Ball State University
at Purdue
19th-Ranked Purdue Tops Men's Swimming & Diving
January 16, 2010 | Men's Swimming and Diving
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - - Despite strong performances in several events, the Ball State men's swimming & diving team suffered a 177-65 setback to 19th-ranked Purdue Friday evening at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center.
The Cardinals finished the evening with first-place finishes in two of the meet's 13 events, while combining for eight top-three efforts.
BSU's 400 medley relay opened the scoring for the Cardinals, posting a third-place time of 3:34.86. Senior Adam Dale (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg H.S.) led off the relay, and was followed in order by sophomore Gavin McNeeley (North Manchester, Ind./Manchester H.S.), sophomore Chris Krupa (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike H.S.) and freshman Devon Hill (Muncie, Ind./Central H.S.)
Ball State's first event win of the day came three events later, in the 200 individual medley, when Krupa posted the only sub-two minute time of event to finish in 1:59.38. Sophomore Andrew Hostetler (Vincennes, Ind./Jasper H.S.) also had a strong showing in the 200 IM, placing third at 2:01.78.
The Cardinals' carried the momentum into the 50 free, with seniors Austin Laska (Palos Park, Ill./A.A. Stagg H.S.) and Ben Battjes (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial H.S.) turning in a 1-2 finish. Laska clocked in at 21.22, while reigning MAC Swimmer of the Week Battjes touched the wall in 21.46.
Two swimming events later, Battjes placed third in the 100 freestyle with a season-fast time of 47.75. Laska followed in fourth with a season-best clocking of his own at 47.94.
Hostetler added his second top-three effort two events later, earning a season-best time of 4:50.89 in the 500 freestyle to take home third.
The Cardinals ended the meet with Battjes, senior Ryan Misener (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial H.S.), Hill and Laska combining to earn second in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:25.06, less than a second behind Purdue's top squad.
Junior Jeremy Whited (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.) was Ball State's top diver on the day, placing fifth on both the one-meter (223.10) and three-meter (223.05) boards, while competing against some of the nation's top divers.
The Ball State men's swimming & diving team returns to action Saturday, when it travels to Ypsilanti, Mich., to face Eastern Michigan in a 1 p.m. Mid-American Conference dual meet.
Players Mentioned
