Women's S&D to Open MAC Championships in Akron

Wednesday, February 25

Akron, OH

All Day

Ball State University

Mid-American Conference Championships

Photo by: Madeline Howell/Ball State Athletics

February 23, 2026 | Women's Swimming and Diving

MUNCIE, Ind. -- After months of preparation, the Ball State women's swimming & diving program will put all of its hard work to the test this week at Akron University's Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium for the 2026 Mid-American Conference Swimming & Diving Championships.

Action in the four-day meet begins Wednesday (Feb. 25) at 6 p.m. with 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays. Individual competition gets underway Thursday (Feb. 27) and will run through Saturday (Feb. 28).

Live results will be available on Meet Mobile, while links for video coverage on ESPN+ will be provided on the official championship website: https://getsomemaction.com/feature/2026-Swimming-Diving-Championships

AT THE 2025 MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Ball State tallied four medals, including three silvers and one gold, to earn a fifth-place finish among the eight-team field with 305.5 points.

Payton Kelly was named first team All-MAC after earning her first-career gold medal in the 50 (22.23) freestyle, as well as silver placements in the 100 (48.82) and 200 (1:48.87) freestyles.

Anna Keen and Alexa Von Holtz were awarded second-team All MAC, as Von Holtz captured silver in the 100 butterfly (1:58.52) while Keen swam two podium finishes and aided Ball State to four top five finishes in relay competition.

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

At House of Champions (Nov. 20-22), the women's squad set brand new standards in four relay events and three individual. Payton Kelly earned program bests in the 100 back (52.86) and 100 freestyle (48.60), while Ava Butterfield swam a top individual time in the 200 back (1:57.93). In relay action, the Cardinals recorded program leading performances in the 200 (1:30.78), 400 (3:20.28) and 800 (7:21.7) relays as well as the 400 medley relay (3:39.79).

IN THE MAC 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 MAC Championships.

Women's Swimmers Currently Ranked in the MAC Top 16
50 Freestyle: 1st – Payton Kelly (22.24) / 5th – Anna Keen (22.61)
100 Freestyle: 2nd – Payton Kelly (48.60) / 13th – Anna Keen (50.24)
200 Freestyle: 2nd – Payton Kelly (1:47.58)
500 Freestyle: 1st – Payton Kelly (4:51.22) / 12th – Addy Czarnecki (4:55.86)
1000 Freestyle: 4th – Addy Czarnecki (10:07.85) / 9th – McKenna Potteiger (10:12.50) / 13th Callie Tuma (10:18.70)
1650 Freestyle: 2nd – Addy Czarnecki (16:51.96) / 8th – McKenna Potteiger (17:06.30) / 14th – Callie Tuma (17:11.90)
100 Backstroke: 1st – Payton Kelly (52.86) / 9th – Ava Butterfield (54.24)
200 Backstroke: 6th - Ava Butterfield (1:57.93) / 12th – Alyssa Messenger (1:59.24) / 15th – Olivia Owens (2:00.00)
100 Breaststroke: 6th – Anna Keen (1:01.77) / 9th – Addie Beasley (1:02.39)
200 Breaststroke: 13th – Julia Ofman (2:18.25)
100 Butterfly: 4th – Anna Keen (53.97)
200 Butterfly: 2nd – Alexa Von Holtz (1:58.54) / 10th – Reagan Graves (2:02.19)
200 IM: 9th - Alexa Von Holtz (2:02.80) / 13th – Milagros Amione (2:03.30)
400 IM: 6th - Alexa Von Holtz (4:22.14) / 9th – Milagros Amione (4:24.26)
200 Freestyle Relay: 2nd – Ball State (1:30.78)
400 Freestyle Relay: 3rd – Ball State (3:20.28)
800 Freestyle Relay: 4th – Ball State (7:21.87)
200 Medley Relay: 3rd – Ball State (1:40.00)
400 Medley Relay: 3rd - Ball State (3:39.79)

FROM THE DIVING BOARDS:
Graduate Grace Walker currently leads the Cardinals on both the 1M board (286.20) and 3M board (305.03).

Ball State Divers Top Results in 2025-26
Grace Walker (Gr.) - 286.20* on 1M / 305.03* on 3M
Leelah Fettig (So.) – 226.35 on 1M / 225.10 on 3M
Eeva-Liisa Gibson (So.) – 231.68 on 1M / 238.50 on 3M
Ella Penny (Jr.) – 237.23 on 1M / 201.30 on 3M
Hannah Justice (Sr.) – 215.93 on 1M
Ava Pavich (Jr.) – 182.48 on 1M / 180.38 on 3M
NCAA Zone Diving Qualifying Marks: 265 on 1M / 280 on 3M

MAC AWARD WINNERS:
This season, the Cardinals have claimed four Mid-American Conference weekly awards. Graduate student Grace Walker and senior Payton Kelly earned their first honors of the season as they swept the conference awards on Nov. 11. Walker was then awarded with her second career honor on Jan. 20. and Kelly earned her second of the season on Jan. 27.

