Swimming & Diving Opens 2026-27 Campaign This Week at IU Indy and Indiana Intercollegiates

Thursday, October 22

Indianapolis, IN

3 pm

Ball State University

IU Indy

October 21, 2026 | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State swimming and diving program returns to action for the 2026-27 season this week. The men's and women's teams open their campaigns on the road Thursday at IU Indy, followed by a trip Saturday to the Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate, hosted by Purdue. Competition starts at 3 p.m. on Thursday, while Saturday's meet is slated for noon.

On the Men's Side
Cardinals at Jaguars
The Cardinals and Jaguars have met on 17 occasions, with Ball State holding a narrow 9-8 advantage in the all-time series. The red and white claimed victories in eight consecutive meets from 2000-13. IU Indy has claimed wins in eight of nine meetings since then, with Ball State earning its most recent victory, a 164-134 result, inside Lewellen in 2023. At the IU Natatorium, the all-time series is tied, 7-7.

The programs last met in Muncie during Ball State's Senior Day last year, with the Jaguars ultimately taking a 175-124 triumph. The Cardinals put together a strong performance, earning five event victories. AJ Friend led the Cardinals with individual wins in the 50 freestyle (20.92) and 100 butterfly (49.55), while also helping the 200 freestyle relay team of William Raches, George Patterson and Benjamin Clarkston take first (1:23.27). Patterson won the 200 freestyle (1:41.67) as Ball State swept the top three spots in the event. Raches' first-place finish of 46.95 in the 100 freestyle rounded out the Cardinals' individual wins. The men's squad also recorded several runner-up finishes, including two each from Aidan Biddle, Malcolm Slater and diver Zach Shaddy.

Cardinals at Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate
Since 2006, the Cardinals have made nine appearances at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center for the Indiana Intercollegiate, turning in six third-place finishes (2025, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2018, 2006). The highest placement Ball State has achieved is second on three occasions (2019, 2016, 2008). Last year, Ball State posted 396.5 points to finish third out of 10 teams, behind IU Indy (500) and Purdue (518).

The Cardinals earned three event victories, highlighted by Patterson's first collegiate win in the 200 freestyle (1:38.99) and Jacob Siewers' victory in the 100 freestyle (44.79). Patterson and Siewers also joined Clarkston and Friend to win the 200 freestyle relay (1:21.90). Raches made an impressive Ball State debut at the meet last year with runner-up finishes in the 50 freestyle (20.76) and 100 backstroke (49.62), while Biddle added a third-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (54.66). Overall, Ball State recorded 15 podium finishes and 12 additional top-five placements.

2025-26 Recap
Ball State men's swimming and diving earned eight medals at the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Championships, including two gold, three silver and three bronze, while setting nine program records during the meet. The Cardinals totaled 878.5 points to finish fifth in the eight-team field.

Zach Shaddy led the Cardinals on the diving boards with two medals, winning the 1-meter with a score of 360.15 before earning silver on the 3-meter with a score of 365.70. Both performances set Ball State program records, while his 1-meter performance also broke the MVC Championship record. Freshman George Patterson captured Ball State's other individual championship, winning the 200 freestyle in a program-record 1:34.78. Patterson also set a program record in the 200 individual medley during the championships.

The Cardinals' other silver medals came from Aidan Biddle in the 100 breaststroke (53.15) and the 400 freestyle relay team of AJ Friend, William Raches, Patterson and Jacob Siewers, which set a program record with a time of 2:53.93. Ball State added three bronze medals, with Friend setting a program record in the 50 freestyle (19.87), Ryan Farmer placing third on the 3-meter board (358.45) and the 200 freestyle relay team finishing third in 1:19.83.

Patterson, Biddle, Friend, Shaddy and Farmer earned First Team All-MVC honors, while Siewers, Ike Ruszkowski and Raches received honorable mention recognition. Farmer was also named MVC Freshman Diver of the Year after earning bronze on the 3-meter board.

At the CSCAA National Invitational Championship, Biddle earned a bronze medal in the 50 breaststroke (24.26). The Cardinals also added two more program records during the meet. The 800 freestyle relay team of Malcolm Slater, Patterson, Henry Ko and Raches placed fourth with a program-record time of 6:32.80. Friend broke the program record in the 200 butterfly with a fourth-place time of 1:46.88.

