COLUMBUS, Georgia --- Biola Swim & Dive began competition at its final NAIA Swim & Dive National Championships on Wednesday in Columbus, Georgia as it sent men and women's relay teams out for the 800-freestyle relay.
 
The Eagles earned All-American honors right away on the women's side as Emily Silzel, Rebecca Brandt, Bethany Harper and Lisa Tixier swam a 7:41.71 to finish third behind Savannah College of Art & Design and Olivet Nazarene.
 
"Our goal for the girls was to obviously go a best time, but also to finish in the top three, and they did both," said Head Coach Emily Mosbacher. "They were clearly ready to race and stepped it up to accomplish that."
 
On the men's side the guys managed to step it up on the national stage a record their best relay time of the season. The group of Michael Severi, Andrew Benson, Raymond Kam and Tom Franicevich finished ninth with a 6:58.04.
 
"The men's team also went a season best and finished in the top 10, which was also their goal going into it," said Mosbacher. "Andrew Benson split the fastest time with an impressive 1:42.34. If the meet continues to go this way, we have a lot to look forward to."
 
The two relays were the only action on day one. The meet continues Thursday through Saturday with live streaming available at http://naianetwork.com/ and live results at http://results.teamunify.com/gsscat/NAIA/?DB_OEM_ID=27900.