Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Michigan State
Women?s S&D Falls Short In Upset Bid Of Michigan State
December 12, 2009 | Women's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's swimming & diving team saw its bid at an upset victory over Big Ten foe Michigan State fall one race short Saturday afternoon, as the Spartans escaped with a 155-145 victory over the Cardinals at the Lewellen Aquatic Center.
The Cardinals entered the final race with a 143-140 lead and needed to capture first in the 200 freestyle relay to secure the win. However, BSU's top team fell 1.63 seconds shy of first place, giving the Spartans the meet victory. With the loss, Ball State's dual meet record falls to 5-4 on the year.
Overall, the Cardinals scored wins in six of the 16 events on the day. Leading the way for Ball State was junior Katie Bylsma (Westfield, Ind./Pinckney H.S.) with three individual event wins (50, 100 and 200 freestyle) and a relay (200 medley) victory.
Ball State took control of the scoreboard early, as the 200 medley relay of sophomore Nicole Saulters (Highland, Ind./Highland H.S.), senior Emily Karwoski (Zionsville, Ind./North Central H.S.), junior Maria Gramelspacher (Jasper, Ind./Jasper H.S.) and Bylsma combined for a first-place and BSU season-fast time of 1:48.73.
After a 1-2 finish by the Spartans in the 1000 freestyle tied the meet, a 1-2-3 finish by the Cardinals in the 200 freestyle helped BSU regain the momentum. Bylsma led the charge in the 200 free for the Cardinals, posting a season-best effort of 1:55.89 to win the event. Freshman Jillian Bischoff (Atlanta, Ind./Hamilton Heights H.S.) added a season-best time of 1:56.96 to place second, while junior Joan Cullen (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West H.S.) placed third with a clocking of 1:59.50.
Three events later, Gramelspacher led another 1-2-3 finish for Ball State in the 200 butterfly. Gramelspacher timed out with a season-best 2:06.53, while sophomore Sara Hostetler (Vincennes, Ind./Jasper H.S.) placed second at 2:08.14 and junior Alanna Bader (Monroe, Wis./Monroe H.S.) finished in third at 2:09.34.
Bylsma returned to the win column in the next event, posting another season-best effort of 24.39 to win the 50 freestyle.
After the women's 1-meter diving event, in which senior Lisa Maertin (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way-Central H.S.) led BSU with a second-place score of 247.65, Bylsma pilled on her third individual event win of the day with a swim of 53.52 in the 100 freestyle. Bischoff followed Bylsma once again in the 100 freestyle, with a season-best effort of 53.75 to place second.
Michigan State would start to battle back in the meet, posting 1-2 finishes in the next two events, before an impressive showing from senior Sarah Kehe (Westville, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) in the 500 freestyle extended the BSU advantage. Kehe won the 500 freestyle with a season-best time of 5:14.32.
The Cardinals added a 2-3-4 finish in the 100 butterfly, and another second-place showing from Maertin on the 3-meter diving board (262.88) to keep a healthy 10-point advantage. Unfortunately, a 1-2 showing from Michigan State in the 200 individual medley cut the Ball State edge back to three at 143-140.
Needing to finish first in the final event to win the meet, the Cardinals top relay fell 1.63 seconds behind MSU, as the Spartans went on to win the meet 155-145.
The Ball State women's swimming & diving team returns to action Jan. 8, when it hosts the Ball State Relay Invitational at the Lewellen Aquatic Center at Noon. The BSU men's team will also be competing in the event.