Swimming Award Winners
11/11/25 – Payton Kelly MAC Swimmer of the Week
1/27/2025 – Payton Kelly MAC Swimmer of the Week

Diving Award Winners
11/11/25 – Grace Walker MAC Diver of the Week
1/20/26 – Grace Walker MAC Diver of the Week

EVENT WINNERS:
As a squad, the Cardinals have chalked up 85 individual event wins and 20 relay victories throughout the 2025-26 campaign.

2025-26 Women's Individual Event Winners (85)
18 - Payton Kelly (Sr.)
       Oct. 11 at Indiana Intercollegiates: 50 Freestyle (22.52) / 100 Freestyle (49.18)
       Oct. 25 at Toledo: 100 Backstroke (55.32) / 100 Freestyle (50.25)
       Nov. 7 vs. Ohio: 100 Backstroke (55.41) / 100 Freestyle (50.29)
       Nov. 8 vs Bellarmine: 50 Freestyle (23.05)
       Nov. 20-22 at House of Champions: 50 Backstroke (24.60) / 50 Freestyle (22.24) / 100 Backstroke (52.86) / 100 Freestyle (48.60)
       Jan. 16 vs. Buffalo: 200 Freestyle (1:51.49) / 100 Freestyle (51.38)
       Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 50 Freestyle (23.25) / 100 Freestyle (52.01)
       Jan. 24 at Eastern Michigan: 200 Freestyle (1:50.14) / 500 Freestyle (4:51.22)
       Jan. 30 vs. Indiana State: 200 Freestyle (1:51.89) / 100 Freestyle (51.90)

15 - Anna Keen (So.)
       Oct. 11 at Indiana Intercollegiates: 100 Individual Medley (55.90) / 100 Breaststroke (1:03.21)
       Oct. 25 at Toledo: 50 Freestyle (23.22) / 100 Butterfly (55.16)
       Nov. 8 vs Bellarmine: 100 Breaststroke (1:04.91)
       Nov. 22 vs. House of Champions: 50 Butterfly (23.57) / 100 Individual Medley (54.71)
       Jan. 17 vs. Buffalo: 50 Freestyle (23.69) / 100 Butterfly (56.25)
       Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 100 Breaststroke (1:04.39) / 100 Butterfly (56.92)
       Jan. 24 at Eastern Michigan: 50 Freestyle (23.21) / 100 Freestyle (50.65)
       Jan. 30 vs. Indiana State: 50 Freestyle (23.71) / 100 Butterfly (56.01)

9 – Ava Butterfield (So.)
       Oct. 25 at Toledo: 200 Backstroke (2:06.07)
       Nov. 8 vs Bellarmine: 200 Individual Medley (2:09.59) / 100 Backstroke (57.37)
       Nov. 22 vs. House of Champions: 200 Backstroke (1:58.24)
       Jan. 16 vs. Buffalo: 100 Backstroke (57.10)
       Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 100 Backstroke (57.09)
       Jan. 24 at Eastern Michigan: 100 Backstroke (54.71) / 200 Backstroke (2:00.65)
       Jan. 30 vs. Indiana State: 100 Backstroke (56.57)

8– Grace Walker (Gr.)
      Oct. 25 at Toledo: 1-Meter Board (267.45) / 3-Meter Board (244.65)
      Nov. 7 vs Ohio: 1-Meter Board (273.90) / 3-Meter (298.65)
      No. 20-22 at House of Champions: 3-Meter (273.20) / 1-Meter (281.20) / Platform (246.05)
Jan. 17 vs Buffalo: 1-Meter (273.38)

7 – Alexa Von Holtz (Jr.)
Oct. 25 at Toledo: 200 Butterfly (2:04.01)
Nov. 22 vs. House of Champions: 200 Butterfly (1:58.54)
      Jan. 17 vs. Buffalo: 200 Butterfly (2:03.39)
      Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 200 Freestyle (1:55.10)
      Jan. 24 at Eastern Michigan: 200 Butterfly (2:01.64) / 400 IM (4:25.20)
       Jan. 30 vs. Indiana State: 200 Butterfly (2:04.53)

6– Addy Czarnecki (Fr.)
       Oct. 25 at Toledo: 1000 Freestyle (10:18.95) / 500 Freestyle (5:03.30)
       Nov. 7 vs Ohio: 1000 Freestyle (10:28.79)
       Nov. 8 vs Bellarmine: 1000 Freestyle (10:33.58)
       Nov. 22 vs. House of Champions: 1650 Freestyle (16:51.96)
       Jan. 24 at Eastern Michigan: 1000 Freestyle (10:07.85)

