The Master's University aquatic program has become well-acquainted with making history in its short time of existence.
TMU was at it again Saturday, when its men's 200-yard medley and 200-freestyle relays qualified for NAIA nationals during a meet at Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, California.
The foursome of
Brandon Watson,
Raymie Matiashowski,
Xavier Gutierrez and
Garrett Cargile finished the 200 medley in a time of 1 minute, 47.52 seconds – more than three seconds below the NAIA's A standard – making them the first men in program history to qualify for the national meet, which will be held in Knoxville, Tennessee, in March.
Later in the day, Watson, Gutierrez, Cargile and
Mazen Hussien qualified in the 200 free relay, hitting a mark of 1:34.36.
Before Saturday, the Mustang women had already punched two relay tickets to nationals in 2019, as they did in the program's first-ever meet a year ago.
This year, head coach
Byron Davis and
Gabe Woodward, TMU's director of aquatics, bulked up the school's men's roster with a strong freshman class. The move is already paying off.
Gutierrez hit the NAIA "B" cut in the 100 free on Saturday, meaning he can add the 100 as a "bonus" event at nationals if he swims on one of TMU's relay teams at nationals. He swam a time of 49.68 on Saturday. The "A" standard is 48.55.
On the women's side,
Simone Williams,
Faith Cancik,
Alisal Perez and
Selma Matiashowski combined to swim an impressive 200 free relay. The foursome finished in 1:54.70, a time that was good enough to be under the NAIA's A standard. But Master's had already qualified in the event.
Saturday's meet concluded the fall racing season for Master's, which will next compete at the Biola Invite in January.
