COMMERCE, Calif. --- All season long Biola's swimmers have worked to get themselves in shape for this meet, the 2013 Winter Invitational hosted by the University of La Verne, the hard work paid off.
 
Eight different Biola swimmers qualified for nationals in 10 different events in a meet that saw Eagles drop times all around.
 
"We had a really great meet, as you can tell from looking at how many people dropped time and how many new cuts we got," said Head Coach Eddie Shepard. "I was especially impressed with how well our guy sprinters swam and it was very exciting to have so many new people qualify for nationals."
 
Brandon Hughes (100-freestyle), Bretton Smith (50-freestyle) and Michael Severi (200-freestyle) were three of the guy sprinters that Shepard was referring to. Each of the three qualified for nationals in the sprint event, and Hughes also qualified in the 100-backstroke (:54.34).
 
Joining those three at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national meet will be: Abby Blake (400 IM), Victoria Andreas (200-freestyle), Chad LeJeune (200 IM), Megan Nerud (200-breaststroke) and Sarah Shepard (100-backstroke, 50-freestyle).
 
"We swam strong all around. This is the meet that we had been training for all semester long, and the hard work really paid off," said Shepard. "I think that it was a great way to end the first half of our season as we go into our winter break. The way that the team performed at this meet really made me excited for the second half of our season starting in early January."
 
In addition to the new national cuts was yet another record-setting performance by LeJeune. The freshman sensation swam a :58.75 to break his own school record in the 100-breaststroke.
 
Biola held its own against a field filled with stiff competition from the NAIA and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Their time at the invite comes to an end today though, although the competition continues tomorrow.
 
The Eagles did their work over the course of the two days they were at the meet though, having four different individuals qualify for the head finals races and numerous relay teams finish high in the pack.
 
Nerud was one of the individuals to put in a strong performance in the prelims in order to qualify high in the nationals. She proved her versatility by participating in the head finals heat in the 100-backstroke and qualifying for nationals in a breaststroke event.
 
The Eagles get a few weeks off to relax and enjoy the holidays, but they hop back into the pool Jan. 4 for a home meet against Fresno Pacific, Alaska-Fairbanks and Pomona-Pitzer.