Men's S&D Put on a Strong Showing on Day 2 of the MVC Championships
February 20, 2025 | Men's Swimming and Diving
OXOFRD, Ohio – The Ball State men's swimming and diving program continued competition on day two of the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Championships with a strong effort at the Miami Aquatic Center.
The 400 medley relay team of Ethan Pheifer, Aidan Biddle, AJ Friend and Jacob Siewers combined for a fifth-place time of 3:14.22, capturing the second-fastest time in program history.
Before providing their contributions in relay action, Friend placed second in the consolation heat and 10th overall in the 50 freestyle (20.22), claiming the program's fourth-fastest time, while Pheifer earned the seventh-fastest time as he placed third in the B Finals and 11th overall (20.37).
Sophomore Malcolm Slater earned a podium finish in the 500 freestyle, touching the wall with a time of 4:32.84 to place eighth. Slater was followed by sophomores Tommy Brunner, who placed 12th (4:31.83), and Seth Blossom, who placed 16th (4:39.61).
After topping his own second-fastest time in program history in the 200 individual medley during prelims (1:49.72), senior Michael Burns earned individual points for the Cardinals with a 15th-place finish in the finals. Burns' preliminary time of 1:49.72 was just 0.4 shy of a program record.
On the 1-meter board, junior Porter Brovont finished on the podium, placing eighth with a score of 233.20. Freshman Mitchell Mauck earned his highest score of the season with 247.35, placing 13th.
With the conclusion of day two, Ball State is placed fifth out of seven teams with 135 points. Miami currently holds the lead with 304 points, followed by Southern Illinois with 272.
Action in the 2025 MVC Championships resumes Friday with five more individual swimming events, the consolation finals for 3-meter diving and the 200 freestyle relay. Prelims start at 10:30 a.m. ET and finals at 6 p.m. ET.
Ball State Results on Day 2 of the MVC Championships
THURSDAY EVENING FINAL RESULTS
500 Freestyle | Program Record - 4:27.61 by Malcolm Slater in 2024
8th - Malcolm Slater – 4:32.84
12th - Tommy Brunner – 4:31.83
16th - Seth Blossom – 4:39.61
200 IM | Program Record - 1:49.31 by Joe Morris in 2015
15th - Michael Burns – 1:51.38
50 Freestyle | Program Record - 19.89 by Owen Chaye on Two Occasions
10th - AJ Friend – 20.22 – 4th in program history
11th - Ethan Pheifer – 20.37 – 7th in program history
1-Meter Diving | Program Record - 344.25 by Dave Keener in 1991
8th – Porter Brovont – 233.20
13th – Mitchell Mauck – 247.35
400 Medley Relay | Program Record - 3:10.53 by Pheifer, Garberick, Handshoe, Chaye in 2024
5th – Ethan Pheifer, Aidan Biddle, AJ Friend, Jacob Siewers - 3:14.22 – 2nd in program history
THURSDAY MORNING PRELIM RESULTS
500 Freestyle | Program Record - 4:27.61 by Malcolm Slater in 2024
Advanced to A Finals – 4th - Malcolm Slater – 4:28.84
Advanced to B Finals – 11th - Seth Blossom – 4:31.54 – 5th in program history
Advanced to B Finals – 16th - Tommy Brunner – 4:33.55
Prelims
19th - Alexander Eddy – 4:37.50
25th - Michael Mitsynskyy – 4:49.80
EX - Kenny Reed – 4:44.02
EX - Logan Ayres – 4:47.48
200 IM | Program Record - 1:49.31 by Joe Morris in 2015
Advanced to B Finals – 13th - Michael Burns - 1:49.72 – 2nd in program history
Prelims
17th - Nathan Harper – 1:51.63 – 8th in program history
19th - Zach Zishka – 1:52.81
50 Freestyle | Program Record - 19.89 by Owen Chaye on Two Occasions
Advanced to B Final – T-9th - AJ Friend – 20.39
Advanced to B Final – 12th - Ethan Pheifer – 20.47
Prelims
17th - Jacob Siewers – 20.72
20th - Benjamin Clarkston – 20.81
24th - Mason Young – 20.98
29th - Dominick Perkowski – 21.29
39th - Aidan Biddle – 21.98
42nd - Cutter Shipman – 22.36
EX - Erkan Ozgen – 21.71
EX - Auston Shafer – 21.27
1-Meter Diving | Program Record - 344.25 by Dave Keener in 1991
3rd - Porter Brovont – 300.95
14th - Mitchell Mauck – 239.55
The 400 medley relay team of Ethan Pheifer, Aidan Biddle, AJ Friend and Jacob Siewers combined for a fifth-place time of 3:14.22, capturing the second-fastest time in program history.
