Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Mid-American Conference Championships
Women's S&D Earn First Medal on Day One of MAC Championships
February 25, 2026 | Women's Swimming and Diving
AKRON, Ohio – The Ball State women's swimming and diving program opened the Mid-American Conference Championships Wednesday evening with two strong performances in relay action.
The Cardinals opened the four-day meet with a silver medal finish in the 200 medley relay. The squad of Ava Butterfield, Addie Beasley, Anna Keen and Payton Kelly combined for a new program standard of 1:37.58. The women bested the program's previous best time of 1:39.56, which was set at the MAC Championships last year (Feb. 26).
The women ended day one inside the Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium with a sixth-place finish in the 800 freestyle relay, with Reagan Graves, Alexa Von Holtz, Milagros Amione and Butterfield banding together for a time of 7:22.82. The team's finishing mark sits third in the Cardinals' top ten times.
At the end of day one of the MAC Championships, Ball State is currently placed fourth in the nine-team field with 60 points. The Cardinals trail behind Ohio in third (62), Buffalo in second (64) and host Akron who sees the lead with 80 points.
Individual competition begins tomorrow with prelims beginning at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m. Action throughout the next three days will be streamed on ESPN+.
Ball State Results on Day 1 of the MAC Championships
WEDNESDAY EVENING FINAL RESULTS
200 Medley Relay | Program Record - 1:39.56 by Newkirk, Wright, Keen, Kelly in 2025
2nd – Ava Butterfield, Addie Beasley, Anna Keen, Payton Kelly – 1:37.58 – program record
800 Freestyle Relay | Program Record - 7:21.87 by Kelly, Amione, Holtz, Graves in 2025
6th – Reagan Graves, Alexa Von Holtz, Milagros Amione, Ava Butterfield – 7:22.82 – third in program history
Players Mentioned
