COLUMBUS, Ga. — The aquatic Tigers and Lady Tigers of Campbellsville raced in seven relays and seven individual events at the NAIA National Championship in at the Columbus Aquatic Center.

At the beginning of the season, the Tigers and Lady Tigers had two goals — to qualify both teams to the NAIA National Championships and the second was to score points when they got there.

"This year, we accomplished both of our goals," said coach Casey Smith. "Both of the men's relays improved their times, as they swam very well together. The girls improved all five of their relay times as they recorded a new team record as well. I'm proud of everyone's results."

All seven relays that competed at the 2016 NAIA National Championship finished with new school records.

In the 200 Medley Relay – Katie Miller, Emily Hunter, Bailey Foxworth and Shelby Mattingly – placed 18^th with a time of 1:57.67.

The Lady Tigers – Katy Lewis, Foxworth, Mattingly, Jen Lewis- nearly missed the finals in the 800 Freestyle Relay placing 17^th finishing in 8:25.68.

In the 200 Freestyle Relay, Jessica Cook, Foxworth, K. Lewis and Mattingly placed 14^th in the prelims with a time of 1:42.82, qualifying them for the finals. Later that day, the relay team placed 16^th in the finals with a time of 1:43.28.

In the 400 Medley relay – Cook, J. Lewis, Foxworth, Mattingly – finished in 4:20.25 barely missing the finals as they placed 18^th.

The Lady Tigers raced in the 400 freestyle relay in the prelims. Jessica Cook, Bailey Foxworth, Jen Lewis and Shelby Mattingly placed 17th with a time of 3:48.76.

This was the first appearance at the national championship since the reinstatement of the Tiger swim team. In the prelims of the 200 men's 200 Medley Relay, Chris Telman, Devon Cross, Alex Meade and Eduardo Doilin placed 18^th in 1:46.93. In the 200 Freestyle Relay – Telman, Doilin, Devon Cross and Brandon Wiseheart finished in a time of 1:32.55 placing 17^th.

Individually, freshman Katy Lewis, swam in the 200 butterfly prelims and finished with a time of 2:24.58, placing 24th.

Bailey Foxworth swam the 1650 freestyle for the last time as she placed in 15th in 18:52.13. She also swam the 500 Freestyle finishing with a time of 5:38.19, placing 35^th.

Foxworth set a season best in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 1:00.38 as she placed 20^th.

Shelby Mattingly a senior from Versailles, Ky., finished middle of the pack in the 100 Freestyle as she placed 28th with a time of 55.08. In the 50 Freestyle Mattingly placed 29^th out of 54 swimming with a time of 25.19.

Mattingly placed in the 37^th in the 200 Freestyle with a time of 2:02.99.

Graduate assistant, Patrick Sonsteng thought both teams fought valiantly this week at nationals.

"Both teams dropped times in most of their events," said Sonsteng. "The competition level was high which made it even more exciting to come back and score in the women's 200 free relay.

"The peak of nationals was winning the Champions of Character team award."

In team points, the Lady Tigers ended the National Championship with four points. SCAD Savannah's women and the Tigers of Olivet Nazarene took home the hardware. This is the third national championship for the SCAD Savannah and the first-ever for Olivet Nazarene.

"This has been a great season, our best yet. I am grateful for all my student-athletes," said Smith.

Before competition started Campbellsville University men's and women's swimming has six student-athletes be named NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
On the women's side, Emily Hunter, Shelby Mattingly, Amber Wright and Casey Galyon were named NAIA Scholar-Athlete. For the Tigers, Luke Camp and Brandon Wiseheart picked up the honor.