Men's S&D Claim Relay Medal to Close MVC Championships

Wednesday, February 25

Evansville, IN

All Day

Ball State University

878.5

Missouri Valley Conference

Men's S&D Claim Relay Medal to Close MVC Championships

March 01, 2026 | Men's Swimming and Diving

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Ball State men's swimming and diving program claimed one final relay medal and four podium finishes to wrap up competition at the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Championships.

The 400 freestyle relay team of AJ Friend, William Raches, George Patterson and Jacob Siewers combined for a silver-winning time of 2:53.93. The unit cut nearly three seconds off its previous program record of 2:56.24 which the men captured at House of Champions earlier this season (Nov. 22).

Prior to the silver finish in the relay, Raches claimed the Cardinals' highest individual placement in the 100 freestyle, touching the wall at 43.71 to take fourth. His finishing mark was .01 faster than his prelim time, setting the second-fastest in Ball State history. Siewers followed in eight (44.52) as well as Patterson who finished 11th (44.97).

After breaking the program record in the 200 backstroke during morning prelims to qualify for the championship heat (1:46.43), Ike Ruszkowski turned in an eighth-place time of 1:48.15 later in the evening. Ike was trailed shortly behind by Max Kruglov in 12th (1:48.67) and Nathan Harper who placed 16th (1:50.16).

Aidan Biddle concluded action in the Deaconess Aquatic Center with a ninth-place finish in the 200 breast, clocking in at 1:58.88 to earn the third-best time in Ball State's top 10.

At the end of the four-day championship, Ball State saw eight men earn all-conference honors. Patterson, Biddle, Friend, Shaddy and Farmer were named first team All-MVC, while Siewers, Ruszkowski and Raches were named honorable mentions.

Farmer was also awarded as the MVC Freshman Diver of the Year, claiming bronze on the 3-meter board (358.45) and 14^th on the 1-meter (268.50).

As a team, Ball State finished fifth in the eight-team field with 878.5 points.

Up next for the Cardinals are possible postseason competitions between the NCAA Zone Diving Championships (March 9-11) and the CSCAA National Invitational Championships (March 12-14).

Final Team Results

Missouri State – 1446.5
Miami (OH) – 1394.5
Southern Illinois – 1189.5
UMass – 925.5
Ball State – 878.5
UIC – 831.50
Evansville – 397
Valparaiso – 383

Ball State Results on Day 4 of the MVC Championships
SATURDAY EVENING FINALS RESULTS
1650 Freestyle | Program Record - 15:33.58 by Magnus Ohlsson in 1995
18th – Malcolm Slater – 16:13.22
19th – Tommy Brunner – 16:15.37
21st – Seth Blossom – 16:25.79

200 Backstroke | Program Record - 1:47.38 by Ethan Pheifer in 2025
8th – Ike Ruszkowski – 1:48.15
12th – Max Kruglov – 1:48.67
16th – Nathan Harper – 1:50.16

100 Freestyle | Program Record - 43.58 by Owen Chaye in 2023
4th – William Raches – 43.71 – second in program history
8th – Jacob Siewers – 44.52
11th – George Patterson – 44.97

200 Breaststroke | Program Record - 1:54.78 by Joey Garberick in 2024
9th – Aidan Biddle – 1:58.88 – third in program history

400 Freestyle Relay | Program Record - 2:56.24 by Friend, Patterson, Raches, Siewers in 2025
2nd – AJ Friend, William Raches, George Patterson, Jacob Siewers – 2:53.93 – program record

SATURDAY MORNING PRELIMS RESULTS
200 Backstroke | Program Record - 1:47.38 by Ethan Pheifer in 2025
8th – Ike Ruszkowski – 1:46.43 – Advances to A Final – program record
13th – Max Kruglov – 1:49.49 – Advances to B Final
15th – Nathan Harper – 1:49.73 – Advances to B Final – eighth in program history
EX: – Colin Walrond – 1:51.69

100 Freestyle | Program Record - 43.58 by Owen Chaye in 2023
3rd – William Raches – 43.72 – Advances to A Final
7th – Jacob Siewers – 44.35 – Advances to A Final
10th – George Patterson – 44.70 – Advances to B Final
28th – Dominick Perkowski – 46.30
EX – Zack Vervlied – 46.09

200 Breaststroke | Program Record - 1:54.78 by Joey Garberick in 2024
9th – Aidan Biddle – 2:00.40 – Advances to B Final
24th – Reeve Ferber – 2:08.19