Swimming & Diving Opens Busy Week Thursday Versus Miami

MUNCIE, Ind. - - It will be a very busy week for the Ball State swimming & diving program which will take part in three meets this week, starting Thursday when the men host Mid-American Conference rival Miami at 5 p.m. in the Lewellen Aquatic Center.

Both squads will be in action Friday, when they travel to Eastern Illinois for a 5 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CT meet at Padovan Pool. Saturday will be a quick turnaround for the women, as they host MAC rival Ohio at 11 a.m. back at the Lewellen Aquatic Center.

The Cardinals are coming off a very exciting Alumni Meet last Thursday, which saw split squads battle it out for bragging rights; with the Red Team earning a 269-227 victory over the White Team.

Intermixed throughout the meet, were swims and diving routines by some the nearly 30 program alumni in attendance.

This week, however, the Cardinals turn their attention back to outside competition. BSU started the season strong, with both the men and women turning in solid effort at the Indiana Intercollegiates hosted by Purdue (Oct. 16).

The men placed third among the 10-team field, registering 22 Top 10 performances. Sophomore Joey Garberick led the team in the pool, placing second in both the 100 breaststroke (57.51) and 100 IM (51.51). In the diving well, senior Hunter Ongay placed sixth on the 3m (299.85) and seventh on the 1m (289.25).

For their efforts, Garberick was named the MAC Men's Swimmer of the Week, while Ongay earned MAC Diver of the Week honors. It was the second career award for each, as both claimed their respective awards once last season as well.

Entering this week, the men's swimmers hold a total of 11 Top 16 rankings on the MAC performance list:
50 Freestyle: Owen Chaye (21.14 - 6th), Patrick White (21.17 - 9th)
50 Backstroke: Aiden Maurer (25.10 - 9th), Reece Manning (25.23 - 11th), Sam Jennings (25.78 - 12th)
100 Backstroke: Ethan Pheifer (53.39 - 14th), Max Kruglov (54.25 - 15th)
100 Breaststroke: Joey Garberick (57.51 - 4th), Michael Burns (1:00.57 - 15th)
100 Butterfly: Bryce Handshoe (50.84 - 5th), Landyn Riester (52.27 - 11th)

On the women's side, the Cardinals placed second among 12 teams at the season-opening Indiana Intercollagiates. BSU put together 30 top 10 finishes, led by three event wins.

Junior Apsara Sakbun was a two event winner, taking top billing in both the 50 freestyle (23.94) and 100 freestyle (51.74). Freshman Hannah Jones also shined in her collegiate debut, winning the 100 backstroke (57.18), with her time being just .16 shy of breaking into the Top 10 on Ball State's all-time list.

Entering this week, the women's swimmers hold a total of 13 Top 16 rankings on the MAC performance list:
50 Freestyle: Apsara Sakbun (23.94 - 12th)
100 Freestyle: Apsara Sakbun (51.74 - 8th)
200 Freestyle: Marcella Ribeiro (1:54.88 - 11th), Abby Hartshorne (1:55.36 - 13th)
500 Freestyle: Marcella Ribeiro (5:05.89 - 6th), Katie Walker (5:06.59 - 8th)
50 Backstroke: Hannah Jones (27.07 - 7th), Lilia Newkirk (27.27 - 8th)
100 Backstroke: Hannah Jones (57.18 - 12th), Lilia Newkirk (57.46 - 15th)
100 Breaststroke: Alex Bader (1:05.09 - 9th)
100 Butterfly: Abby Hartshorne (56.74 - 9th), Phoebe Rensink (56.83 - 10th)

Swimming & Diving Opens Busy Week Thursday Versus Miami

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Players Mentioned

Alex Bader

Michael Burns

Owen Chaye

Joey Garberick

Bryce Handshoe

Abby Hartshorne

Sam Jennings

Hannah Jones

Max Kruglov

Reece Manning

Aiden Maurer

Lilia Newkirk

Hunter Ongay

Ethan Pheifer

Phoebe Rensink

Marcella Ribeiro

Landyn Riester

Apsara Sakbun

Katie Walker

Patrick White