OKLAHOMA CITY, Calif. --- Biola saw three swimmers and a relay team place in the top three to earn All-America honors and four more school records fall to highlight action at the final day of the 2013 NAIA Swimming and Diving National Championships at Oklahoma City Community College on Saturday night.
The Eagles capped off another impressive season by finishing in the top 10 on both the men's and women's sides. On the women's side, Biola matched a program-best with a seventh-place finish, scoring 242 points overall. The men finished eighth with 198 points.
Biola had a pair of national runners-up on the final day of competition. On the men's side, Eric Sirjord finished second and became the first Biola swimmer to go under 16 minutes in the 1,650m, finishing in 15:57.42.
Sophomore Christine Tixier added to her haul with a second-place finishing in the 200 fly, touching in 2:03.43 to set a new school record. Tixier, who won the 100 fly on Friday, narrowly missed the sweep as she was edged out at the wall by one-tenth of a second.
Chris Stutzman continued to impress in his final year, placing third in the 100 free in 44.76 to earn All-America honors.
Stutzman capped the meet by swimming the anchor leg of the 400 free relay team which placed third overall. Nick Steadman, Austin Sarna, Brandon Hughes and Stutzman swam to a time of 3:04.49 to set a new school record and become the first Biola relay team to finish in the top three and earn All-America.
Other top 16 finishes came from Abby Blake (1650 Free - 10th - 18:14.59), Daniel Mendoza (1650 Free - 14th - 17:12.60), Megan Nerud (200 Back - 11th - 2:11.32), Sarah Shepard (200 back - 14th - 2:13.32), Angela Kirschner (100 free - 10th - 53.71) and Megan Bredenberg (200 breast - 15th - 2:40.64).
Overall, Biola set 16 new records and had six top three finishes (All-Americans).
"I could not have been more pleased with how well our team performed over the three day meet," said Head Coach Eddie Shepard. "I truly feel blessed to be able to coach such a hard working and dedicated group of students. They gave 110% all year long and were rewarded with a truly exceptional performance at Nationals. I cannot think of a better way to end the season and I am so proud of how well everyone swam."
