Sherman, Texas - The Centenary men's and women's swimming teams combined to record nine individual victories on Saturday in the Austin College Invitational against the host 'Roos and University of the Ozarks at the Hannah Natatorium.
The Ladies finished second with 491 points while the Gents placed third with 286 points. Ozarks claimed wins on both the men's (541) and women's (618) side while Austin College finished second on the men's side with 325 points and third in men's action with 421 points.
Centenary was back in action for the first time since a home meet against Hendrix on Nov. 13 after the Maroon and White's meet against Millsaps scheduled for last Saturday was postponed. Centenary recorded an impressive 11 individual wins and one team win versus Hendrix after a season-high 14 in the season-opening meet at home versus McMurry back on Oct. 30 and now have 34 for the season.
The Gents claimed three individual wins on Saturday, led by a pair from sophomore Antonio Barbee (Plaquemine, La.) and one from senior Mitchell Lulich (New Orleans, La.).
Barbee won the 200 fly, swimming a time of 2:10.83 and also won the 500 free in a season-best time of 5:22.97 as he swam the 500 for the first time this season. He also earned a runner-up finish in the 200 free with his best time (1:58.79) this season. Barbee, previously named the SCAC Men's Swimmer of the Week in November for the first time in his young career, owns five individual wins so far this season.
Lulich won the 100 breast on Saturday in a season-best time of 1:04.05 and earned a runner-up finish in the 200 IM (215.89). The senior now has four individual victories this season.
The Gents placed third in both the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay. Barbee and Lulich teamed with a pair of freshmen Nathaniel Batiste Jr. (Vacherie, La.), and Cash Coats (Andrews, Texas) in the medley as they swam a time of 1:51.51. Lulich was also part of the 200 free relay team that swam a time of 1:39.36 with Coats, sophomore Jules Reny (Lille, France), and fellow sophomore Aiden Peterkin (Zachary, La.).
Reny also placed third in the 1650 free with a time of 20:46.07 and Batiste finished fourth in the 200 free (2:08.55). Coats and Batiste finished fifth (1:10.23) and sixth (1:14.48) respectively in the 100 breast. Peterkin earned a fourth-place finish in the 100 free (55.16), Coats was just behind him in fifth (55.19), and Reny placed seventh (57.43). Batiste also finished fourth in the 200 breast (2:39.48) while Peterkin finished fifth in the 100 fly (1:06.03).
See the Gents' complete season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/mswim/2021-22/schedule
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