Saturday, October 30
Muncie, Ind.
11 a.m.
Ball State University
147
vs
153
Ohio University
Photo by: Samantha Blankenship (Ball State Creative Services)
Women’s Swimming & Diving Earns Nine Event Wins vs. Ohio
October 30, 2021 | Women's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. - - In a down-to-the-wire finish, the Ball State women's swimming & diving team fell just a few lengths short of a victory Saturday morning, suffering a 153-147 setback to Ohio at the Lewellen Aquatic Center.
Coming off a late-night win at Eastern Illinois Friday, the Cardinals (1-1) traveled back to Muncie to give a fresh Bobcats (1-1) squad all they could handle in Saturday's home opener. In fact, Ball State would claim victory in nine of the 16 total events, led by a pair of individual wins each from sophomore freestyle specialist Marcella Ribeiro and freshman diver Ashleigh Provan.
"Today, we responded really well," head coach J. Agnew said. "It was a tough road trip yesterday, but you're getting ready for a seven-session MAC Championship at the end of the year, so they need to have some adversity. I thought they stood up to the test, raced their guts out, and swam really well. I'm really proud of them."
The Cardinals started the meet strong, taking top honors in the 200 medley relay, with junior Shelby Crist, senior Alex Bader, freshman Abby Hartshorne and junior Apsara Sakbun combining for a time of 1:44.76.
Ribeiro would make it two straight event wins, taking home top honors in the longest event of the day with a time of 10:28.15 in the 1000 freestyle. Later in the meet, Ribeiro would claim victory in the 500 freestyle with a clocking of 5:04.34.
Provan would go on to make her mark, and then some, in the well by sweeping the diving events in her Lewellen competition debut. In fact, her 1-meter score of 276.00 was an NCAA Zone Diving cut and 37.05 points ahead of second-place. She was just as dominant on the 3-meter board, with her score of 272.63 winning by 34.58 points.
"Ashleigh is really focused, but she's also good at keeping things in perspective," Agnew said. "She has a really balanced approach, very professional about what she does. She works her tail off, but also can relax and enjoy the sport. It's pretty fun to watch."
Back in the pool, in addition to helping lead the 200 medley relay to victory, Bader would win the 100 breaststroke (1:04.65) and Sakbun would claim the top spot in the 50 freestyle (23.58).
Freshman Hannah Jones added a win in the 100 backstroke, touching the wall in 57.57 in the meet's fourth event, while sophomore Sophia Kuehn picked up a huge win in the 400 individual medley (4:34.14), giving Ball State a three-point lead entering the final event.
Unfortunately, the Bobcats would end the meet with a Lewellen Aquatic Center record time of 3:28.43 to win the 400 freestyle relay and claim the overall victory.
Despite the loss, it was a major improvement for the Cardinals, who suffered a 188.5-110.5 loss to the Bobcats in the last regular season meeting between the two clubs on Jan. 25, 2020.
"Everybody knows we are in this together," Agnew added. "We have a lot of support and a lot of excitement in this program. Everybody know we are moving forward at a pretty quick pace. To feel that energy from the crown, from the guys, from their teammates, it gives everybody a vote of confidence that we're in this together."
Up next for the Ball State women's swimming & diving program, a Noon competition at Toledo on Saturday, Nov. 6 at the Student Recreation Center Pool.