On the Women's Side
Cardinals at Jaguars
In 17 total meetings since 2000, Ball State leads the all-time series, 15-2, including 10 straight wins from 2000-15. IU Indy's only wins over the Cardinals came in 2016 (150-148.5) and 2018 (174-126). Both outcomes occurred inside the Jaguars' IU Natatorium. Just three meetings in the programs' series history have taken place at the Lewellen Aquatic Center (2026, 2023, 2006), with the Cardinals coming out victorious on all three occasions.

During last year's Senior Day, the women's team took a dominant 199-95 victory over the Jaguars. Payton Kelly and Anna Keen led the Cardinals with two individual victories each, while also helping Addie Beasley and Reagan Graves earn a first-place finish in the 400 medley relay (3:51.00). Ball State also received individual wins from Graves, Beasley, McKenna Potteiger, Ava Butterfield, Alyssa Messenger, Alexa Von Holtz and Maya McDonald, aiding the team's sweep of the freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke events. On the diving boards, Ella Penny earned her first victory of the season in the 1-meter (237.23).

Cardinals at Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate
Since 2006, the Cardinals have made 13 appearances at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center for the Indiana Intercollegiate, turning in 11 second-place finishes. Ball State has won the meet on two occasions (2025, 2017).

The women's squad opened last year at the Indiana Intercollegiate, scoring 584.5 points to narrowly defeat host Purdue (583). The Cardinals earned eight event victories and 22 podium finishes, led by Anna Keen and Payton Kelly, who contributed to three wins each. Keen won the 100 individual medley (55.90) and 100 breaststroke (1:03.21), while Kelly captured the 50 (22.52) and 100 (49.18) freestyle titles. Aubrey Simmons earned her first collegiate victory in the 100 butterfly (56.17), while Ball State took wins in the 200 medley (1:41.26), 500 freestyle (4:01.62) and 200 freestyle (1:32.70) relays.

2025-26 Recap
The women's team capped a historic Mid-American Conference Championships with 12 medals, including four gold, three silver and five bronze, while setting 10 program records across individual and relay events. The Cardinals totaled 500 points to finish third in the conference, marking the program's first top-three MAC finish since 1998.

Payton Kelly led the way with six medals and was responsible for some of the team's biggest performances, including MAC titles and program records in the 50 freestyle (21.88) and 100 backstroke (52.07), both of which earned NCAA qualifying marks. She also broke the program record in the 100 freestyle and was named both MAC Most Outstanding Swimmer and Most Outstanding Senior.

Other individual champions included Grace Walker on the 1-meter board (298.75) and Alexa Von Holtz in the 200 butterfly (1:58.75). Ball State's three silver medals came from Addy Czarnecki in the 1650 freestyle, Kelly in the 100 freestyle and the 200 medley relay. The Cardinals added five bronze medals, with Keen placing third in the 100 butterfly, Von Holtz in the 400 individual medley and Beasley in the 100 breaststroke. Ball State also earned bronze in the 400 medley and 200 freestyle relays.

Kelly, Walker, Keen and Von Holtz earned First Team All-MAC honors, while Czarnecki was named Second Team All-MAC. Head coach J Agnew was named the MAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year.

At the CSCAA National Invitational Championship, Keen accounted for two medals, earning bronze in the 50 butterfly and capturing a championship finish in the 100 individual medley (54.35) while setting a meet record.

Field of Teams – Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate (9 Schools, 7 Co-Ed)
Ball State
Butler (Women)
DePauw
Indiana Wesleyan
IU Indy
Manchester
Purdue
Valparaiso
Indiana State (Women, Diving Only)

Order of Events – Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate
200 Medley Relay
200 Free
50 Free
200 IM
100 Fly
25 Shoot Out
100 Free
100 Back
100 Breast
500 Free Relay (10x50) – one entry per school (per gender)
1-Meter & 3-Meter Diving (Concurrently)

Live swimming results for Thursday's events are available on Meet Mobile.

Live swimming results for Saturday's events are available here and on Meet Mobile.

Live diving scores for Saturday's events are available on DiveMeets.