Men's Swimming & Diving Hosts Southern Illinois Saturday

MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State men's swimming & diving returns to Muncie this weekend to take on Mid-American Conference rival Southern Illinois in its last home meet of the 2020-21 season.

The battle of the Cardinals (3-0) and Salukis (1-0) starts at noon Saturday, February 20th in the Lewellen Aquatic Center.

Meet lineup is expected to include:
400 Medley Relay, 1000 free, 200 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 200 fly, 50 free, 1M diving, 100 free, 200 back, 200 breast, 500 free, 100 fly, 3M diving, 200 IM, 200 free relay

Saturday's Ball State swimming & diving home meet is not open to the general public in order to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

Family and friends can follow the action with LIVE VIDEO and LIVE RESULTS

For the Cardinals, this is their third and last home meet and second to last meet in general before the MAC Championships take place April 8-10 in Oxford, Ohio.

While Ball State's competitive season is ending in preparation for the MAC Championships, Southern Illinois' season has just begun. Ball State will only be the second program the Salukis have faced in their 2020-21 season.

IN THE MAC RANKINGS:
In the latest USA Swimming Mid-American Conference Top Times report, Ball state men's swimming has 14 student-athletes ranked in scoring position in their respective events with about a month and a half left before the MAC Championships.

Eight Cardinals appear on the list at least twice, with freshman Zach Zishka, sophomore Aiden Maurer, and junior Ryan Short each making the list three times in different events.

Additionally, Ball State has five athletes ranked in the top 16 in the 50 backstroke.

MEN'S SWIMMERS CURRENTLY RANKED IN MAC TOP 16:
Championship Events:
50 Freestyle: Owen Chaye (6^th – 20.85) | Jack Wolfred (14^th – 21.30)
100 Freestyle: Owen Chaye (4^th – 45.54) | Jack Wolfred (16^th – 46.73)
200 Freestyle: Drew Weeks (11^th – 1:42.44) | Aiden Maurer (15^th – 1:43.02)
500 Freestyle: Aiden Maurer (13^th – 4:44.02) | Zach Zishka (14^th – 4:45.21) | Ryan Short (15^th – 4:45.41)
1000 Freestyle: Zachary Moody (9^th – 9:56.74) | Sam Jennings (10^th – 9:59.27) | Ryan Short (11^th – 10:01.75)
100 Backstroke: Aiden Maurer (16^th – 53.57)
200 Backstroke: Sam Jennings (11^th – 2:00.41) | Zach Zishka (12^th – 2:01.35) | Bryan Lower (14^th – 2:02.98) | Bennet Witteveen (15^th – 2:07.81) | Ryan Short (16^th – 2:09.81)
100 Breaststroke: Joey Garberick (3^rd – 55.19)
200 Breaststroke: Joey Garberick (3^rd – 2:02.86) | Noah Berryman (14^th – 2:12.72)
200 Butterfly: Jackson Ketcham (10^th – 1:54.84) | Bryce Handshoe (16^th – 1:56.92)
400 Individual Medley: Zach Zishka (7^th – 4:05.83) | Zachary Moody (16^th – 4:23.56)

Non-Championship Events:
50 Backstroke: Aiden Maurer (6^th – 24.75) | Jared Holder (7^th – 25.54) | Sam Jennings (8^th – 25.82) | Bryan Lower (9^th – 26.41) | Dillon Freiberger (10^th – 26.63)

MEN'S SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
The men's swimming program enters Saturday's meet with a 3-0 record after beating Eastern Illinois (151-109), Bellarmine (165-96), and Xavier (827.5-738.5)

In the meet against Eastern Illinois, the Cardinals claimed victories in seven of 12 individual events and also took first-place in the 200 medley relay. Freshman Joey Garberick started his collegiate career by winning the 100 breaststroke (56.53), 200 breaststroke (2:09.49), and 200 IM (1:58.97).

Garberick's win in the 100 breaststroke was a Lewellen Aquatic Center record and landed him fifth in the Ball State record book in the event. Zach Zishka, Jack Wolfred, Davis Meyn, and Bryce Handshoe also picked up individual victories at the meet.

In the meet versus Bellarmine, the Cardinals won nine out of 14 events with Aiden Maurer, Garberick, and Owen Chaye picking up two individual victories each plus a combined win with Handshoe in the 200 medley relay.

