Women's S&D Lead the Field of 13 After Day One at House of Champions

Thursday, November 20

Indianapolis, IN

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Ball State University

House of Champions

Photo by: Samantha Blankenship (Ball State Creative Services)

Women's S&D Lead the Field of 13 After Day One at House of Champions

November 20, 2025 | Women's Swimming and Diving

INDIANAPOLIS – The Ball State women's swimming and diving program ended day one at the 2025 House of Champions invitational with five event wins and two program records, putting them at the top of the 13-team field with 687.5 points. The Cardinals hold a first-place lead ahead of UIC (527.5) and Little Rock (524.5).

Senior Payton Kelly turned in a solid individual performance at the IU Natatorium, capturing two wins in the 50 backstroke (24.60) and 50 freestyle (22.24). Her finishing time in the 50 free was just 0.01 shy of her program leading mark (22.23), which she set at last season's Mid-American Conference Championships (Feb. 27).

Along with her individual performance, Kelly swam anchor for both victorious 200 freestyle (1:30.78) and 400 medley (3:39.79) relay squads. Joining the effort in the freestyle relay was Anna Keen, Kiley Zoeller and Ava Butterfield, setting a program record to open the finals Thursday afternoon. Keen, Butterfield and Kelly joined forces with Maya McDonald in the medley relay, closing out the day with a program record as well.

The women saw two second place finishes as well on day one from Keen and Alexa Von Holtz. Holtz captured a time of 2:02.30 in the 200 individual medley, followed exactly one second later by Milagros Amione who claimed the third-fastest time in program history. Keen finished behind Kelly in the 50 free (22.61), coincidentally, also 0.01 shy of her best in the event.

On the 3-meter board, Grace Walker earned another victory, scoring 273.20. Walker is up to five wins on the boards so far this season.

The women's squad look to continue their momentum as they return to the IU Natatorium tomorrow for day two of the 2025 House of Champions invitational. Prelims are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., and finals are slated for 5 p.m.

BALL STATE RESULTS – DAY 1 AT HOUSE OF CHAMPIONS
200 Freestyle Relay | Program Record - 1:31.38 by Kelly, A. Sakbun, Jones, Payne in 2023
1st – Anna Keen, Kiley Zoeller, Ava Butterfield, Payton Kelly - 1:30.78 (1st in program history)
17th – Aubrey Simmons, Ella Sears, Natalie Marshall, Haley Sakbun - 1:36.26
20th – Maya McDonald, Lauren Fecher, Julia Ofman, Alyssa Messenger - 1:37.15

50 Backstroke
Finals
1st – Payton Kelly – 24.60
3rd – Ava Butterfield – 25.54
9th – Lauren Fecher – 26.25
13th – Aubrey Simmons – 26.50
Prelims
1st – Payton Kelly – 24.74 – Advanced to A Final
4th – Ava Butterfield – 25.70 – Advanced to A Final
11th – Lauren Fecher – 26.20 – Advanced to B Final
16th – Aubrey Simmons – 26.38 – Advanced to B Final
34th – Ella Sears – 27.52
40th - Savannah Farlee – 27.94

500 Freestyle | Program Record - 4:48.37 by Marcella Ribeiro in 2021
Finals
10th – Addy Czarnecki – 4:55.86 (7th in program history)
12th – Callie Tuma – 4:59.77
13th – McKenna Potteiger – 5:02.27
15th – Reagan Graves – 5:04.43
19th – Kayla Newman – 5:00.61
Prelims
9th – Addy Czarnecki – 4:59.55 – Advanced to B Final
10th – Callie Tuma – 5:00.02 – Advanced to B Final
12th – Reagan Graves – 5:02.23 – Advanced to B Final
16th – McKenna Potteiger – 5:02.97 – Advanced to B Final
20th – Kayla Newman – 5:03.84 – Advanced to C Final
33rd – Olivia Owens – 5:09.80
50th – Kiran Stauffer – 5:19.85

200 IM | Program Record - 2:00.85 by Alexa Von Holtz in 2023
Finals
2nd - Alexa Von Holtz – 2:02.30
6th – Milagros Amione –2:03.30 (3rd in program history)
13th - Addie Beasley – 2:05.71
14th - Ava Butterfield – 2:05.87
29th - Maya McDonald – 2:07.33
30th - Haley Johnson – 2:07.34
Prelims
3rd - Milagros Amione – 2:03.42 – Advanced to A Final
4th – Alexa Von Holtz – 2:03.48 – Advanced to A Final
10th – Addie Beasley – 2:05.15 – Advanced to B Final (8th in program history)
15th – Ava Butterfield – 2:05.76 – Advanced to B Final
25th – Maya McDonald – 2:07.11 – Advanced to D Final
30th – Haley Johnson – 2:07.64 – Advanced to D Final
37th – Julia Ofman – 2:09.77

50 Freestyle | Program Record - 22.32 by Payton Kelly in 2023
Finals
1st – Payton Kelly – 22.24
2nd - Anna Keen – 22.61
12th - Kiley Zoeller – 23.71
30th - Haley Sakbun – 24.26
31st - Ella Sears – 24.38
Prelims
1st – Payton Kelly - 22.43 – Advanced to A Final
2nd – Anna Keen – 22.88 – Advanced to A Final
16th – Kiley Zoeller – 23.79 – Advanced to B Final
28th – Haley Sakbun – 24.15 – Advanced to D Final
30th – Ella Sears – 24.18 – Advanced to D Final
37th – Aubrey Simmons – 24.27
42nd – Lauren Fecher – 24.31
45th – Natalie Marshall – 24.23
53rd – Alyssa Messenger – 24.60
62nd – Julia Ofman – 24.79
69th – Savannah Farlee – 24.95

400 Medley Relay | Program Record - 3:39.86 by Pratt, Ruehl, H. Richter, Magley in 2013
1st – Ava Butterfield, Maya McDonald, Anna Keen, Payton Kelly – 3:39.79 (1st in program history)
EX – Lauren Fecher, Addie Beasley, Savannah Farlee, Kiley Zoeller – 3:48.45
EX – Alyssa Messenger, Julia Ofman, Aubrey Simmons, Haley Sakbun – 3:50.04

3-Meter Diving | Program Record - 347.78 by Caitlin Locante in 2021
1st – Grace Walker – 273.20
22nd – Eeva-Liisa Gibson – 200.35
28th – Ella Penny – 168.00
31st – Ava Pavich – 161.45