KNOXVILLE, TENN. - The Gardner-Webb University men's and women's swimming teams competed in day three of the 2025 ASUN Championships on Friday, with junior Justin Bender setting a new conference record to help lead the 'Dawgs to a successful day

Already an ASUN champion in the men's 200 yard IM from Wednesday, Bender went one step further on Friday. The Alpharetta, Ga. native not only smashed the school record, but the ASUN record as well in the men's 100 yard breaststroke. Bender touched the wall in a blistering 52.59 seconds, taking top spot for the second time this week as an individual.

The Gardner-Webb men's 800 yard freestyle relay team also posted one of the best results of the day for the Runnin' Bulldogs. The quartet of senior Theo Drescher, graduate Samuel Ospina, sophomore Luke Weber and freshman Manuel Brandner recorded a time of 6:35.96 in the finals to take second place.

In addition to the pair of podiums, a series of Gardner-Webb athletes also made impressive individual performances and set new personal records. Among those was freshman Agustin Orechia, who placed fourth in the men's 100 yard backstroke by logging a time of 47.90 seconds. Junior Joshko Lipp also set a new PR in the same event, posting a time of 51.72 seconds.

The women's 100 yard backstroke also proved successful, highlighted by sophomore Slawka Ndubuisi. Ndubuisi posted a time of 55.52 to set a new personal best and take eighth place.

Probably the most successful individual event of the day for Gardner-Webb was the men's 100 yard breaststroke, where five Runnin' Bulldogs set new personal milestones. Freshman Joshua Johnson finished with a time of 59.68 seconds, sophomore Dan Bennett in 55.79 seconds, senior Logan Butner in 54.46 seconds, senior Ryan Taylor in 56.22 seconds, and Bender once again making headlines, with a time of 52.59 seconds as previously mentioned.

Lastly, freshman Dakota Townley continued a solid ASUN Championships debut with a new PR of 1:02.77 in the women's 100 yard breastsroke, while freshman Santiago Alcantara put a new PR of 1:47.60 on the board in the men's 200 yard fly event.

The 'Dawgs return to the pool on Saturday, taking on the final day of the 2025 ASUN Championships