Women’s S&D Takes Home House of Champions Title

November 18, 2023 | Women's Swimming and Diving

INDIANAPOLIS - - Aided by three more event wins, and another program record, the Ball State women's swimming & diving team capped a highly successful mid-season meet by winning the House of Champions invitational at IUPUI Natatorium.

The Cardinals, who tallied nine event wins and three program records over the three-day meet, finished the 13-team meet with 1,122 points, well ahead of second-place Milwaukee (935.5) and third-place Arkansas-Little Rock (920).

Sophomore Payton Kelly provided the biggest highlight of the night, earning her second program record of the weekend and second NCAA "B" Standard by winning the 100 freestyle in 49.12. The effort tops the previous program record of 49.51 set by Joy Gallagher back in 1997.

Freshman Alexa Von Holtz added to her strong weekend as well, picking up her third individual victory of the meet by producing a final wall touch of 2:00.06 in the 200 butterfly. It was the second-fastest individual time in program history.

Ball State also picked up the win in the final event, as sophomore Kiran Stauffer, sophomore Haley Sakbun, junior Hannah Jones and Kelly closed the meet with the third-fastest 400 freestyle in the Ball State record book at 3:23.14.

The event wins were not the only highlights, however, as freshman Kayla Newman took second in the 1650 freestyle with the third-fastest effort in program history at 16:50.07.

Senior Laura Wright also turned in a runner-up finish with her time of 2:16.59 in the 200 breaststroke. Rounding out Ball State's top individual performers was junior Lilia Newkirk with a third-place time of 2:00.98 in the 200 backstroke.

Up next, select members of the Ball State women's swimming & diving program will return to action at the Minnesota Invite held Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at the Jean K Freeman Aquatic Center.

Women's Individual Results on Day 3 at House of Champions

1650 Freestyle | Program Record - 16:32.61 by Marcella Ribeiro in 2021
Finals
2nd - Kayla Newman -16:50.07 - 3rd in Program History
4th - Callie Tuma - 17:03.19
11th - Kiran Stauffer - 17:30.11
EX - Mary Kate Phillips - 17:53.47

200 Backstroke | Program Record - 1:58.73 by Emily Wisolek in 2013
Finals
3rd - Lilia Newkirk - 2:00.98 (2:00.15 in Prelims)
9th - Alyssa Messenger - 2:03.55
Prelims
EX - Kiran Stauffer - 2:08.34

100 Freestyle | Program Record - 49.12 by Payton Kelly in 2023
Finals
1st - Payton Kelly - 49.12 - Program Record
12th - Haley Sakbun - 51.87
Prelims
35th - Elizabeth King - 53.42
39th - Natalie Marshall - 53.98
44th - Emma Horton - 54.77
EX - Kayla Newman - 52.98
EX - Angelina Eliacin - 55.87

200 Breaststroke | Program Record - 2:11.77 by Bridgette Ruehl in 2013
Finals
2nd - Laura Wright - 2:16.59
12th - Julia Ofman - 2:23.08 (2:22.69 in Prelims)

200 Butterfly | Program Record - 1:59.93 by Mallory Miles in 2013
Finals
1st - Alexa Von Holtz - 2:00.06 - 2nd in Program History
8th - Sophia Kuehn - 2:13.33 (2:08.70 in Prelims)
19th - Mary Kate Phillips - 2:12.83

400 Freestyle Relay | Program Record - 3:21.74 by Kelly, A. Sakbun, Ribeiro, Payne in 2023
1st - Kiran Stauffer, Haley Sakbun, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly - 3:23.14 - 3rd in Program History
EX - Kayla Newman, Elizabeth King, Alexa Von Holtz, Eliza Bader - 3:30.87

50 Butterfly - EXHIBITION EVENT
EX - Hannah Jones - 24.99
EX - Alexa Von Holtz - 26.08
EX - Eliza Bader - 26.20
EX - Natalie Marshall - 27.07