Ball State University Athletics
Shaddy's Gold Leads Men's S&D on Day One of MVC Championships
February 25, 2026 | Men's Swimming and Diving
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The Ball State men's swimming and diving team captured three medals, led by Zach Shaddy's gold on the 1-meter board, on day one of the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Championships.
Shaddy's gold-winning score of 360.15 inside the Evansville Deaconess Aquatic Center broke a 35-year-old Ball State record set by Dave Keener in 1991 (344.25). The historic mark also bested the previous MVC record of 343.70 set by UIC's Nolan Harrison in 2025.
The medal collection continued as sophomore AJ Friend set a program record of his own, tying Miami (OH)'s Duncan Salmen for bronze in the 50 freestyle (19.87).
Friend also led off the bronze-medal 200 freestyle relay team which included Benjamin Clarkston, George Patterson and Jacob Siewers (1:19.83). The unit's finishing time ties its third-best program mark, which the men set at House of Champions earlier this season (Nov. 20).
The freshman Patterson made the most of his first appearance at the big stage, accompanying his relay medal with his third individual program record this season with a time of 1:46.80 in the 200 individual medley.
After the first day of competition Wednesday evening, Ball State is placed fifth with 268.5 points. The Cardinals trail behind UIC (294), Southern Illinois (326), Missouri State (420.5) and Miami (OH) (490).
The men's team continues to day two of the MVC Championships tomorrow with prelims beginning at 11:30 a.m. and finals starting at 6:30 p.m. Events will be streamed on the MVC YouTube channel.
Ball State Results on Day 1 of the MVC Championships
WEDNESDAY EVENING FINALS RESULTS
200 Freestyle Relay | Program Record - 1:18.88 by Chaye, Garberick, Siewers, Pheifer in 2024
3rd - AJ Friend, Benjamin Clarkston, George Patterson, Jacob Siewers – 1:19.83 – Tied third in program history
500 Freestyle | Program Record - 4:27.13 by George Patterson in 2025
12th – Malcolm Slater – 4:29.55
21st – Dominick Perkowski – 4:34.49
200 IM | Program Record - 1:49.31 by Joe Morris in 2015
17th – George Patterson – 1:46.80 – program record
18th – Ike Ruszkowski – 1:50.89 – fifth in program history
50 Freestyle | Program Record - 19.89 by Owen Chaye on Two Occasions
3rd – AJ Friend – 19.87 – program record
11th – Jacob Siewers – 20.48
1-Meter Diving | Program Record - 344.25 by Dave Keener in 1991
1st – Zach Shaddy – 360.15 – program & conference record
10th – Porter Brovont – 303.10
14th – Ryan Farmer – 268.50
15th – Mitchell Mauck – 259.55
400 Medley Relay | Program Record - 3:10.53 by Pheifer, Garberick, Handshoe, Chaye in 2024
4th – William Raches, Aidan Biddle, AJ Friend, Jacob Siewers – 3:11.95 – second in program history
WEDNESDAY MORNING PRELIMS RESULTS
500 Freestyle | Program Record - 4:27.13 by George Patterson in 2025
11th – Malcolm Slater – 4:29.05 – Advances to B Final
20th – Dominick Perkowski – 4:39.09
27th – Seth Blossom – 4:36.80
32nd – Henry Ko – 4:42.46
33rd – Tommy Brunner – 4:42.85
EX – Kenny Reed – 4:49.19
200 IM | Program Record - 1:49.31 by Joe Morris in 2015
17th – Ike Ruszkowski – 1:51.42
18th – George Patterson – 1:51.77
22nd – Nathan Harper – 1:52.92
26th – Luke Pryor – 1:54.39
27th – Max Kruglov – 1:54.67
50 Freestyle | Program Record - 19.89 by Owen Chaye on Two Occasions
2nd – AJ Friend – 19.92 – Advances to A Final
10th – Jacob Siewers – 20.41 – Advances to B Final
18th – Benjamin Clarkston – 20.77
31st – Aidan Biddle – 21.59
EX – Mason Young – 21.03
EX – Zack Vervlied – 21.10
EX – Colin Walrond – 21.35
1-Meter Diving | Program Record - 344.25 by Dave Keener in 1991
3rd – Zach Shaddy – 306.00 – Advances to A Final
10th – Porter Brovont – 267.10 – Advances to B Final
14th – Ryan Farmer – 249.05 – Advances to B Final
16th – Mitchell Mauck – 243.05 – Advances to B Final
19th – Emilio Perez – 229.80