5 – Addie Beasley (Fr.)
       Oct. 25 at Toledo: 100 Breaststroke (1:05.49)
       Nov. 7 vs Ohio: 100 Breaststroke (1:05.23)
       Nov. 8 vs Bellarmine: 200 Freestyle (1:56.47)
       Jan. 17 vs. Buffalo: 100 Breaststroke (1:05.30)
       Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 500 Freestyle (5:13.51)

4 – Milagros Amione (Fr.)
       Oct. 25 at Toledo: 200 Individual Medley (2:04.98)
       Nov. 7 vs Ohio: 200 Individual Medley (2:04.96)
       Jan. 17 vs. Buffalo: 200 Individual Medley (2:05.05)
       Jan. 30 vs. Indiana State: 200 Individual Medley (2:04.87)

3 – Alyssa Messenger (Sr.)
       Jan. 17 vs. Buffalo: 200 Backstroke (2:05.69)
       Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 200 Backstroke (2:05.20)
       Jan. 30 vs. Indiana State: 200 Backstroke (2:04.58)

2 – Maya McDonald (So.)
       Oct. 25 at Toledo: 200 Breaststroke (2:22.50)
       Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 200 Breaststroke (2:25.96)

2 – Reagan Graves (Fr.)
       Nov. 8 vs Bellarmine: 500 Freestyle (5:10.20)
       Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 200 Butterfly (2:05.95)

2 – McKenna Potteiger (So.)
Jan. 17 vs. Buffalo: 1000 Freestyle (10:24.83)
Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 1000 Freestyle (10:23.40)

1 – Aubrey Simmons (Fr.)
       Oct. 11 at Indiana Intercollegiates: 100 Butterfly (56.17)

1 – Savannah Farlee (So.)
       Nov. 8 vs Bellarmine: 100 Butterfly (56.36)

1 – Haley Sakbun (Sr.)
       Nov. 8 vs Bellarmine: 100 Freestyle (54.12)

1 – Ella Penny (Jr.)
       Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: 1-Meter (237.23)

2025-26 Women's Relay Winners (20)
8 – 200 Medley Relay
       Oct. 11 at Indiana Intercollegiates: Fecher, Beasley, Keen, Kelly (1:41.26)
       Oct. 25 at Toledo: Kelly, McDonald, Keen, Butterfield (1:43.07)
       Nov. 7 vs Ohio: Butterfield, McDonald, Keen, Kelly (1:43.86)
       Nov. 8 vs Bellarmine: Butterfield, Keen, Kelly, Zoeller (1:44.92)
       Nov. 21 at House of Champions: Fecher, Beasley, Keen, Kelly (1:40.00)
       Jan. 17 vs. Buffalo: Kelly, Beasley, Keen, Zoeller (1:43.31)
       Jan. 24 at Eastern Michigan: Butterfield, Beasley, Keen, Kelly (1:41.06)
       Jan. 30 vs. Indiana State: Butterfield, Beasley, Keen, Kelly (1:44.45)

5 – 400 Freestyle Relay
       Oct. 25 at Toledo: Keen, Graves, Butterfield, Kelly (3:27.37)
       Nov. 8 vs Bellarmine: Messenger, Sakbun, Stauffer, Kelly (3:34.19)
       Nov. 22 vs. House of Champions: Keen, Butterfield, Graves, Kelly (3:20.28)
       Jan. 17 vs. Buffalo: Sakbun, Graves, Keen, Kelly (3:28.43)
       Jan. 30 vs. Indiana State: Keen, Graves, Sakbun, Kelly (3:29.30)

3 – 200 Freestyle Relay
       Oct. 11 at Indiana Intercollegiates: Keen, Kelly, Sakbun, Zoeller (1:32.70)
       Nov. 20 at House of Champions: Keen, Zoeller, Butterfield, Kelly (1:30.78)
       Jan. 24 at Eastern Michigan: Keen, Zoeller, Sakbun, Kelly (1:33.78)

2 – 400 Medley Relay
       Nov. 20 at House of Champions: Butterfield, McDonald, Keen, Kelly (3:39.79)
       Jan. 23 vs. IU Indy: Kelly, Beasley, Keen, Graves (3:51.00)

1 – 500 Freestyle Relay
       Oct. 11 at Indiana Intercollegiates: Graves, Sakbun, Marshall, Sears (4:01.62)

1 – 800 Freestyle Relay
       Nov. 21 at House of Champions: Kelly, Amione, Von Holtz, Graves (7:21.87)