LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The Eagles are finally finished with a long, fast and challenging Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference Championship meet, but they come out all smiles after adding a large handful of swimmers to their nationals team and finishing in a good team position.
 
The women's squad placed eighth of 11 teams, and the men's contingent took fifth out of seven programs.
 
Crhstine Tixier headlined Saturday's performances by placing second in the 200-butterly. The finish was the highest individual finish at the conference meet in Biola swim and dive history.
 
She swam a great race, and managed to outswim many other women who were fully rested and tapered an wearing tech suits, despite not being rested and wearing a standard practice suit.
 
Scott West and William Granberry brought it home on the men's side, finishing in seventh and eighth, respectively, in the 1,650-freestyle. The swimmers showed tremendous endurance as they logged some top times in the over 17 minute event. Granberry dropped nearly 50 seconds from his previous season-best in the event, and West was able to shave 29 seconds.
 
"I was so impressed by how well our team performed at the end of this long and difficult meet," said Head Coach Eddie Shepard. "We had so many good swims this week that it was hard to even keep track of them all. The team really came together and supported each other throughout the four days of competition."
 
Biola swam so well that it enlarged the number of student-athletes on its NAIA national-qualifying team to 21. This will be the largest contingent of swimmers and divers that Biola has ever taken to the national meet.
 
Amber Smith became the final member of that team with a very-quick swim in the 100-freestyle during today's competition. She hit a :56.52 to snag a late qualification for the meet in Oklahoma next month.
 
In addition to Smith, the Eagles got new qualifications out of five swimmers who were already a part of the national team. Austin Sarna notched his third qualification with a sub-:50 time in the 100-freestyle, Victoria Turner snagged two more events with good swims in the 100-freestyle and 200-backstroke, Matthew Flodin and Brandon Hughes both hit the mark in the 100-freestyle, and Jennifer Walker swam a 2:19.37 to qualify in the 200-butterfly.
 
"I am extremely proud of all of our swimmers for the hard work they have put in this season," said Shepard. "I am also thankful to God for blessing us with such great performances throughout this meet."
 
The Eagles' team of 21 will fly to Oklahoma City to compete in the NAIA National Championship meet March 6-8.