Women's S&D Opens MAC Championships Wednesday at Ohio

MUNCIE, Ind. - - After months of preparation, the Ball State women's swimming & diving program will put all its hard work to the test this week at the Ohio Aquatic Center for the 2024 Mid-American Conference Swimming & Diving Championships.

Action in the four-day meet begins Wednesday (Feb. 28) with a pair of relay swims. Individual action gets underway Thursday (Feb. 23) and will run through Saturday (Feb. 25).

Live results will be available on meet mobile, while links for live video coverage will be provided on the official championship website: https://getsomemaction.com/tournaments/?id=217&path=wswim

2024 MAC Women's Swimming & Diving Championship Schedule

Wednesday, Feb. 28	Thursday, Feb. 29	Friday, March 1	Saturday, March 2
Finals - 6 p.m.	Prelims - 10 a.m. (Doors open at 9 a.m.)	Prelims - 10 a.m. (Doors open at 9 a.m.)	Prelims - 10 a.m. (Doors open at 9 a.m.)
200 Medley Relay	500 Freestyle	100 Butterfly	200 Backstroke
800 Freestyle Relay	200 IM	400 IM	100 Freestyle
	50 Freestyle	200 Freestyle	200 Breaststroke
	Prelims – 2 p.m.	100 Breaststroke	200 Butterfly
	1M Diving	100 Backstroke	Finals - 3:40 p.m. (Doors open at 3:30)
	Finals - 6 p.m. (Doors open at 5 p.m.)	Prelims – 2 p.m.	1650 Freestyle - First Heat of Time Finals
	500 Freestyle - Consolation & Championship Heats	3M Diving	Finals - 6 p.m.
	200 IM Consolation & Championship Heats	Finals – 6 p.m. (Doors open at 5 p.m.)	1650 Freestyle - Championship Heat
	50 Freestyle Consolation & Championship Heats	100 Butterfly Consolation & Championship Heats	200 Backstroke Consolation & Championship Heats
	1M Diving Finals	400 IM Consolation & Championship Heats	100 Freestyle Consolation & Championship Heats
	400 Medley Relay Championship Heat	200 Freestyle Consolation & Championship Heats	200 Breaststroke Consolation & Championship Heats
		100 Breaststroke Consolation & Championship Heats	200 Butterfly Consolation & Championship Heats
		100 Backstroke Consolation & Championship Heats	3M Diving – Finals
		3M Diving - Consolation	400 Freestyle Relay
		200 Freestyle Relay Finals

The Cardinals have steadily improved under head coach J. Agnew, including turning in the three best teams scores since the 2014 season at the past three MAC Championships.

In fact, Ball State's fifth place finishes at both the 2021 and 2023 MAC Championships are the best for the program since a fourth-place effort in 2005.

AT THE 2023 MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Ball State finished the 2023 MAC Championships with five program records and 13 other times which broke into the top 10 on BSU's all-time list. The Cardinals also picked up four medals, two silver and two bronze, on the way to earning 339 total points to place fifth among the eight-team field.

Payton Kelly was the first medalist of the meet for Ball State, as she placed second in the 50 freestyle with a program record time of 22.51. A mark she has already bested this season.

Kelly would go on to take third in the 100 freestyle with the then-second-best time in the BSU record book at 49.81. Kelly also established a new program record in that event this season.

The Cardinals also claimed a pair of podium finishes in the championship's longest event, with Marcella Ribeiro placing second (16:44.97) and Callie Tuma taking third (17:00.39) in the 1650 freestyle.

The Cardinals also set program records in four of the five relays last season; the 200 medley relay (1:39.69), the 800 freestyle relay (7:22.09), the 200 freestyle relay (1:33.38) and the 400 freestyle relay (3:21.74).

IN THE MAC RANKINGS:
In the latest NCAA Division I Top Time Rankings as compiled by CollegeSwimming.com, the Cardinals have nine student-athletes ranked in scoring position in their respective events heading into the MAC Championships.

Leading the way are sophomore Payton Kelly who is first in the Mid-American Conference in the 50 freestyle with her program record time of 22.32 and freshman Kayla Newman who is third in the league in both the 1000 (10:10.05) and 1650 (15:50.07) freestyle.

