ANDERSON, Ind. - The Bluffton University women's swimming and diving team kicked off its 2023-24 campaign in style, defeating Hanover College at Anderson University on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. The men took third at Bennett Natatorium.

Dominating the competition and the record book on Friday was freshman Grace Beck (Lima/Homeschooled) who broke three records and claimed two first-place finishes. She dominated the 200 yard freestyle (2:12.65), winning by nearly eight seconds, then came back to roll through the 50 yard freestyle (25.69) for her second victory of the night. Beck moved to the top of the Bluffton all-time lists by 20 and three seconds, respectively! 

Beck was part of the school-record setting 200 yard freestyle (2:16.00) with Sydney Grisier (Bryan), Savannah Fritz (Temperance, Mich./Temperance Bedford) and Havin Montague (Celina), eclipsing the mark by over two seconds and placing third Friday night. She added a third place showing in the 100 yard IM (1:09.17).

Grisier took 2nd in the 1-meter dive, scoring 145.05 points which bested her previous mark by over 12 points! She also established a school record in the 50 yard breastroke (42.31) while placing 3rd.

Fritz bumped Grisier down a slot in the 50 yard backstroke list with her school-record 40.11 on Friday.

The men also got in on the record setting at Anderson as Grant Patton (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley) finished with a time of 30.56 in the 50 yard backstroke.

Sophomore Riley Bruns (Maria Stein/Marion Local) knocked a half-second off his school-record time in the 50 yard freestyle (24.28) and he now owns four of our top five times in the event, including 1 through 3! Ashton Davis (Colonial Heights, VA) made his Bluffton debut with the number 2 mark all-time in the 50 yard backstroke as he trails only Patton.

Bluffton will be back in the pool on Friday, Oct. 20, when the Beavers travel to Hiram College for a 6 p.m. meeting with the Terriers.

-BEAVERS-