Ball State University Athletics
Swimming & Diving Travels To Eastern Illinois Saturday
October 10, 2008 | Women's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State men's and women's swimming & diving teams return to action Saturday, when they travel to Eastern Illinois for a 1 p.m. (CT) dual meet at Padovan Pool.
Saturday's dual meet versus the Panthers will be a homecoming for BSU co-head coach Bob Thomas, who won 14 national championships as a swimmer for EIU. Thomas, who earned his bachelor's degree in 1974 and his master's degree in physical education in 1975 from Eastern Illinois, collected seven NAIA national titles in 1971 and 1972 and seven NCAA Division II titles in 1973 and 1974.
During the summer of 2002, his alma mater bestowed its highest athletic honor on Thomas, when it inducted him into its Athletic Hall of Fame -- making him one of just two swimmers in the school's history to receive such recognition.
Last season, both the BSU men's and women's squads scored season-opening wins over Eastern Illinois. The men's team tallied a 139-94 victory, while the women's squad collected a 143-85 triumph. Overall, the squads combined for 20 first-place finishes in the 26-event meet.
Mary Ehresman (1000 Free ? 10:44.98), Katie Bylsma (50 Free ? 24.65), Erika Paul (200 IM - 2:14.24 & 200 Back ? 2:11.92), Maria Gramelspacher (200 Fly ? 2:08.82), Lauren Harger (100 Free ? 54.44) and Emily Hurst (500 Free ? 5:23.64) are BSU's returning women's event winners from last season's meet.
Kyle Hembree (1000 Free ? 10:17.08 & 500 Free ? 5:01.54), Mark Augustyn (200 Free ? 1:47.09), Ben Battjes (50 Free ? 21.68 & 100 Free ? 49.17), Wells Arwood (200 Fly ? 1:59.47), Tyler Dixon (200 Back ? 2:01.09) are BSU's returning men's event winners from last season's meet.
