DANVILLE, Ky.- The Campbellsville University men's swimming team competed at the three-day Speedo Invitational, facing a competitive field of NAIA and NCAA programs. The meet served as a mid-season test, highlighted by Adrien Cantemerle's 500 Free provisional NAIA cut and Jacob Issacson's school record in the 200 Back.
Day One:
On day one of the Speedo Invitational, the Campbellsville men's team made their first finals appearance in the 200 Free Relay with three squads competing in the evening session. The A-team (Cantemerle, Bikash Kumal, Kyle Kleinhans, Andreu Jaen Serra) led with a 1:29.16, including a notable 21.74 split from Kleinhans. The B-relay (Luis Castro, Issacson, Domantas Petraitis, Kirkland May) finished in 1:30.62, with Petraitis and May delivering sub-23 splits. The C-relay (Lucca Vieirra Motta, William Moore, Adam Peeden, Garrett Schmidt) posted a 1:36.86, giving Campbellsville strong representation in the finals.
In the 500 Free, the Tigers packed the B-final with three qualifiers, showing the program's distance depth loud and clear. Cantemerle surged to a massive personal best, throwing down a 4:45.20 to finish 11th overall and earn a provisional NAIA cut. Castro and Jaen Serra matched stroke-for-stroke in the heat, both touching in 4:48.74 for solid finals swims. Campbellsville returned once more in the 400 Medley Relay, placing two teams in the finals session to close out the night. The A-finals relay of Petraitis, Kumal, Castro, and Cantemerle posted a strong 3:35.89, with Cantemerle anchoring in a fiery 47.01. The B-relay Issacson, Jaen Serra, Kleinhans, and May followed with a 3:42.46, highlighted by May's 49.41 freestyle leg. From sprints to distance to relays, every Campbellsville swimmer who earned a finals lane delivered, making day one a statement of depth, growth, and momentum for the Tigers.
Day Two:
The 200 Medley Relay kicked off the night, with Campbellsville fielding three squads. The A-team of Petraitis, Kumal, Kleinhans, and Cantemerle posted a 1:38.75, anchored by Cantemerle's 21.78 freestyle split to secure a top-20 finish. The B-relay of Issacson, Jaen Serra, Castro, and Motta delivered consistent splits with Motta closing in 23.34, while the C-relay of Peeden, Schmidt, May, and Moore rounded out the Tigers' entries in 1:50.06.
In the 100 Butterfly, two Tigers advanced to the C-final, both improving from prelims: Kleinhans touched in 54.17 (personal best) and Kumal in 54.18 (season best). Campbellsville also earned a mid-distance highlight in the 200 Freestyle B-final, as Cantemerle dropped nearly three seconds to 1:42.77, while Jaen Serra posted a steady 1:47.06 after a heavy first day. The 100 Breaststroke B-final saw Kumal under a minute again with a 59.96 season best.
Campbellsville's backstroke contingent showcased impressive depth, with three swimmers hitting personal bests in the B and C finals. Petraitis led the B-final with a 54.12 personal best, while Issacson, Kleinhans, and May all improved in the C-final. The Tigers closed day two with the 800 Freestyle Relay, where the A-relay clocked 7:05.75, Cantemerle delivering CU's fastest split of 1:44.54, and the B-relay finished 7:39.49, showing determination and consistency to cap another successful night.
Day Three:
On the final day of the Speedo Invitational, Campbellsville's men battled through distance events, stroke races, and relays, leaving everything in the pool. In the 1650 Free, Jaen Serra powered through the longest race of the meet with a 16:52.01, demonstrating endurance across all 66 laps. Castro followed with a season-best 16:55.36, dropping over 11 seconds.
The Tigers had a strong showing in the 200 Backstroke, with Issacson leading the B-final in a 1:58.17 personal best, Petraitis posting 1:59.57 (personal best), and Kleinhans and May going 2:03.48 and 2:05.74 (both personal bests), respectively, in the C-final. Campbellsville's sprint events were equally strong: Cantemerle clocked 48.53 in the 100 Free B-final, and Kumal dropped nearly seven seconds in the 200 Breast C-final for a 2:13.44 personal best.
The final relays showcased depth and teamwork. The 400 Free Relay A-squad of Castro, Cantemerle, Kleinhans, and Jaen Serra posted 3:15.06, while the B-relay finished 3:22.11, led by Petraitis' 49.54 split. CU's C-relay closed out the meet with Motta, Ryan Paul Jose Wolfe, Moore, and Peeden swimming a 3:39.60.
The Tigers will be back in action at home on Friday, December 5th, welcoming the University of Tennessee Southern.
