KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Tiger swimming traveled south to Kingsport, Tennessee over the weekend to compete in the Mid-South Conference Championships.
 
With competition beginning on Thursday, freshman standout Sebastian Escobar started the meet off well for CU, swimming a 4:39.34 in the 500-yard freestyle to finish as MSC runner up with an NAIA A-cut mark.
 
Collin McGuire then followed Escobar's performance with his own career best mark in the 200 IM, where he earned a B-cut with a 1:59.67 for 10^th place. Noah Ackermann joined McGuire in the event, marking a career-best mark of 2:05.80 for 16^th place overall.
 
The Tigers also put a crew in the 50 freestyle, as Justin Spalding (23.27), Micah Lauer (24.06), Brandon Bagwell (24.38), RJ Harris (22.87) and Nick Kessler (23.50) all earned season best performances. Tucker Hardin also joined the group, marking a 23.51.
 
Harris worked his way to the finals as his 22.76 earned him 15^th overall.
 
The Tigers closed the evening as the 800 freestyle relay team of Harris, McGuire, Hardin, and Escoabar swam a 7:18.62 for fifth place.
 
As the competition continued into Friday, McGuire (4:21.52) and Ackermann (4:53.58) led CU off with the 400 IM, as the pair went for sixth and tenth in the event. The pair hit season bests as McGuire added a national A-cut to his evening.
 
Harris and Hardin then followed in the 100 fly, as the duo swam career best marks to reach the finals. In the finals, Harris lowered his career mark with a 56.02 for 14^th place. Hardin joined him with a 59.07 for 16^thoverall.
 
Escobar, then got back into action in the 200 freestlye as he marked an NAIA A-cut with a career best 1:42.44 for another second-place finish.
 
Spalding and Lauer made their ways back into action in the 100 breaststroke with a pair of career bests to earn finals appearances. Spalding then earned another career mark with a 1:02.18 for seventh place. Lauer followed in 11^th with a time of 1:03.82.
 
Kessler and Ackerman jumped back in the water earning finals appearances in the 100-yard backstroke. As the pair swam career best times in the finals, Ackermann (57.21) led Kessler (58.45) as the duo placed 11^thand 12^th.
 
Tigers Kessler, Spalding, McGuire, and Escobar closed the day with a 3:42.00 for fifth place in the 400-medley relay.
 
As swimming reopened Saturday, Sebastian Escobar once again worked his way to a career best and NAIA A-cut 16:29.99 for third place overall in the 1650 freestyle.
 
Kessler also went on to work his way to an eighth-place finish in the 200 yard backstroke with a 2:12.36.
 
Again, seniors Hardin and Harris jumped in the water together swimming 50.74 and 50.76 in the 100 freestyle. As Harris just missed Hardin's mark, Harding was able to use his time to advance to finals, where he placed 16^th overall.
 
The Tigers were able to place three people in the finals of the 200 breaststroke as Spalding (2:19.30) led Lauer (2:22.81) and Bagwell (2:33.06). The trio all earned top 10 finishes, placing seventh, eighth, and 10^thoverall.
 
Individually, McGuire closed the day for CU as he hit another NAIA A-cut marker with a 2:00.21 in the 200 fly preliminary. He then followed that with a 2:03.50 for seventh place.
 
The relay team of Harris, Hardin, McGuire, and Escobar closed competition for CU with fifth place in the 400-yard freestyle with a 3:18.94.
 
Campbellsville finished the competition with 309.5 points to finish in fifth place in the team standings. The University of the Cumberlands captured the team championship with 875.5 points.
 
The Tigers will now have a few weeks off before returning to the water on March 4^th for the NAIA Championships.