Men's S&D Begins 2026 with Action at Miami

Friday, January 16

Oxford, OH

2 pm

Ball State University

Miami University (OH)

January 15, 2026 | Men's Swimming and Diving

MUNCIE, Ind. – After nearly a two-month break, the Ball State men's swimming and diving program enters the second half of its 2025-26 season Jan. 16 with a trip to Oxford, Ohio to battle defending conference champion Miami (OH). Competition inside the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center is slated to begin at 2 p.m. ET.

The men's squad last saw action at House of Champions (Nov. 20-22), placing third out of the field of 11 teams. Freshman George Patterson began the three-day event with a program record in the 500 freestyle (4:27.13), placing fourth. On day two, Patterson set a program-best time in the 200 freestyle during prelims (1:36.97) only to break it again as he topped the final with a time of 1:35.98. The weekend concluded as Patterson joined AJ Friend, William Raches and Jacob Siewers to place first in the 400 freestyle relay (2:56.24), setting a program record.

On the diving boards at House of Champions, Zach Shaddy and Porter Brovont earned their highest scores of the season on 1-meter, earning 331.75 and 312.70 respectively, with Shaddy's score putting him third. On the 3-meter board, Ryan Farmer placed fourth with a score of 336.40, followed by Shaddy who scored 352.50 to top the consolation final.

In total, the Cardinals saw 13 men earn at least one placement in the program's all-time top 10 list.

The RedHawks see its first dual meet versus a conference opponent when the Cardinals visit Friday afternoon. Miami (OH) started its season on top of Southern Illinois 200-99 in a tri meet that involved Northwestern (Oct. 11). At the Miami Invitational (Nov. 19-22) the RedHawks placed third out of five teams, ahead of Missouri Valley Conference foe Valparaiso who placed fifth after four days.

These two teams met last year in dual action (Oct. 18), with Ball State claiming five event wins, but ultimately falling to the RedHawks 206-94. Malcolm Slater took the top prize in both the 500 (4:36.99) and 1000 (9:38.82) freestyles. Friend turned in a top time in the 50 freestyle (21.33), while Brovont swept the diving boards with scores of 267.75 on 1-meter and 285.95 on 3-meter.

Fans can follow the action during Friday's meet via Meet Mobile.

IN THE MVC RANKINGS
In the latest NCAA Division I Top Time Rankings as compiled by CollegeSwimming.com, the Cardinals have 12 student-athletes ranked in scoring position in their respective events heading into this weekend's meets.

Men's Swimmers Currently Ranked in the MVC Top 16
50 Freestyle: 7th – AJ Friend (20.16) / 12th – Jacob Siewers (20.33) 14th – Benjamin Clarkston (20.53)
100 Freestyle: 3rd – Jacob Siewers (44.12) / 7th – William Raches (44.44) / 8th – George Patterson (44.47)
200 Freestyle: 2nd – George Patterson (1:35.98) / 4th – Jacob Siewers (1:36.74) / 15th – Malcolm Slater (1:39.24)
500 Freestyle: 6th – George Patterson (4:27.13) / 10th – Malcolm Slater (4:29.37)
1000 Freestyle: 4th – Malcolm Slater (9:26.20) / 11th – Tommy Brunner (9:36.36)
1650 Freestyle: 7th – Tommy Brunner (15:55.26) / 9th – Malcolm Slater (15:58.90)
100 Backstroke: 6th – William Raches (48.58)
200 Backstroke: 10th – Ike Ruszkowski (1:48.86) / 15th – Max Kruglov (1:49.70)
100 Breaststroke: 4th – Aidan Biddle (53.95) / 14th – Reeve Ferber (56.23)
200 Breaststroke: 7th – Aidan Biddle (2:01.04) / 15th – Ike Ruszkowski (2:03.11)
100 Butterfly: 6th – AJ Friend (48.27) / 13th – Henry Ko (49.53) / 14th – Luke Pryor (49.56) / 16th – Benjamin Clarkston (50.03)
200 Butterfly: 8th – AJ Friend (1:47.72) / 12th – Henry Ko (1:49.90) / 13 – Luke Pryor (1:49.93) / 16 – Benjamin Clarkston (1:50.94)
200 IM: N/A
400 IM: 9th – Malcolm Slater (3:58.28) / 14th – Max Kruglov (4:01.79)
200 Freestyle Relay: 3rd – Ball State (1:19.83)
400 Freestyle Relay: 2nd – Ball State (2:56.24)
800 Freestyle Relay: 3rd – Ball State (6:36.94)
200 Medley Relay: 4th – Ball State (1:28.32)
400 Medley Relay: 4th – Ball State (3:15.18)

