ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Gardner-Webb swimming program capped off a successful 2017-18 season as the men finished ninth at the CSCAA National Invitational and the women had several strong swims.

"What a great way to end a fabulous season and a fun week in Annapolis," said head coach Mike Simpson. "Seggio Bernardina capped off a fantastic freshman season with a third-place finish and over a second drop in the 100-yard freestyle race. Jordan Mintz finished strong with a great race in 200-yard breaststroke, and Cullen Fields topped off his season with an outstanding race in his last event, the 200-yard butterfly." Lara Siebrecht and Tessa Walsh swam tough tonight, and we had great relays as well."

Siebrecht began the final day by qualifying for the 200-yard backstroke B final. She finished 11^th in the prelims with a time of 2:01.02. Walsh made the 200-yard butterfly B final with a 12^th-place finish (2:.81).

Bernardina helped the men get off to a strong start by securing a place in the 100-yard freestyle final with a runner-up finish. He was touched out by just 0.03 seconds by prelim winner Maximil Forstenhaeusler of George Washington.

Tyler Gomez (20^th, 46.01 seconds), Zach Dingfield (27^th, 46.49 seconds) and Eli Coan (DQ) also swam in the 100-yard event.

Mintz swam his way into the 200-yard breaststroke B final by placing 14^th, finishing in just over two minutes (2:03.69). Austin Toney completed the race in 2:11.01, which placed him 21^st overall.

Fields also earned a spot into a 200-yard race, the butterfly. His time of 1:49.81 secured him a lane in the A final.

When the finals began at 6 p.m., Siebrecht kicked off the session for Gardner-Webb by finishing second in the 200-yard backstroke B final (10^th overall) with time of 2:00.18.

On the men's side, Bernardina earned his second podium finish of the weekend with a third-place showing in the 100-yard freestyle. Allen Ross (South Carolina) won the event.

In the 200-yard breaststroke, Mintz was the runner-up in the B final. His time of 2:00.70 placed him 10^th overall.

The Runnin' Bulldogs had two swimmers compete in the 200-yard butterfly finals. For the men, Fields competed in the A final, finishing sixth (1:49.18). In women's competition, Walsh finished fourth in the B final and 12^th overall (2:00.95)

Gardner-Webb had two teams compete in the final event of the invitational, the 400-yard freestyle relay. The 'Dogs were led by the A squad of Bernardina, Coan, Dingfield and Gomez. The four swimmers combined for a time of 3:01.02 and seventh-place finish.

The B team of Mintz, Fields, Garrett Simpson and Toney finished in 3:09. 83.

The Gardner-Webb men ended the season with a ninth-place finish at the meet, recording 198.5 points. The US Naval Academy (461 points) narrowly topped George Washington (444.5 points) in the rankings. The Runnin' Bulldogs finished 26^th in women's action, while Florida International was declared the winner.