Ball State University Athletics
Men's S&D Hosts Pair of Meets This Weekend
October 07, 2010 | Men's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State men's swimming & diving team officially opens its 2010-11 campaign Friday, when it hosts Evansville in a dual meet starting at 6 p.m.
The Cardinals continue competition Saturday morning, when it hosts the Ball State Relay Invitational beginning at 9 a.m. In addition to BSU, Evansville and Valparaiso will compete in the non-traditional meet which features all relay events.
Under the guidance of 32nd-year head coach Bob Thomas, the Cardinals return 15 letterwinners from last season's squad which posted 26 top-16 efforts at last season's Mid-American Conference Championships.
Heading into the season, the men's squad will look for guidance from its four-member senior class. Senior Mark Golden (Itasca, Ill./Lake Park H.S.) led the Cardinals in the distance events at last season's MAC Championship meet, placing 10th in the 1650 freestyle (16:03.90) and 16th in the 500 freestyle (4:35.87).
Senior sprinter Josh Young (Huntington, Ind./Huntington North H.S.) redshirted last year due to injury, but as a junior, Young ranked third on the team in both the 50 and 100 freestyle events.
Seniors Jeremy Whited (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.) and Chris Behrle (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford H.S.) lead the BSU diving corps this season. Whited ranked second on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards last season, and placed 16th at the MAC Championships in the 1-meter event. Behrle posted a career-best effort on the three-meter board last season versus Eastern Illinois.
Leading a talented junior class into the upcoming season are Gavin McNeeley (North Manchester, Ind./Manchester H.S.) and Chris Krupa (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike H.S.). McNeeley etched his name in the BSU record books last season with the third-fastest times in program history in both the 100 breaststroke (57.36) and 200 breaststroke (2:05.80). Krupa turned in the Cardinals fastest times of the season in the 100 butterfly (50.80), 200 butterfly (1:53.37) and 200 individual medley (1:55.54).
Players Mentioned