Women's Swimmers Currently Ranked in the MAC Top 16
50 Freestyle: 1st - Payton Kelly (22.32)
100 Freestyle: 4th - Payton Kelly (49.12)
200 Freestyle: 5th - Payton Kelly (1:48.24) / 15th - Kiran Stauffer (1:50.49)
500 Freestyle: 5th - Kiran Stauffer (4:54.01) / 8th - Kayla Newman (4:55.50)
1000 Freestyle: 3rd - Kayla Newman (10:10.05) / 10th - Callie Tuma (10:20.47) / 65th - Marcella Ribeiro (10:23.99)
1650 Freestyle: 3rd - Kayla Newman (15:50.07) / 8th - Callie Tuma (17:03.19)
100 Backstroke: T-7th - Hannah Jones (54.82) / 9th - Payton Kelly (54.91)
200 Backstroke: 10th - Lilia Newkirk (2:00.15)
100 Breaststroke: 3rd - Laura Wright (1:01.66)
200 Breaststroke: 6th - Laura Wright (2:15.47)
200 Butterfly: 4th - Alexa Von Holtz (2:00.06)
200 IM: 6th - Alexa Von Holtz (2:00.85)
400 IM: 7th - Alexa Von Holtz (4:21.75)
200 Freestyle Relay: 5th (1:33.08)
400 Freestyle Relay: 5th (3:23.14)
800 Freestyle Relay: 3rd (7:26.09)
200 Medley Relay: 5th (1:41.65)
400 Medley Relay: 5th (3:42.56)

FROM THE DIVING BOARDS:
Heading into the MAC Championships, senior transfer Grace Walker leads the Cardinals on both diving boards with a 1M score of 288.30 and a 3M score of 286.20, both of which are NCAA Zone Diving qualifying marks.

Ball State Divers Top Results in 2023-24
Grace Walker  (Sr.) - 288.30* on 1M / 286.20* on 3M
Leelah Fettig (Fr.) - 227.40 on 1M / 233.93 on 3M
Ella Penny (Fr.) - 224.63 on 1M / 185.18 on 3M
Ava Pavich (Fr.) - 197.78 on 1M / 188.85 on 3M
Hannah Justice (So.) - 189.65 on 1M
* = NCAA Zone Diving Qualifying Score

IN THE RECORD BOOKS:
Ball State's student-athletes have already established three program records its season. Sophomore Payton Kelly has two of those marks, with times of 22.32 in the 50 freestyle and 49.12 in the 100 freestyle. The other came from freshman Alexa Von Holtz with a time of 2:00.85. All three records came at the IUPUI House of Champions meet.

MAC AWARD WINNERS:
Ball State has already claimed a pair of Mid-American Conference weekly awards this season, with sophomore freestyle sprint specialist Payton Kelly earning MAC Swimmer of the Week honors twice.

Award Winners:
10/25/2023 - Payton Kelly MAC Swimmer of the Week
11/8/2023 - Payton Kelly MAC Swimmer of the Week

EVENT WINNERS:
As a squad, the Cardinals have chalked up 58 individual event wins and 13 relay victories so far this season. Freshman Alexa Von Holtz leads the way with 16 individual event wins, while sophomore Payton Kelly is right behind with 14. Kelly has also had a hand in 11 of the relay wins, while Von Holtz has swam on three.

2023-24 Women's Individual Event Winners (58 Total)
16 - Alexa Von Holtz (Fr.)
   Oct. 28 at Buffalo - 100 Butterfly (56.42) / 200 Butterfly (2:02.98) / 200 IM (2:07.44)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - 200 Butterfly (2:05.42) / 400 IM (4:34.37)
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - 200 Butterfly (2:04.37) / 100 Butterfly (56.92) / 200 IM (2:07.15)
   Nov. 16 at House of Champions – 200 IM (2:00.85) - PROGRAM RECORD
   Nov. 17 at House of Champions - 400 IM (4:21.75)
Nov. 28 at House of Champions - 200 Butterfly (2:00.06)
   Jan. 20 vs. Toledo - 200 Butterfly (2:03.10) / 200 IM (2:07.48)
   Jan 27 vs. Ohio - 200 Butterfly (2:02.53)
   Feb. 3 at Bellarmine - 200 Freestyle (1:57.46) / 100 Butterfly (57.84)

14 - Payton Kelly (So.)
   Oct. 21 at Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate - 50 Freestyle (23.12) / 100 Freestyle (50.82)
   Oct. 28 at Buffalo - 50 Freestyle (23.05) / 100 Freestyle (50.58)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - 200 Freestyle (1:52.14) / 100 Freestyle (50.97)
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - 50 Freestyle (23.16) / 100 Freestyle (50.83)
   Nov. 16 at House of Champions - 50 Freestyle (22.32) - PROGRAM RECORD
   Nov. 18 at House of Champions - 100 Freestyle (49.12) - PROGRAM RECORD
   Jan. 20 vs. Toledo - 50 Freestyle (23.63) / 100 Freestyle (51.54)
   Jan 27 vs. Ohio - 50 Freestyle (23.53)
   Feb. 3 at Bellarmine - 100 Backstroke (59.33)

