Women's S&D Earn Silver and Two Program Records to Finish Day 3 of MAC Championships
February 28, 2025 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Buffalo – The Ball State women's swimming and diving program captured 94 points on day three of the Mid-American Conference Championships, highlighted by a silver medal and two top program times at Buffalo's Alumni Arena Natatorium & Dorsi Raynolds Pool Friday evening.
Junior Payton Kelly rode the momentum from her gold-placing finish in the 50 freestyle on day two with a silver finish in the 200 (1:47.27), once again beating her own program record time to set a new standard in the event.
The previous top time of 1:47.61 was set by Kelly at last year's MAC Championships, where she claimed fourth.
In the 100 butterfly, freshman Anna Keen continued her impressive showing in her first year of league championship action as placed fourth on the podium, matching the top program time of 53.64, set by Mallory Miles in 2013, in the process.
Sophomore Alexa Von Holtz earned a podium finish for herself in the 400 individual medley, as she placed seventh with a time of 4:24.06. Holtz was followed by junior Callie Tuma, who claimed the top spot in the consolation heat, finishing ninth overall with a time of 4:24.76.
Also advancing to the finals and scoring points for the Cardinals in their respective events were sophomore Julia Ofman, who placed 14th in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.90), freshman Ava Butterfield, who placed 14th in the 100 butterfly (55.49), and senior Lilia Newkirk, who placed 15th in the 100 backstroke (55.63).
To conclude day three, the 200 freestyle relay team of Keen, Haley Sakbun, Kelly and Butterfield earned a fourth-place finish as they claimed the second fastest time in program history, combining for a time of 1:31.68.
At the conclusion of Friday's events, Ball State remains fifth overall with 211.5 points. Akron keeps its lead with 504, followed by Ohio with 424.5.
Action in the 2025 MAC Championships wraps up Saturday with five more individual events, finals of 3-meter diving, and the 400 freestyle relay. Prelims start at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.
Ball State Results on Day 3 of the MAC Championships
FRIDAY EVENING FINAL RESULTS
100 Butterfly | Program Record - 53.64 by Mallory Miles in 2013
4th – Anna Keen – 53.64 – Tied program record
14th – Ava Butterfield – 55.49
400 IM | Program Record - 4:20.22 by Mallory Miles in 2011
7th – Alexa Von Holtz – 4:24.06
9th – Callie Tuma – 4:24.76
16th – McKenna Potteiger – 4:31.24
200 Freestyle | Program Record - 1:47.27 by Payton Kelly in 2025
2nd– Payton Kelly – 1:47.27 – Program record
100 Breaststroke | Program Record - 1:00.58 by Bridgette Ruehl in 2013
14th – Julia Ofman – 1:03.90
16th – Laura Wright – 1:04.71
100 Backstroke | Program Record - 54.44 by Hannah Jones in 2022
15th – Lilia Newkirk – 55.63
16th – Ava Butterfield – 56.29
200 Freestyle Relay | Program Record - 1:31.38 by Kelly, A. Sakbun, Jones, Payne in 2023
4th – Anna Keen, Haley Sakbun, Payton Kelly, Ava Butterfield - 1:31.68 – 2nd in program history
FRIDAY MORNING PRELIM RESULTS
100 Butterfly | Program Record - 53.64 by Mallory Miles in 2013
Advanced to A Finals – 5th – Anna Keen – 53.86
Advanced to B Finals – 16th – Ava Butterfield – 55.30 – 6th in program history
Prelims
29th- Natalie Marshall – 1:01.98
EX – Savannah Farlee – 57.05
EX – Eliza Bader – 57.54
400 IM | Program Record - 4:20.22 by Mallory Miles in 2011
Advanced to A Finals - 6th – Alexa Von Holtz – 4:23.86
Advanced to B Finals - 9th – Callie Tuma – 4:24.75 – 6th in program history
Advanced to B Finals - 13th – McKenna Potteiger – 4:30.49
Prelims
22nd – Magdalena Lechowska – 4:40.56
200 Freestyle | Program Record - 1:47.61 by Payton Kelly in 2024
Advanced to A Finals – 5th – Payton Kelly – 1:48.87
Prelims
34th – Haley Sakbun – 1:54.98
37th – Kayla Newman – 1:55.92
100 Breaststroke | Program Record - 1:00.58 by Bridgette Ruehl in 2013
Advanced to B Finals – 13th – Julia Ofman – 1:03.95
Advanced to B Finals – 15th – Laura Wright – 1:04.09
Prelims
21st – Maya McDonald – 1:05.65
100 Backstroke | Program Record - 54.44 by Hannah Jones in 2022
Advanced to B Finals – 15th – Ava Butterfield – 55.40 – 8th in program history
Advanced to B Finals – 16th – Lilia Newkirk – 55.48
Prelims
23rd – Lauren Fecher – 56.13
24th – Olivia Owens – 56.28
29th – Alyssa Messenger – 57.51
EX – Savannah Farlee – 59.24
3-Meter Diving | Program Record – 347.78 by Caitlin Locante in 2021
28th – Leelah Fettig – 193.05
29th – Hannah Justice – 192.80
30th – Eeva-Liisa Gibson – 182.15
Players Mentioned
