Ball State University
Missouri Valley Conference Championships
Men's S&D Claim Two More Medals and Program Records to Close MVC Championships
February 22, 2025 | Men's Swimming and Diving
OXFORD, Ohio – To close the final day of the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Championships, the Ball State men's S&D program finished strong as it claimed two more medals and two program records at the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center.
To open the finals Saturday evening, sophomore Malcolm Slater glided his way to top the third heat in the 1650 freestyle, as he took second overall with a time of 15:34.59, securing the first medal of the night for the Cardinals. Slater's 1000 split of 9:24.01 set a new program standard.
Sophomore Tommy Brunner fought valiantly to earn a podium finish in the same event, placing fourth with a time of 15:38.03.
Setting his own standard in the 200 backstroke was senior Ethan Pheifer, who followed his silver-winning contribution in the 200 freestyle relay the day prior with a program record (1:47.38), topping the consolation heat and placing ninth overall.
On the 3-meter board, junior Porter Brovont won the final medal for the Cardinals, as he secured silver with a score of 331.35.
The 400 freestyle relay team of AJ Friend, Nathan Harper, Jacob Siewers and Pheifer took fourth in the event, as they combined for the third-fastest time in program history (2:59.18).
In the 200 butterfly, Friend placed himself on the podium after he finished fifth with a time of 1:49.51, earning the third-fastest time in program history.
The Cardinals had 12 other men compete in event finals on Saturday, with five earning top 10 times in program history.
As a team, Ball State placed fifth overall with 387.5 points. Miami won the conference title for the fifth consecutive season with 820 points. Over the course of the four-day event, Ball State captured medals in four events, while setting three program records.
Up next for several Cardinals are possible postseason competitions between the NCAA Zone Diving Championships (March 13-15), the CSCAA National Invitational Championships (March 13-16) and the NCAA Championships (March 26-29).
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Miami – 820 points
2. Southern Illinois – 691.5 points
3. Missouri State – 602.5 points
4. UIC – 553.5 points
5. Ball State – 387.5 points
6. Valparaiso – 139 points
7. Evansville – 127 points
Ball State Results on Day 4 of the MVC Championships
SATURDAY EVENING FINAL RESULTS
1650 Freestyle | Program Record - 15:33.58 by Magnus Ohlson in 1995
2nd – Malcolm Slater – 15:34.59 – 2nd in program history
4th – Tommy Brunner – 15:38.03 – 3rd in program history
11th – Seth Blossom – 15:58.01 – 7th in program history
15th – Alexander Eddy – 16:14.75
17th – Zach Zishka – 16:31.43
21st – Kenny Reed – 17:00.16
200 Backstroke | Program Record - 1:47.38 by Ethan Pheifer in 2025
9th – Ethan Pheifer – 1:47.38 – program record
100 Freestyle | Program Record - 43.58 by Owen Chaye in 2023
11th – Jacob Siewers – 44.46 – 2nd in program history
200 Breaststroke | Program Record - 1:54.78 by Joey Garberick in 2024
9th – Michael Burns – 2:00.29 – 3rd in program history
13th – Cutter Shipman – 2:01.26 - 5th in program history
14th – Aidan Biddle – 2:01.57
200 Butterfly | Program Record - 1:46.93 by Bryce Handshoe in 2024
5th – AJ Friend – 1:49.51
11th – Luke Pryor – 1:51.17 – 9th in program history
14th – Benjamin Clarkston – 1:51.60
15th – Michael Mitsynskyy – 1:53.29
3M Diving | Program Record - 359.25 by Wyatt Blake in 2023
2nd – Porter Brovont – 331.35
10th - Mitchell Mauck – 273.95
400 Freestyle Relay | Program Record - 2:57.16 by Chaye, Siewers, Garberick, Pheifer in 2024
4th - AJ Friend, Nathan Harper, Jacob Siewers, Ethan Pheifer – 2:59.18 – 3rd in program history
SATURDAY MORNING PRELIM RESULTS
200 Backstroke | Program Record - 1:48.22 by Logan Ackley in 2020
Advanced to B Finals – T-13th – Ethan Pheifer – 1:48.90
Prelims
18th – Nathan Harper – 1:51.31 – 9th in program history
EX – Logan Ayres – 1:55.53
100 Freestyle | Program Record - 43.58 by Owen Chaye in 2023
Advanced to B Finals – 13th – Jacob Siewers – 44.76
Prelims
17th – Mason Young – 45.67
23rd – Dominick Perkowski – 46.48
EX – Auston Shafer – 47.48
EX - Erkan Ozgen – 47.76
200 Breaststroke | Program Record - 1:54.78 by Joey Garberick in 2024
Advanced to B Finals – 11th – Aidan Biddle – 2:01.30 – 6th in program history
Advanced to B Finals – 12th - Michael Burns – 2:01.50
Advanced to B Finals – 13th – Cutter Shipman – 2:02.01
200 Butterfly | Program Record - 1:46.93 by Bryce Handshoe in 2024
Advanced to A Finals - 7th – AJ Friend – 1:49.38 – 3rd in program history
Advanced to B Finals – 12th – Michael Mitsynskyy – 1:51.15
Advanced to B Finals – 14th – Luke Pryor – 1:52.21
Advanced to B Finals – 15th – Benjamin Clarkston – 1:52.76
Prelims
EX – Reeve Ferber – 1:53.12
Players Mentioned