9 - Laura Wright (Sr.)
   Oct. 21 at Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate - 100 Breaststroke (1:04.07)
   Oct. 28 at Buffalo - 100 Breaststroke (56.88) / 200 Breaststroke (2:19.98)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - 100 Breaststroke (1:04.57) / 200 Breaststroke (2:20.60)
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - 100 Breaststroke (1:05.06) / 200 Breaststroke (2:21.33)
   Jan. 20 vs. Toledo - 100 Breaststroke (1:04.02) / 200 Breaststroke (2:20.11)

5 - Marcella Ribeiro (Sr)
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - 200 Freestyle (1:54.22) / 500 Freestyle (5:05.86)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo - 100 Freestyle (10:33.94) / 500 Freestyle (5:13.37)
   Feb. 3 at Bellarmine - 1000 Freestyle (10:37.64)

3 - Hannah Jones (Jr.)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - 50 Freestyle (24.89)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo - 100 Backstroke (57.06)
   Feb. 3 at Bellarmine - 50 Freestyle (25.06)

3 - Kayla Newman (Fr.)
   Oct. 28 at Buffalo - 500 Freestyle (5:04.58) / 1000 Freestyle (10:20.96)
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - 1000 Freestyle (10:24.44)

3 - Lilia Newkirk (Jr.)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - 100 Backstroke (57.58) / 200 Backstroke (2:06.02)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo 200 Backstroke (2:03.66)

3 - Grace Walker (Sr.)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - 3M Diving (275.25) / 1M Diving (286.28)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo - 1M Diving (288.30)

1 - Alyssa Messenger (So.)
   Feb. 3 at Bellarmine - 100 Freestyle (54.74)

1 - Kiran Stauffer (So.)
   Feb. 3 at Bellarmine - 500 Freestyle (5:17.34)

2023-24 Women's Relay Event Winners (13 Total)
5 - 200 Medley Relay
   Oct. 28 at Buffalo - Lilia Newkirk, Laura Wright, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly (1:44.60)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - Hannah Jones, Laura Wright, Eliza Bader, Payton Kelly (1:45.10)
   Nov 17 at House of Champions- Lilia Newkirk, Laura Wright, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly (1:41:65)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo - Lilia Newkirk, Laura Wright, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly (1:44.84)
   Feb. 3 at Bellarmine - Lilia Newkirk, Julia Ofman, Hannah Jones, Angelina Eliacin (1:48.27)

3 - 400 Medley Relay
   Oct. 28 at Buffalo - Marcella Ribeiro, Kiran Stauffer, Haley Sakbun, Payton Kelly (3:26.82)
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - Lilia Newkirk, Laura Wright, Alexa Von Holtz, Payton Kelly (3:49.52)
   Nov. 16 at House of Campions - Hannah Jones, Laura Wright, Alexa Von Holtz, Payton Kelly (3:42.56)

3- 400 Freestyle Relay
   Nov. 18 at House of Champions - Kiran Stauffer, Haley Sakbun, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly (3:23.14)
   Feb. 3 at Bellarmine - Haley Sakbun, Alyssa Messenger, Callie Tuma, Payton Kelly (3:38.36)
Jan. 20 vs Toledo - Marcella Ribeiro, Haley Sakbun, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly (3:32.17)

1 - 200 Freestyle Relay
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - Natalie Marshall, Kiran Stauffer, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly (1:35.89)

1- 800 Freestyle Relay
   Nov. 17 at House of Champions - Kiran Stauffer, Haley Sakbun, Alexa Von Holtz, Kayla Newman (7:26.09)

Women's S&D Opens MAC Championships Wednesday at Ohio

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Eliza Bader

Angelina Eliacin

Leelah Fettig

Hannah Jones

Hannah Justice

Payton Kelly

Natalie Marshall

Alyssa Messenger

Lilia Newkirk

Kayla Newman

Julia Ofman

Ava Pavich

Ella Penny

Marcella Ribeiro

Haley Sakbun

Kiran Stauffer

Callie Tuma

Alexa Von Holtz

Grace Walker

Laura Wright

Women's S&D Opens MAC Championships Wednesday at Ohio

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Eliza Bader

Angelina Eliacin

Leelah Fettig

Hannah Jones

Hannah Justice

Payton Kelly

Natalie Marshall

Alyssa Messenger

Lilia Newkirk

Kayla Newman

Julia Ofman

Ava Pavich

Ella Penny

Marcella Ribeiro

Haley Sakbun

Kiran Stauffer

Callie Tuma

Alexa Von Holtz

Grace Walker

Laura Wright

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