By Mason Nesbitt, TMU Sports Information Director

The Master’s University swim and dive team was certain to make history Saturday simply by slipping into the pool. In the end, the Mustangs made nationals.

Two TMU women’s relay teams qualified for NAIA nationals during the school’s first-ever swim meet Saturday at Soka University of American in Aliso Viejo.

“We couldn’t be more encouraged with our first meet,” said Gabe Woodward, TMU’s director of aquatics. “We have a team that’s worked hard and supported each other.”

The Mustangs sent six women into the pool and one man, falling to Soka on both sides (women, 107-85, and men 71-11), but climbing above what might have been expected for the promising first-year program this early.

In the program’s first-ever race, Journey Werner, Ali Perez, Caroline Barnett and Simone Williams swam a time of 2 minutes, 3.37 seconds in the 200-yard medley, besting the NAIA qualifying standard by better than six seconds.

TMU wasn’t finished.

In the day’s final event, Barnett, Faith Cancik, Williams and Werner teamed up to win the 200 freestyle relay in 1:50.53, again well under the NAIA’s standard.

Barnett was an individual force.

The freshman, who also played on the Mustangs’ women’s soccer team this year, won the 50 and 100 free races and the 100 butterfly.

Her times in all three events narrowly missed the NAIA’s standard, something that isn’t at the top of Woodward’s priority list this season.

The coach said the goal for this year’s team was to build a competitive culture and lay a foundation for teams to come – with an eye on advancing to nationals.

The relays made that a reality, punching tickets for five to NAIA nationals in Columbus, Georgia, from Feb. 27 to March 2.

First, the Mustangs will compete at the Pacific Collegiate Swimming and Diving Conference finals in La Mirada, California, starting Feb. 13. But hours after Saturday’s meet, Master’s head coach Byron Davis was still thinking about a historic day when he called Woodward.

“He said, ‘That was pretty awesome,'” Woodward said.

TMU’s Riley Buenaventura finished second in the men’s 50 free (26.61) and second in the 100 free (1:01.16). He won’t be alone for long.

Jared Vegas and Garrett Cargile signed with the Mustangs at a ceremony in The Macarthur Center last week, and Woodward doesn’t expect that to be the end of TMU’s haul.

“It’s a bright future,” Woodward said, “and these kids are there to lay the groundwork for future success, to serve the Lord and serve Master’s in the pool every day. It’s exciting.”