FROM THE DIVING BOARDS:
Junior Zach Shaddy currently leads the Cardinals on the 1M board (331.75) and 3M board (352.20).

Ball State Divers Top Results in 2025-26
Porter Brovont (Sr.) – 312.70* on 1M / 322.35* on 3M
Zach Shaddy (Jr.) – 331.75* on 1M / 352.20* on 3M
Ryan Farmer (Fr.) – 274.00 on 1M / 336.40* on 3M
Mitchell Mauck (So.) - 258.98 on 1M / 240.90 on 3M
Emilio Perez (So.) – 234.83 on 1M / 250.43 on 3M
NCAA Zone Diving Qualifying Marks: 300 on 1M / 320 on 3M

EVENT WINNERS:
As a squad, the Cardinals have chalked up 20 individual event wins, and six relay wins so far this season.

2025-26 Men's Individual Event Winners (20)
4 – Jacob Siewers (Sr.)
       Oct. 11 at Indiana Intercollegiates: 100 Freestyle (44.79)
       Oct. 24 at UIC: 100 Freestyle (45.28)
       Nov. 8 vs. Bellarmine: 50 Freestyle (21.33) / 100 Freestyle (45.87)

4 – George Patterson (Fr.)
       Oct. 11 at Indiana Intercollegiates: 200 Freestyle (1:38.09)
       Oct. 24 at UIC: 200 Freestyle (1:41.64)
       Nov. 8 vs. Bellarmine: 200 Individual Medley (1:54.71)
       Nov. 21 at House of Champions: 200 Freestyle (1:35.98)

3 – Malcolm Slater (Jr.)
       Oct. 24 at UIC: 1000 Freestyle (9:36.66) / 500 Freestyle (4:37.98)
       Nov. 8 vs. Bellarmine: 200 Freestyle (1:42.09)

2 – Aidan Biddle (Jr.)
       Oct. 24 at UIC: 100 Breaststroke (56.06)
       Nov. 8 vs. Bellarmine: 100 Breaststroke (56.51)

2– Henry Ko (Fr.)
       Oct. 24 at UIC: 200 Butterfly (1:53.59)
       Nov. 8 vs. Bellarmine: 500 Freestyle (4:46.32)

1 – William Raches (Jr.)
       Oct. 24 at UIC: 100 Backstroke (51.02)

1 – Ike Ruszkowski (So.)
       Oct. 24 at UIC: 200 Backstroke (1:53.53)

1 – Tommy Brunner (Jr.)
       Nov. 8 vs. Bellarmine: 1000 Freestyle (9:58.23)

1 – Colin Walrond (Fr.)
       Nov. 8 vs. Bellarmine: 100 Backstroke (51.40)

1 – Benjamin Clarkston (Sr.)
       Nov. 8 vs. Bellarmine: 100 Butterfly (50.69)

2025-26 Men's Relay Winners (6)
2 - 200 Freestyle Relay
       Oct. 11 at Indiana Intercollegiates: Clarkston, Siewers, Patterson and Friend (1:21.90)
       Oct. 24 at UIC: Friend, Raches, Clarkston, Siewers (1:22.76)

1 – 400 Medley Relay
       Oct. 24 at UIC: Raches, Biddle, Friend, Siewers (3:20.74)

1 – 200 Medley Relay
       Nov. 8 vs. Bellarmine: Raches, Biddle, Friend, Clarkston (1:31.34)

2 – 400 Freestyle Relay
       Nov. 8 vs. Bellarmine: Friend, Siewers, Patterson, Clarkston (3:04.31)
       Nov. 22 at House of Champions: Friend, Patterson, Raches, Siewers (2:56.24)