Adding to the win total, Ryan Short picked up a victory in the 1000 freestyle and was also part of the first-place 400 free style relay.

In the Ball State's most recent meet against Xavier, the team won nine of 14 events with Garberick and Chaye each picking up two more individual victories each. Drew Weeks, Jackson Ketcham, Duncan McLarty, and Maurer also earned one individual victory apiece.

Garberick swept both breaststroke events (100 – 55.19, 200 – 2:03.57). His time also moved him up to second in program history in the 100 breaststroke and fourth in the 200 breaststroke.

Chaye's winning time in the 100 freestyle earned him ninth in program history. He also won the 50 free (20.85).

In the diving well, the Cardinals lone competition came versus UIndy on Jan. 16. Junior Hunter Ongay won the 3m competition with a score of 282.075, while placing second on the 1m board with a score fo 294.225.

Individual Event Winners (22 Total):
7 - Joey Garberick (Fr.): vs. Eastern Illinois (11/6/2020) - 100 Breaststroke (56.53 - Pool Record), 200 Breaststroke (2:09.49), 200 IM (1:58.97)
   vs. Bellarmine (1/16/2021) - 100 Breaststroke (57.93), 200 IM (1:56.65)
   vs. Xavier (1/31/2021) – 100 Breaststroke (55.19), 200 Breaststroke (2:02.86)?

4 - Owen Chaye (So.): vs. Bellarmine (1/16/2021) - 50 Freestyle (21.54), 100 Freestyle (46.85)
   vs. Xavier (1/31/2021) – 50 Freestyle (20.85), 100 Freestyle (45.54)

3 - Aiden Maurer (So.): vs. Bellarmine (1/16/2021) - 100 Backstroke (53.57), 500 Freestyle (4:50.86)
   vs. Xavier (1/31/2021) – 500 Freestyle (4:44.02)?

1 - Bryce Handshoe (So.): vs. Eastern Illinois (11/6/2020) - 100 Butterfly (52.39)

1 - Jackson Ketcham (Fr.): vs. Xavier (1/31/2021) – 200 Butterfly (1:54.84)

1 - Duncan McLarty (Jr.): vs. Xavier (1/31/2021) – 100 Butterfly (51.33)

1 - Davis Meyn (Sr.): vs. Eastern Illinois (11/6/2020) - 500 Freestyle (4:54.85)

1 - Hunter Ongay (Jr.): vs. UIndy (1/16/2021) - 3m Diving (282.075)

1 - Ryan Short (Jr.): vs. Bellarmine (1/16/2021) - 1000 Freestyle (10:01.75)

1 - Drew Weeks (Sr.): vs. Xavier (1/31/2021) – 200 Freestyle (1:42.44)

1 - Jack Wolfred (So.): vs. Eastern Illinois (11/6/2020) - 50 Freestyle (21.64)

1 - Zach Zishka (Fr.): vs. Eastern Illinois (11/6/2020) - 1000 Freestyle (10:15.73)

Relay Event Winners (4 Total):
vs. Eastern Illinois (11/6/2020)
200 Medley Relay - Jared Holder, Joey Garberick, Bryce Handshoe, Owen Chaye (1:34.57)

vs. Bellarmine (1/16/2021)
400 Freestyle Relay - Jack Wolfred, Ryan Short, Patrick White, Landyn Riester (3:13.02)
200 Medley Relay - Aiden Maurer, Joey Garberick, Bryce Handshoe, Owen Chaye (1:35.23)?

vs. Xavier (1/31/2021)
200 Medley Relay – Aiden Maurer, Joey Garberick, Bryce Handshoe, Owen Chaye (1:32.80)

Men's Swimming & Diving Hosts Southern Illinois Saturday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Noah Berryman

Owen Chaye

Dillon Freiberger

Joey Garberick

Bryce Handshoe

Jared Holder

Sam Jennings

Jackson Ketcham

Bryan Lower

Aiden Maurer

Duncan McLarty

Davis Meyn

Zachary Moody

Hunter Ongay

Landyn Riester

Ryan Short

Drew Weeks

Patrick White

Bennet Witteveen

Jack Wolfred

Zach Zishka