Ball State Individual Results versus Ohio
200 Medley Relay
1st - Shelby Crist, Alex Bader, Abby Hartshorne, Apsara Sakbun - 1:44.76
4th - Meri Gray, Laura Wright, Eliza Bader, Elizabeth King - 1:48.45
DQ - Lilia Newkirk, Abbie McCarter, Phoebe Rensink, Alexa McDonald
1000 Freestyle
1st - Marcella Ribeiro - 10:28.15
3rd - Katie Walker - 10:31.41
4th - Mary Kate Phillips - 10:43.53
200 Freestyle
4th - Kayleigh Witt - 1:58.56
5th - Elizabeth King - 2:00.21
6th - Sophia Kuehn = 2:04.64
100 Backstroke
1st - Hannah Jones - 57.57
2nd - Lilia Newkirk - 58.11
3rd - Shelby Crist - 58.36
EX - Jessie Fraley - 1:00.17
EX - Meri Gray - 1:00.43
EX - Cecilia Moore - 1:00.78
100 Breaststroke
1st - Alex Bader - 1:04.65
5th - Abbie McCarter - 1:06.44
6th - Laura Wright - 1:07.00
EX - Jenn Gillen - 1:09.51
EX - Alexa Arkenberg - 1:13.23
200 Butterfly
3rd - Abby Hartshorne - 2:06.97
5th - Katie Walker - 2:10.18
6th - Phoebe Rensink - 2:11.05
50 Freestyle
1st - Apsara Sakbun - 23.58
3rd - Gracey Payne - 24.55
4th - Alexa McDonald - 24.65
EX - Gracie Saulman - 24.80
EX - Eliza Bader - 25.17
1-Meter Diving
1st - Ashleigh Provan - 276.00 - NCAA Zone Diving Cut
4th - Madison Gatzlaff - 219.15
5th - Maddie Gleave - 218.93
100 Freestyle
2nd - Apsara Sakbun - 51.99
4th - Gracey Payne - 53.35
5th - Alexa McDonald - 53.65
EX - Elizabeth King - 54.64
EX - Kayleigh Witt - 55.43
EX - Emma Horton - 57.18
200 Backstroke
2nd - Lilia Newkirk - 2:05.43
5th - Jessie Fraley - 2:08.81
6th - Shelby Crist - 2:09.46
EX - Cecilia Moore - 2:11.24
200 Breaststroke
3rd - Laura Wright - 2:24.19
4th - Alex Bader - 2:24.50
6th - Jenn Gillen - 2:28.56
500 Freestyle
1st - Marcella Ribeiro - 5:04.34
3rd - Mary Kate Phillips - 5:09.86
100 Butterfly
2nd - Hannah Jones - 57.74
5th - Abby Hartshorne - 58.51
6th - Phoebe Rensink - 58.72
EX - Eliza Bader - 59.70
3-Meter Diving
1st - Ashleigh Provan - 272.63
4th - Maddie Gleave - 225.45
400 IM
1st - Sophia Kuehn - 4:34.17
3rd - Alexa Arkenberg - 4:35.44
4th - Katie Walker - 4:37.74
400 Freestyle Relay
2nd - Gracey Payne, Alexa McDonald, Hannah Jones, Apsara Sakbun - 3:31.30
4th - Kayleigh Witt, Marcella Ribeiro, Elizabeth King, Abby Hartshorne - 3:34.90
6th - Gracie Saulman, Abbie McCarter, Eliza Bader, Alex Bader - 3:40.78
Coming off a late-night win at Eastern Illinois Friday, the Cardinals (1-1) traveled back to Muncie to give a fresh Bobcats (1-1) squad all they could handle in Saturday's home opener. In fact, Ball State would claim victory in nine of the 16 total events, led by a pair of individual wins each from sophomore freestyle specialist Marcella Ribeiro and freshman diver Ashleigh Provan.
"Today, we responded really well," head coach J. Agnew said. "It was a tough road trip yesterday, but you're getting ready for a seven-session MAC Championship at the end of the year, so they need to have some adversity. I thought they stood up to the test, raced their guts out, and swam really well. I'm really proud of them."
The Cardinals started the meet strong, taking top honors in the 200 medley relay, with junior Shelby Crist, senior Alex Bader, freshman Abby Hartshorne and junior Apsara Sakbun combining for a time of 1:44.76.
Ribeiro would make it two straight event wins, taking home top honors in the longest event of the day with a time of 10:28.15 in the 1000 freestyle. Later in the meet, Ribeiro would claim victory in the 500 freestyle with a clocking of 5:04.34.
Provan would go on to make her mark, and then some, in the well by sweeping the diving events in her Lewellen competition debut. In fact, her 1-meter score of 276.00 was an NCAA Zone Diving cut and 37.05 points ahead of second-place. She was just as dominant on the 3-meter board, with her score of 272.63 winning by 34.58 points.
"Ashleigh is really focused, but she's also good at keeping things in perspective," Agnew said. "She has a really balanced approach, very professional about what she does. She works her tail off, but also can relax and enjoy the sport. It's pretty fun to watch."
Back in the pool, in addition to helping lead the 200 medley relay to victory, Bader would win the 100 breaststroke (1:04.65) and Sakbun would claim the top spot in the 50 freestyle (23.58).
Freshman Hannah Jones added a win in the 100 backstroke, touching the wall in 57.57 in the meet's fourth event, while sophomore Sophia Kuehn picked up a huge win in the 400 individual medley (4:34.14), giving Ball State a three-point lead entering the final event.
