Saturday, January 16
Muncie, IN
12 p.m.
Ball State University
165.5
vs
80.5
Bellarmine University
Women's Swimming Tops Bellarmine in Saturday Action
January 16, 2021 | Women's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. - - No meet since November, no problem for the Ball State women's swimming program which picked up right where it left off with a 265.5-80.5 victory over Bellarmine Saturday afternoon at the Lewellen Aquatic Center.
"We were really excited with the progress we saw today," head coach J. Agnew said after the meet. "I'd say 85 percent of the swims were better than when we raced in November. The team's been really consistent in their training and it showed today. They were able to swim really strong dual meet times, and we are excited about what we saw."
In improving to 3-0 on the year, the Cardinals picked up wins in 12 of the 14 swimming events against the Knights who were opening their 2020-21 campaign. The win was a fitting tribute to seniors Caitlin Locante, Cailin Merck, Kayla Molnar and Audrey Schank who were honored following the meet.
The biggest winner of the day was freshman Marcella Ribeiro who picked up a pair of individual wins in her Ball State debut. The Uberlãndia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, native was unable to join the team until late December due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, but made her presence felt in her first collegiate meet by winning both the 200 (1:53.56) and 500 (5:04.49) freestyle events.
Â
Sophomore Apsara Sakbun followed her MAC Swimmer of the Week performance from opening weekend with two more wins, claiming top honors in both the 50 (24.41) and 100 (52.52) freestyle sprints. The effort gives her six individual victories on the year.
Â
Rounding out Ball State's top performers against Bellarmine was sophomore Phoebe Rensink who earned wins in the 200 butterfly (2:07.62) and 200 IM (2:09.87). She also swam the third leg of the winning 200 medley relay which opened the meet with a time of 1:47.36 to help account for a team-high three event wins.
Â
Also picking up individual wins for Ball State were junior Katie Walker (1000 freestyle; 10:38.92), sophomore Shelby Crist (100 backstroke; 57.81), junior Alex Bader (100 breaststroke; 1:04.81), freshman Sophia Kuehn (200 backstroke; 2:08.05) and freshman Laura Wright (200 breaststroke; 2:23.31).
"Coming out of COVID summer, that November meet was really tough on them," Agnew said. "Today, they looked like they could finish races. Across the board, I just felt like we were finishing better. Our 200 frees made a good statement for us. That's an event that's been a struggle for us the last couple years and Marcella coming in and getting her first race win as a Cardinal was good. But the other two swimmers in the race were really strong 1:56s as freshmen and we're excited about that."
Â
The Ball State women's swimming and diving team is scheduled to return to action on Friday, Feb 12, when it travels to Miami.
Â
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State swimming and diving program follow:
Twitter - @BallStateSwim & @BallStateSports
Instagram - @ballstateswimanddive & @ballstatesports
Â
Women's Event Winners
200 Medley Relay - Shelby Crist, Laura Wright, Phoebe Rensink, Kayleigh Witt (1:47.36)
Katie Walker (Jr.) - 1000 Freestyle (10:38.92)
Marcella Ribeiro (Fr.) - 200 Freestyle (1:53.56), 500 Freestyle (5:04.49)
Shelby Crist (So.) - 100 Backstroke (57.81)
Alex Bader (Jr.)- 100 Breaststroke (1:04.81)
Phoebe Rensink (So.) - 200 Butterfly (2:07.62), 200 IM (2:09.87)
Apsara Sakbun (So.) - 50 Freestyle (24.41), 100 Freestyle (52.52)
Sophia Kuehn (Fr.) - 200 Backstroke (2:08.05)
Laura Wright (Fr.) - 200 Breaststroke (2:23.31)
"We were really excited with the progress we saw today," head coach J. Agnew said after the meet. "I'd say 85 percent of the swims were better than when we raced in November. The team's been really consistent in their training and it showed today. They were able to swim really strong dual meet times, and we are excited about what we saw."
In improving to 3-0 on the year, the Cardinals picked up wins in 12 of the 14 swimming events against the Knights who were opening their 2020-21 campaign. The win was a fitting tribute to seniors Caitlin Locante, Cailin Merck, Kayla Molnar and Audrey Schank who were honored following the meet.
"I can't say enough about our seniors, I love these guys," Agnew said. "The men, the women, they've just changed the culture. They've been passionate about what they bring to competition. They show up every day ready to work, they are pretty fearless and they make it fun."... and a BIG THANK YOU to our 20-21 senior class!!! pic.twitter.com/H4dzZdOqYQ
— Ball State Swim & Dive (@BallStateSwim) January 16, 2021
The biggest winner of the day was freshman Marcella Ribeiro who picked up a pair of individual wins in her Ball State debut. The Uberlãndia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, native was unable to join the team until late December due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, but made her presence felt in her first collegiate meet by winning both the 200 (1:53.56) and 500 (5:04.49) freestyle events.
Â
Sophomore Apsara Sakbun followed her MAC Swimmer of the Week performance from opening weekend with two more wins, claiming top honors in both the 50 (24.41) and 100 (52.52) freestyle sprints. The effort gives her six individual victories on the year.
Â
Rounding out Ball State's top performers against Bellarmine was sophomore Phoebe Rensink who earned wins in the 200 butterfly (2:07.62) and 200 IM (2:09.87). She also swam the third leg of the winning 200 medley relay which opened the meet with a time of 1:47.36 to help account for a team-high three event wins.
Â
Also picking up individual wins for Ball State were junior Katie Walker (1000 freestyle; 10:38.92), sophomore Shelby Crist (100 backstroke; 57.81), junior Alex Bader (100 breaststroke; 1:04.81), freshman Sophia Kuehn (200 backstroke; 2:08.05) and freshman Laura Wright (200 breaststroke; 2:23.31).
"Coming out of COVID summer, that November meet was really tough on them," Agnew said. "Today, they looked like they could finish races. Across the board, I just felt like we were finishing better. Our 200 frees made a good statement for us. That's an event that's been a struggle for us the last couple years and Marcella coming in and getting her first race win as a Cardinal was good. But the other two swimmers in the race were really strong 1:56s as freshmen and we're excited about that."
Â
The Ball State women's swimming and diving team is scheduled to return to action on Friday, Feb 12, when it travels to Miami.
Â
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State swimming and diving program follow:
Twitter - @BallStateSwim & @BallStateSports
Instagram - @ballstateswimanddive & @ballstatesports
Â
Women's Event Winners
200 Medley Relay - Shelby Crist, Laura Wright, Phoebe Rensink, Kayleigh Witt (1:47.36)
Katie Walker (Jr.) - 1000 Freestyle (10:38.92)
Marcella Ribeiro (Fr.) - 200 Freestyle (1:53.56), 500 Freestyle (5:04.49)
Shelby Crist (So.) - 100 Backstroke (57.81)
Alex Bader (Jr.)- 100 Breaststroke (1:04.81)
Phoebe Rensink (So.) - 200 Butterfly (2:07.62), 200 IM (2:09.87)
Apsara Sakbun (So.) - 50 Freestyle (24.41), 100 Freestyle (52.52)
Sophia Kuehn (Fr.) - 200 Backstroke (2:08.05)
Laura Wright (Fr.) - 200 Breaststroke (2:23.31)
Players Mentioned
Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back, Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast, IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back, Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming and DivingBall State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses the NCAA vs. House Settlement
Tuesday, July 01
Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses NCAA vs. House Settlement & Bill Richards Thank You
Friday, June 27
Sports Link: Cardinal Cribs (Women's Swimming)
Wednesday, April 16
Athletics // One Ball State Day - Help our athletics continue to thrive
Friday, March 28