Saturday, February 13
Muncie, IN
12 p.m.
Ball State University
166
vs
80
Xavier University
Pool Records Fall As Women Swim Past Xavier
February 13, 2021 | Women's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's swimming team started the day with a Lewellen Aquatic Center record time of 1:42.24 in the 200 medley relay and never looked back, earning a dominating 166-80 victory over Xavier Saturday afternoon.
In fact, the Cardinals (4-1) won 13 of the day's 14 events and broke four pool records along the way to close the current home portion of its 2020-21 schedule with an unblemished 4-0 record in the Lewellen Aquatic Center.
"Our team has been training really hard, and I thought they would be good, but they were great today," head coach J. Agnew said after the meet. "It was exciting to see. They were hungry, raced with confidence and looked great."
In what could have been her final home meet, senior Audrey Schank gave the Cardinals an early edge in 200 medley relay with a 50 backstroke time of 25.69. Junior Alex Bader followed with a 50 breaststroke time of 28.81, while sophomore Shelby Crist clocked in at 24.78 in the 50 butterfly split. Sophomore Apsara Sakbun closed the record-setting performance with a 50 freestyle split of 22.96.
In addition to being a pool record, the relay's time of 1:42.24 was the sixth-fastest in program history.
Four events later, Bader would earn her second pool record of the day, clocking in at 1:01.92 to win the 100 breaststroke with the second-fastest individual time in program history.
"Alex has been a leader on this team from day one," Agnew said. "She's a person that when you need a win, she will give it 110% and die trying if she doesn't touch them out. She has a quiet confidence about her. She is competitive and tough, and she's been leading us all year. It was exciting to see her swim that fast."
Freshman Laura Wright also had a strong 100 breaststroke, finishing in 1:04.01 which was the eighth-fastest individual effort in Ball State history.
Bader also looked to have picked up her third pool record of the day later in the meet, touching the wall in 2:18.33 in the 200 breaststroke. However, she was out-touched by Wright who broke the record and climbed to third in program history at 2:17.50.
Bader would also swim the third leg for the 200 freestyle relay which closed the meet with a winning time of 1:35.27. Bader was joined on the relay by freshman Kayleigh Witt, junior Alexa McDonald and Sakbun.
Ball State's other pool record came from sophomore Sydney Dygert who turned in the seventh-best individual time in program history to win the 200 butterfly in 2:02.94.
In addition to helping break the program record in the 200 medley really, Sakbun would score two more individual event victories in the 50 (23.82) and 100 (51.38) freestyle. The effort gives her a team-leading eight individual wins on the season. She has also been a part of four of Ball State's five first-place relays this year.
Crist and Witt would both add individual victories to their relay wins, clocking in at 55.82 in the 100 backstroke and 1:52.89 in the 200 freestyle, respectively.
Rounding out Ball State's individual winners were freshman Marcella Ribeiro with the third-fastest individual time in program history in the 1000 freestyle (10:18.08), junior Katie Walker with the 10th-fastest individual time in program history in the 400 IM (4:29.07), freshman Mary Kate Phillips in the 500 freestyle (5:08.34) and sophomore Phoebe Rensink in the 100 butterfly (56.61).
"The thing that stands out the most about today's meet is our student-athletes are all behind each other," Agnew said. "Listening to them on the sideline just cheering for their teammates. Alex getting touched out by a teammate, but celebrating right alongside her because they both swam fast. That's what we are trying to build. A competitive atmosphere, but at the core you love each other, you're there for each other and you're excited for each other no matter who's swimming fast."
After a pair of successful mid-season checks, the Cardinals being their run towards the Mid-American Conference Championships with a March 14 swim at Akron which is slated to start at 3 p.m.
Ball State Event Winners vs. Xavier
200 Medley Relay - Audrey Schank, Alex Bader, Shelby Crist, Apsara Sakbun (1:42.24 - Pool Record)
Marcella Ribeiro (Fr.) - 1000 Freestyle (10:18.08)
Kayleigh Witt (Fr.) - 200 Freestyle (1:52.89)
Shelby Crist (So.) - 100 Backstroke (55.82)
Alex Bader (Jr.) - 100 Breaststroke (1:01.92 - Pool Record)
Sydney Dygert (So.) - 200 Butterfly (2:02.94 - Pool Record)
Apsara Sakbun (So.) - 50 Freestyle (23.82) / 100 Freestyle (51.38)
Laura Wright (Fr.) - 200 Breaststroke (2:17.50 - Pool Record)
Mary Kate Phillips (Fr.) - 500 Freestyle (5:08.34)
Phoebe Rensink (So.) - 100 Butterfly (56.61)
Katie Walker (Jr.) - 400 IM (4:29.07)
200 Freestyle Relay - Kayleigh Witt, Alexa McDonald, Alex Bader, Apsara Sakbun (1:35.27)
In fact, the Cardinals (4-1) won 13 of the day's 14 events and broke four pool records along the way to close the current home portion of its 2020-21 schedule with an unblemished 4-0 record in the Lewellen Aquatic Center.