Unfortunately, the Bobcats would end the meet with a Lewellen Aquatic Center record time of 3:28.43 to win the 400 freestyle relay and claim the overall victory.
Despite the loss, it was a major improvement for the Cardinals, who suffered a 188.5-110.5 loss to the Bobcats in the last regular season meeting between the two clubs on Jan. 25, 2020.
"Everybody knows we are in this together," Agnew added. "We have a lot of support and a lot of excitement in this program. Everybody know we are moving forward at a pretty quick pace. To feel that energy from the crown, from the guys, from their teammates, it gives everybody a vote of confidence that we're in this together."
Up next for the Ball State women's swimming & diving program, a Noon competition at Toledo on Saturday, Nov. 6 at the Student Recreation Center Pool.
Ball State Individual Results versus Ohio
200 Medley Relay
1st - Shelby Crist, Alex Bader, Abby Hartshorne, Apsara Sakbun - 1:44.76
4th - Meri Gray, Laura Wright, Eliza Bader, Elizabeth King - 1:48.45
DQ - Lilia Newkirk, Abbie McCarter, Phoebe Rensink, Alexa McDonald
1000 Freestyle
1st - Marcella Ribeiro - 10:28.15
3rd - Katie Walker - 10:31.41
4th - Mary Kate Phillips - 10:43.53
200 Freestyle
4th - Kayleigh Witt - 1:58.56
5th - Elizabeth King - 2:00.21
6th - Sophia Kuehn = 2:04.64
100 Backstroke
1st - Hannah Jones - 57.57
2nd - Lilia Newkirk - 58.11
3rd - Shelby Crist - 58.36
EX - Jessie Fraley - 1:00.17
EX - Meri Gray - 1:00.43
EX - Cecilia Moore - 1:00.78
100 Breaststroke
1st - Alex Bader - 1:04.65
5th - Abbie McCarter - 1:06.44
6th - Laura Wright - 1:07.00
EX - Jenn Gillen - 1:09.51
EX - Alexa Arkenberg - 1:13.23
200 Butterfly
3rd - Abby Hartshorne - 2:06.97
5th - Katie Walker - 2:10.18
6th - Phoebe Rensink - 2:11.05
50 Freestyle
1st - Apsara Sakbun - 23.58
3rd - Gracey Payne - 24.55
4th - Alexa McDonald - 24.65
EX - Gracie Saulman - 24.80
EX - Eliza Bader - 25.17
1-Meter Diving
1st - Ashleigh Provan - 276.00 - NCAA Zone Diving Cut
4th - Madison Gatzlaff - 219.15
5th - Maddie Gleave - 218.93
100 Freestyle
2nd - Apsara Sakbun - 51.99
4th - Gracey Payne - 53.35
5th - Alexa McDonald - 53.65
EX - Elizabeth King - 54.64
EX - Kayleigh Witt - 55.43
EX - Emma Horton - 57.18
200 Backstroke
2nd - Lilia Newkirk - 2:05.43
5th - Jessie Fraley - 2:08.81
6th - Shelby Crist - 2:09.46
EX - Cecilia Moore - 2:11.24
200 Breaststroke
3rd - Laura Wright - 2:24.19
4th - Alex Bader - 2:24.50
6th - Jenn Gillen - 2:28.56
500 Freestyle
1st - Marcella Ribeiro - 5:04.34
3rd - Mary Kate Phillips - 5:09.86
100 Butterfly
2nd - Hannah Jones - 57.74
5th - Abby Hartshorne - 58.51
6th - Phoebe Rensink - 58.72
EX - Eliza Bader - 59.70
3-Meter Diving
1st - Ashleigh Provan - 272.63
4th - Maddie Gleave - 225.45
400 IM
1st - Sophia Kuehn - 4:34.17
3rd - Alexa Arkenberg - 4:35.44
4th - Katie Walker - 4:37.74
400 Freestyle Relay
2nd - Gracey Payne, Alexa McDonald, Hannah Jones, Apsara Sakbun - 3:31.30
4th - Kayleigh Witt, Marcella Ribeiro, Elizabeth King, Abby Hartshorne - 3:34.90
6th - Gracie Saulman, Abbie McCarter, Eliza Bader, Alex Bader - 3:40.78
Players Mentioned
IM, Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly, Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back, Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back, Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Dive
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Dive
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back, Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly, Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back, Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back, IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast, Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Dive
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
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