The Millsaps College men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams opened their 2026 fall season with two meets over the weekend. The teams competed at the Magnolia Invitational hosted by Delta State University on Friday and then traveled to Rhodes College on Saturday, according to school officials.
At the Magnolia Invitational in Cleveland, Mississippi, freshmen Eric Branco, Ricky Wells, and Zoe Grace Denton made their collegiate debuts. Junior transfer Holden Cooke also competed. Senior Payton Jones participated in four events, recording a 2:10.94 in the 200-yard freestyle and a 2:33.61 in the 200-yard individual medley.
Branco finished 13th in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25.01, and in Cleveland, he swam the 100-yard backstroke in 1:02.53. Cooke clocked a 24.32 in the 50-yard freestyle, placing 11th. Wells finished 12th in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.60 and also swam the 100-yard freestyle in 54.49 seconds. The group teamed up in the 200-yard medley relay to finish in 1:54.37 and in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:39.55.
On the women’s side, Denton finished seventh in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 31.49 and 11th in the 100-yard freestyle in 1:12.02. She also swam the 200-yard freestyle in 2:35.66. The following day, at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, the team competed in a meter pool. Branco placed third in the 40-meter butterfly (28.60) and fourth in the 50-meter backstroke (32.31). Wells finished fourth in the 50-meter butterfly (29.50) and 50-meter backstroke (33.69). Jones competed in the 50-meter butterfly (32.05) and the 400-meter freestyle (5:33.88).
Cooke posted a 26.94 in the 50-meter freestyle and a 37.87 in the 50-meter breaststroke. Branco, Cooke, Wells, and Jones teamed for a fourth-place finish in the 200-meter medley relay with a time of 2:07.97 and completed the 200-meter freestyle relay in 1:50.06. Denton finished with a time of 6:16.66 in the 400-meter freestyle and seventh in the 50-meter butterfly (43.50). The team will return to competition Saturday at a tri-meet hosted at the Grit Training Facility in Flowood, Mississippi, against Berry College and Rhodes College.
Millsaps Athletics encourages fans to follow the teams on X and Instagram and like their Facebook page for updates. The college, founded in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1890, is known for its academic excellence and commitment to diversity and social progress.
