Ball State University Athletics
Swimming & Diving Hosts Final Home Meet Saturday
January 22, 2009 | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Both the Ball State men's and women's swimming and diving teams return to the Lewellen Aquatic Center Saturday, when they close out the home portion of their 2008-09 schedules with a dual meet versus Eastern Michigan. The men start at 1 p.m., while the women swim at 4 p.m.
The men's squad enters the contest with a 1-2 (0-1 Mid-American Conference) record, having not swam since a Dec. 13 loss at Michigan State. However, the Cardinals have had plenty of time in the pool, including a 10-day training trip to Ft. Pierce, Fla.
The women's squad enters the meet with a 2-4 (1-3 MAC) record. The women will also be returning to action for the first time since a Dec. 13 loss at Michigan State, after their meet at Illinois State (Jan. 17) had to be cancelled due to travel difficulties.
At Saturday's meet with Eastern Michigan, the Cardinals will honor the eight senior members of the program, which includes: Mark Augustyn, Rebekah Gingerich, Lauren Harger, Kyle Hembree, David Linn, Meghan Patterson, Erika Paul and Megan Ploetz.
In last season's showdown with perennial MAC power EMU, the men's squad suffered a 95-196 setback, while the women fell by a score of 127.5-167.5. Eastern Michigan owns 27 MAC men's titles, and two of the last three women's titles.
In addition to the senior swimmers and diver, the Cardinals will recognize senior managers Layne Dixon and Amanda Schneckloth.
Mark Augustyn enters the EMU meet ranked 10th in the MAC in both the 200 freestyle (1:45.30) and 1650 freestyle (17:50.40), while ranking 15th in the 500 freestyle (5:02.72).
Kyle Hembree enters the EMU meet ranked fourth in the MAC in the 1000 freestyle (9.55.90), fifth in the 1650 freestyle (16:25.55) and ninth in the 500 freestyle (4:44.53). Hembree also ranks among the league leaders in the 400 IM (seventh, 4:11.97) and 200 IM (12th, 2:02.21).
David Linn enters the EMU meet ranked fourth in the MAC in both 1-Meter (257.95) and 3-Meter (272.93) diving.
Rebekah Gingerich enters the EMU meet ranked sixth on the team in the 200 breaststroke (2:33.61) and seventh on the squad in both the 200 butterfly (2:17.96) and the 400 individual medley (4:53.31).
Lauren Harger enters the EMU meet ranked second on the squad and 12th in the MAC with a 100 breaststroke time of 1:06.38). She also ranks second on the team and 16th in the MAC in the 200 breaststroke (2:24.92).
Meghan Patterson enters the EMU meet as one of the squads top distance swimmers, ranking 17th in the MAC in the 1650 freestyle (17:45.13) and 18th in the 1000 freestyle (10:42.16).
Erika Paul enters the EMU meet as one of BSU's top individual medley swimmers, ranking 16th in the MAC in the 200 (2:10.86) and 20th in the 400 (4:40.93). She also ranks second on the squad in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:10.78.
Megan Ploetz enters the EMU meet ranked ninth in the MAC and first on the team in the 200 butterfly with an effort of 2:06.98. She also ranks 20th in the league in the 100 butterfly (59.00). Her season-best time of 2:12.19 in the 200 individual medley ranks second on the squad.
