Men's S&D Ready for MVC Championships in Evansville

Wednesday, February 25

Evansville, IN

All Day

Ball State University

Missouri Valley Conference

Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics

Men's S&D Ready for MVC Championships in Evansville

February 23, 2026 | Men's Swimming and Diving

MUNCIE, Ind. -- After months of preparation, the Ball State men's swimming and diving program puts all its hard work to the test this week at the Evansville Deaconess Aquatic Center for the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Championships.

Action in the four-day meet, hosted by Evansville, begins Wednesday (Feb. 25) and runs through Saturday (Feb. 28).

Live results will be available on Meet Mobile, while links for video coverage will be provided on the official championship website: https://mvc-sports.com/sports/2025/12/9/26swimdive.aspx

AT THE 2025 MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Cardinals captured medals in four events, including three silvers and one bronze, to earn a fifth-place finish in the field of seven teams with 387.5 points.

Malcolm Slater captured silver in the 1650 freestyle (15:34.59), while Porter Brovont placed second in the finals on the 3-meter board (331.35). Ball State also captured silver in the 200 freestyle relay as AJ Friend, Ethan Pheifer, Mason Young and Jacob Siewers combined for a time of 1:20.39). Aidan Biddle rounded out the Cardinals' medal success with a bronze in the 100 breaststroke (53.81).

2025-2026 PROGRAM RECORDS
While program records tend to come fast and furious at the MVC Championships, the Cardinals have already set three program records this season.

At House of Champions (Nov. 20-22), the men's squad set brand new standards in two individual events and one relay. Freshman George Patterson set new program bests in both the 200 (1:35.98) and 500 (4:27.13) freestyles. Patterson also aided the 400 freestyle relay team which also included AJ Friend, William Raches, and Jacob Siewers to combine for a program leading time of 2:56.24.

IN THE MVC RANKINGS
In the latest NCAA Division I Top Time Rankings as compiled by CollegeSwimming.com, the Cardinals have 13 student-athletes ranked in scoring position in their respective events heading into the MVC Championships.

Men's Swimmers Currently Ranked in the MVC Top 16
50 Freestyle: 8th – AJ Friend (20.16) / 12th – Jacob Siewers (20.33) 14th – Benjamin Clarkston (20.53)
100 Freestyle: 3rd – Jacob Siewers (44.12) / 8th – William Raches (44.44) / 9th – George Patterson (44.47)
200 Freestyle: 2nd – George Patterson (1:35.98) / 4th – Jacob Siewers (1:36.74) / 16th – Malcolm Slater (1:39.24)
500 Freestyle: 6th – George Patterson (4:27.13) / 10th – Malcolm Slater (4:29.37)
1000 Freestyle: 6th – Malcolm Slater (9:26.20) / 14th – Tommy Brunner (9:36.36)
1650 Freestyle: 8th – Tommy Brunner (15:55.26) / 10th – Malcolm Slater (15:58.90)  / 12th – Seth Blossom (16:05.08)
100 Backstroke: 6th – William Raches (48.58)
200 Backstroke: 13th – Ike Ruszkowski (1:48.86)
100 Breaststroke: 4th – Aidan Biddle (53.95) / 15th – Reeve Ferber (56.23)
200 Breaststroke: 8th – Aidan Biddle (2:01.04) / 15th – Ike Ruszkowski (2:03.11)
100 Butterfly: 6th – AJ Friend (48.23) / 14th – Henry Ko (49.53) / 15th – Luke Pryor(49.56)
200 Butterfly: 8th – AJ Friend (1:47.72) / 14th – Henry Ko (1:49.90) / 15th – Luke Pryor(1:49.93)
200 IM: N/A
400 IM: 10th – Malcolm Slater (3:58.28) / 15th – 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 (332.48) and 3M board (352.20).

Ball State Divers Top Results in 2025-26
Porter Brovont (Sr.) – 321.90* on 1M / 322.35* on 3M
Zach Shaddy (Jr.) – 332.48* on 1M / 352.20* on 3M
Ryan Farmer (Fr.) – 280.00 on 1M / 336.40* on 3M
Mitchell Mauck (So.) - 271.73 on 1M / 257.70 on 3M
Emilio Perez (So.) – 234.83 on 1M / 250.88 on 3M
NCAA Zone Diving Qualifying Marks: 300 on 1M / 320 on 3M

MAC AWARD WINNERS:
So far this season, the Cardinals have claimed one Missouri-Valley Conference weekly award, with Malcolm Slater earning his first career honor on Oct. 28.

Swimming Award Winners
10/28/25 – Malcolm Slater MVC Men's Swimmer of the Week

EVENT WINNERS:
As a squad, the Cardinals have chalked up 41 individual event wins, and nine relay wins so far this season.

2025-26 Men's Individual Event Winners (41)
7 – 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)
       Jan. 16 at Miami (OH): 200 Freestyle (1:39.81)
       Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 200 Freestyle (1:41.67)
       Feb. 1 at Butler Invite: 100 Freestyle (45.23)

5 – 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)
       Jan. 16 at Miami (OH): 500 Freestyle (4:37.31)
       Feb. 1 at Butler Invite: 200 Butterfly (1:51.06)

5 – AJ Friend (So.)
Jan. 16 at Miami (OH): 100 Butterfly (49.23)
Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 50 Freestyle (20.92) / 100 Butterfly (49.55)
       Feb. 1 at Butler Invite: 100 Backstroke (50.47) / 100 Butterfly (48.23)

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 – Aidan Biddle (Jr.)
Oct. 24 at UIC: 100 Breaststroke (56.06)
Nov. 8 vs. Bellarmine: 100 Breaststroke (56.51)
     Jan. 16 at Miami (OH): 100 Breaststroke (56.22)
Feb. 1 at Butler Invite: 100 Breaststroke (55.76)

4 – William Raches (Jr.)
       Oct. 24 at UIC: 100 Backstroke (51.02)
       Jan. 16 at Miami (OH): 100 Backstroke (51.69)
       Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 100 Freestyle (46.95)
       Feb. 1 at Butler Invite: 50 Freestyle (20.89)

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

2 – Zach Shaddy (Jr.)
       Jan. 16 at Miami (OH): 1-Meter (316.70) / 3-Meter (321.15)

2 – Ike Ruszkowski (So.)
       Oct. 24 at UIC: 200 Backstroke (1:53.53)
       Feb. 1 at Butler Invite: 200 Breaststroke (2:04.66)

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)

1 – Seth Blossom (Jr.)
       Feb. 1 at Butler Invite: 1650 Freestyle (16:05.08)

1 – Dominick Perkowski (So.)
       Feb. 1 at Butler Invite 200 Freestyle (1:41.18)

1 – Porter Brovont (Sr.)
       Feb. 7 at Miami Invite: 1-Meter (321.90)

2025-26 Men's Relay Winners (9)
3 - 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)
     Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: Friend, Raches, Patterson, Clarkston (1:23.77)

3 – 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)
       Feb. 1 at Butler Invite: Friend, Raches, Clarkston, Patterson (3:00.54)

2 – 200 Medley Relay
       Nov. 8 vs. Bellarmine: Raches, Biddle, Friend, Clarkston (1:31.34)
       Feb. 1 at Butler Invite: Raches, Biddle, Friend, Patterson (1:29.46)

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