"Our team has been training really hard, and I thought they would be good, but they were great today," head coach J. Agnew said after the meet. "It was exciting to see. They were hungry, raced with confidence and looked great."
In what could have been her final home meet, senior Audrey Schank gave the Cardinals an early edge in 200 medley relay with a 50 backstroke time of 25.69. Junior Alex Bader followed with a 50 breaststroke time of 28.81, while sophomore Shelby Crist clocked in at 24.78 in the 50 butterfly split. Sophomore Apsara Sakbun closed the record-setting performance with a 50 freestyle split of 22.96.
In addition to being a pool record, the relay's time of 1:42.24 was the sixth-fastest in program history.
Four events later, Bader would earn her second pool record of the day, clocking in at 1:01.92 to win the 100 breaststroke with the second-fastest individual time in program history.
"Alex has been a leader on this team from day one," Agnew said. "She's a person that when you need a win, she will give it 110% and die trying if she doesn't touch them out. She has a quiet confidence about her. She is competitive and tough, and she's been leading us all year. It was exciting to see her swim that fast."
Freshman Laura Wright also had a strong 100 breaststroke, finishing in 1:04.01 which was the eighth-fastest individual effort in Ball State history.
Bader also looked to have picked up her third pool record of the day later in the meet, touching the wall in 2:18.33 in the 200 breaststroke. However, she was out-touched by Wright who broke the record and climbed to third in program history at 2:17.50.
Bader would also swim the third leg for the 200 freestyle relay which closed the meet with a winning time of 1:35.27. Bader was joined on the relay by freshman Kayleigh Witt, junior Alexa McDonald and Sakbun.
Ball State's other pool record came from sophomore Sydney Dygert who turned in the seventh-best individual time in program history to win the 200 butterfly in 2:02.94.
In addition to helping break the program record in the 200 medley really, Sakbun would score two more individual event victories in the 50 (23.82) and 100 (51.38) freestyle. The effort gives her a team-leading eight individual wins on the season. She has also been a part of four of Ball State's five first-place relays this year.
Crist and Witt would both add individual victories to their relay wins, clocking in at 55.82 in the 100 backstroke and 1:52.89 in the 200 freestyle, respectively.
Rounding out Ball State's individual winners were freshman Marcella Ribeiro with the third-fastest individual time in program history in the 1000 freestyle (10:18.08), junior Katie Walker with the 10th-fastest individual time in program history in the 400 IM (4:29.07), freshman Mary Kate Phillips in the 500 freestyle (5:08.34) and sophomore Phoebe Rensink in the 100 butterfly (56.61).
"The thing that stands out the most about today's meet is our student-athletes are all behind each other," Agnew said. "Listening to them on the sideline just cheering for their teammates. Alex getting touched out by a teammate, but celebrating right alongside her because they both swam fast. That's what we are trying to build. A competitive atmosphere, but at the core you love each other, you're there for each other and you're excited for each other no matter who's swimming fast."
After a pair of successful mid-season checks, the Cardinals being their run towards the Mid-American Conference Championships with a March 14 swim at Akron which is slated to start at 3 p.m.
Ball State Event Winners vs. Xavier
200 Medley Relay - Audrey Schank, Alex Bader, Shelby Crist, Apsara Sakbun (1:42.24 - Pool Record)
Marcella Ribeiro (Fr.) - 1000 Freestyle (10:18.08)
Kayleigh Witt (Fr.) - 200 Freestyle (1:52.89)
Shelby Crist (So.) - 100 Backstroke (55.82)
Alex Bader (Jr.) - 100 Breaststroke (1:01.92 - Pool Record)
Sydney Dygert (So.) - 200 Butterfly (2:02.94 - Pool Record)
Apsara Sakbun (So.) - 50 Freestyle (23.82) / 100 Freestyle (51.38)
Laura Wright (Fr.) - 200 Breaststroke (2:17.50 - Pool Record)
Mary Kate Phillips (Fr.) - 500 Freestyle (5:08.34)
Phoebe Rensink (So.) - 100 Butterfly (56.61)
Katie Walker (Jr.) - 400 IM (4:29.07)
200 Freestyle Relay - Kayleigh Witt, Alexa McDonald, Alex Bader, Apsara Sakbun (1:35.27)
Players Mentioned
Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back, Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast, Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ 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
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