season.  Bernot followed that up touching the wall in 46.42, winning the 100 free by over a second.  

Alexander Poulsen continued his impressive freshman campaign as he clocked a 20.97 to win the 50 free.  Arvid Farro went 21.52 in the 50 free and 47.46 in the 100 free to place third in both events, while clipping the national standard.
Bernot, Poulsen, Farro and Adam Geddis teamed up to win the 200 free relay.  The quartet posted a winning time of 1:23.96.

UC's final win came in the 200 IM, where Fabrizio Pacioni clocked a 1:57.08. 

In the 200 fly, a pair of Patriots clipped the NAIA provisional cut as Juan Ramirez Zapata and Zsombor Bene went 1:55.90 and 1:56.88, respectively.

Sergio Saldamando Martinez was UC's top finisher in both the 500 free (4:59.28) and the 1000 free (10:08.76). 

In the 200 back, Brandon Holder notched a runner-up finish after touching the wall in 1:57.29.  Luke Rich led a trio of UC swimmers in the 200 breast with a time of 2:13.34.

Cumberlands opened the meet with a runner-up finish in the 400 medley relay as Holder, Leon Irmer, Poulsen and Geddis clocked a time of 3:25.99.

UC returns to the water on Friday, January 16^th, when they travel to Danville, KY to face Centre and Transylvania in a tri-meet.  That meet is set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
 
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