NAIA program the University of the Cumberlands had a good day on Friday in their last scored dual meet of the season against Life University. The Patriots men and women won both sides of the meet as they honored 4 seniors prior to the meet. The victories mean both teams finished their regular seasons with 7-0 records in dual meets.
And also, there was a proposal of the highest order: junior Brian Gibbs proposed to his senior girlfriend Jessica Pope, and she said yes!
As Cumberlands heads toward the Mid-South Conference Championships in Kingsport, Tennessee, the pair will be dreaming of wedding plans.
Gibbs took 2nd in the 200 free in 2:14.00 and 5th in the 200 breast in 2:57.57 (both off events for him), while Pope was 4th in both the 50 free in 28.63 and the 100 IM in 1:11.36 (also off events – she’s primarily a distance freestyler). Both swimmers qualified for and competed at last year’s NAIA National Championship meet, with Pope scoring via a 13th-place finish in the 1650 free. The women’s team finished 6th overall at that meet while the men placed 4th.
See a photo of the big moment below.
Congratulations to Patriots Jessica Pope and Brian Gibbs!!! pic.twitter.com/4DSCr0neJq
— UC Patriot Swimming & Diving (@UCPatriots_Swim) January 20, 2018