Before providing their contributions in relay action, Friend placed second in the consolation heat and 10th overall in the 50 freestyle (20.22), claiming the program's fourth-fastest time, while Pheifer earned the seventh-fastest time as he placed third in the B Finals and 11th overall (20.37).
Sophomore Malcolm Slater earned a podium finish in the 500 freestyle, touching the wall with a time of 4:32.84 to place eighth. Slater was followed by sophomores Tommy Brunner, who placed 12th (4:31.83), and Seth Blossom, who placed 16th (4:39.61).
After topping his own second-fastest time in program history in the 200 individual medley during prelims (1:49.72), senior Michael Burns earned individual points for the Cardinals with a 15th-place finish in the finals. Burns' preliminary time of 1:49.72 was just 0.4 shy of a program record.
On the 1-meter board, junior Porter Brovont finished on the podium, placing eighth with a score of 233.20. Freshman Mitchell Mauck earned his highest score of the season with 247.35, placing 13th.
With the conclusion of day two, Ball State is placed fifth out of seven teams with 135 points. Miami currently holds the lead with 304 points, followed by Southern Illinois with 272.
Action in the 2025 MVC Championships resumes Friday with five more individual swimming events, the consolation finals for 3-meter diving and the 200 freestyle relay. Prelims start at 10:30 a.m. ET and finals at 6 p.m. ET.
Ball State Results on Day 2 of the MVC Championships
THURSDAY EVENING FINAL RESULTS
500 Freestyle | Program Record - 4:27.61 by Malcolm Slater in 2024
8th - Malcolm Slater – 4:32.84
12th - Tommy Brunner – 4:31.83
16th - Seth Blossom – 4:39.61
200 IM | Program Record - 1:49.31 by Joe Morris in 2015
15th - Michael Burns – 1:51.38
50 Freestyle | Program Record - 19.89 by Owen Chaye on Two Occasions
10th - AJ Friend – 20.22 – 4th in program history
11th - Ethan Pheifer – 20.37 – 7th in program history
1-Meter Diving | Program Record - 344.25 by Dave Keener in 1991
8th – Porter Brovont – 233.20
13th – Mitchell Mauck – 247.35
400 Medley Relay | Program Record - 3:10.53 by Pheifer, Garberick, Handshoe, Chaye in 2024
5th – Ethan Pheifer, Aidan Biddle, AJ Friend, Jacob Siewers - 3:14.22 – 2nd in program history
THURSDAY MORNING PRELIM RESULTS
500 Freestyle | Program Record - 4:27.61 by Malcolm Slater in 2024
Advanced to A Finals – 4th - Malcolm Slater – 4:28.84
Advanced to B Finals – 11th - Seth Blossom – 4:31.54 – 5th in program history
Advanced to B Finals – 16th - Tommy Brunner – 4:33.55
Prelims
19th - Alexander Eddy – 4:37.50
25th - Michael Mitsynskyy – 4:49.80
EX - Kenny Reed – 4:44.02
EX - Logan Ayres – 4:47.48
200 IM | Program Record - 1:49.31 by Joe Morris in 2015
Advanced to B Finals – 13th - Michael Burns - 1:49.72 – 2nd in program history
Prelims
17th - Nathan Harper – 1:51.63 – 8th in program history
19th - Zach Zishka – 1:52.81
50 Freestyle | Program Record - 19.89 by Owen Chaye on Two Occasions
Advanced to B Final – T-9th - AJ Friend – 20.39
Advanced to B Final – 12th - Ethan Pheifer – 20.47
Prelims
17th - Jacob Siewers – 20.72
20th - Benjamin Clarkston – 20.81
24th - Mason Young – 20.98
29th - Dominick Perkowski – 21.29
39th - Aidan Biddle – 21.98
42nd - Cutter Shipman – 22.36
EX - Erkan Ozgen – 21.71
EX - Auston Shafer – 21.27
1-Meter Diving | Program Record - 344.25 by Dave Keener in 1991
3rd - Porter Brovont – 300.95
14th - Mitchell Mauck – 239.55
Players Mentioned
Back, Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Breast
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Dive
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free, IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Breast, IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly, Back
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free/Back
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Fly, Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Back, Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Breast
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly, IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free, IM
/ Men's Swimming and DivingHeart of the Cardinal Podcast // Haley Sakbun of Women's Swim and Dive
Wednesday, October 29
Heart of the Cardinal Podcast: October Show - Guests: Haley Sakbun & Julia Verratti
Friday, October 24
Homecoming // Cardinal Sinners! Presented by Gameday Spirit
Friday, October 17
Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses the NCAA vs. House Settlement
Tuesday, July 01