Ball State University Athletics
Wednesday, February 25
Akron, OH
All Day
Ball State University
500
at
Mid-American Conference Championships
Women's S&D Captures Historic Finish on Final Day of MAC Championships
March 01, 2026 | Women's Swimming and Diving
AKRON, Ohio – The Ball State women's swimming and diving program captured three medals along with eight podium finishes to wrap up action at the 2026 Mid-American Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, hosted by Akron. At the end of the four days the Cardinals finished third overall with 500 points, claiming the program's first top-three finish since 1998.
Alexa Von Holtz claimed the Cardinals' final gold medal of the week, storming through the final lap of the 200 butterfly to tie Akron's Felicia Klintemar with a time of 1:58.75. With the placement, Von Holtz earned the first gold of her collegiate career.
Senior Payton Kelly took her third individual medal of the week in the 100 freestyle (48.58), earning silver while shaving .03 seconds off her previous program standard to set a new Ball State record.
Freshman Addy Czarnecki claimed her first collegiate medal, grabbing silver with a 16:44.23 finish in the 1650 freestyle. Czarnecki was followed closely behind by Callie Tuma, who placed fourth with a time of 16:45.69.
To close the week's events, the 400 freestyle relay team of Anna Keen, Reagan Graves, Ava Butterfield and Kelly combined for a program-leading time of 3:19.59, placing fourth overall in the event.
After a great week of competition, five Cardinals were honored with all-conference awards. Grace Walker, Kelly, Keen, and Von Holtz were named first team All-MAC, while Czarnecki was named second team All-MAC.
To close her last MAC Championship, Kelly earned the league's Most Outstanding Senior and Swimmer awards. Kelly finished the week with six total medals, including three individual and three relay, while also recording NCAA qualifying marks in both the 50 freestyle (21.88) and 100 backstroke (52.07).
As he guided the women's team to phenomenal 2025-26 season, capped by a historic finish at the J. Ocasek Natatorium, Ball State head coach J Agnew was voted as the 2026 MAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year.
Up next for several Cardinals are possible postseason competitions between the NCAA Zone Diving Championships (March 9-10), the CSCAA National Invitational Championships (March 12-14) and the NCAA Championships (March 18-21).
Final Team Results
1.Akron – 771
2.Ohio – 559
3.Ball State – 500
4.Miami (OH) – 492
5.Buffalo – 446
6.Eastern Michigan – 263
7.UMass – 195
8.Toledo – 174
9.Bowling Green – 159
Ball State Results on Day 4 of the MAC Championships
SATURDAY EVENING FINALS RESULTS
1650 Freestyle | Program Record - 16:32.61 by Marcella Ribeiro in 2021
2nd – Addy Czarnecki – 16:44.23 – third in program history
4th – Callie Tuma – 16:45.69
12th – McKenna Potteiger – 17:07.66
200 Backstroke | Program Record - 1:57.93 by Ava Butterfield in 2025
5th – Ava Butterfield – 1:57.44
9th – Alyssa Messenger – 1:58.00 – second in program history
16th – Olivia Owens – 2:00.11
100 Freestyle | Program Record - 48.60 by Payton Kelly in 2025
2nd – Payton Kelly – 48.58 – program record
200 Breaststroke | Program Record - 2:11.77 by Bridgette Ruehl in 2013
8th – Julia Ofman – 2:15.54 – fourth in program history
13th – Maya McDonald – 2:17.75 – fifth in program history
16th – Milagros Amione – 2:19.00 – 10th in program history
200 Butterfly | Program Record - 1:58.52 by Alexa Von Holtz in 2025
1st – Alexa Von Holtz – 1:58.75
5th – Reagan Graves – 2:00.37 – third in program history
10th – Haley Johnson – 2:02.32 – 8th in program history
400 Freestyle Relay | Program Record - 3:20.28 by Keen, Butterfield, Graves, Kelly in 2025
4th – Anna Keen, Reagan Graves, Ava Butterfield, Payton Kelly – 3:19.59 – program record
SATURDAY MORNING PRELIMS RESULTS
200 Backstroke | Program Record - 1:57.93 by Ava Butterfield in 2025
4th – Ava Butterfield – 1:56.93 – Advances to A Final – program record
12th – Alyssa Messenger – 1:59.41 – Advances to B Final
15th – Olivia Owens – 2:00.33 – Advances to B Final
26th – Lauren Fecher – 2:03.77
EX: Ella Sears – 2:00.23
EX: Aubrey Simmons – 2:01.83
100 Freestyle | Program Record - 48.60 by Payton Kelly in 2025
2nd – Payton Kelly – 49.35 – Advances to A Final
30th – Kiley Zoeller – 52.11
EX: Haley Sakbun – 51.28
EX: Kiran Stauffer – 52.33
EX: Natalie Marshall – 52.35
200 Breaststroke | Program Record - 2:11.77 by Bridgette Ruehl in 2013
8th – Julia Ofman – 2:15.81 – Advances to A Final
13th – Maya McDonald – 2:18.59 – Advances to B Final
15th – Milagros Amione – 2:19.38 – Advances to B Final
18th – Addie Beasley – 2:19.74
200 Butterfly | Program Record - 1:58.52 by Alexa Von Holtz in 2025
2nd – Alexa Von Holtz – 1:59.69 – Advances to A Final
4th – Reagan Graves – 2:00.97 – Advances to A Final
11th – Haley Johnson – 2:02.70 – Advances to B Final
Alexa Von Holtz claimed the Cardinals' final gold medal of the week, storming through the final lap of the 200 butterfly to tie Akron's Felicia Klintemar with a time of 1:58.75. With the placement, Von Holtz earned the first gold of her collegiate career.
Senior Payton Kelly took her third individual medal of the week in the 100 freestyle (48.58), earning silver while shaving .03 seconds off her previous program standard to set a new Ball State record.
Freshman Addy Czarnecki claimed her first collegiate medal, grabbing silver with a 16:44.23 finish in the 1650 freestyle. Czarnecki was followed closely behind by Callie Tuma, who placed fourth with a time of 16:45.69.
To close the week's events, the 400 freestyle relay team of Anna Keen, Reagan Graves, Ava Butterfield and Kelly combined for a program-leading time of 3:19.59, placing fourth overall in the event.
After a great week of competition, five Cardinals were honored with all-conference awards. Grace Walker, Kelly, Keen, and Von Holtz were named first team All-MAC, while Czarnecki was named second team All-MAC.
To close her last MAC Championship, Kelly earned the league's Most Outstanding Senior and Swimmer awards. Kelly finished the week with six total medals, including three individual and three relay, while also recording NCAA qualifying marks in both the 50 freestyle (21.88) and 100 backstroke (52.07).
As he guided the women's team to phenomenal 2025-26 season, capped by a historic finish at the J. Ocasek Natatorium, Ball State head coach J Agnew was voted as the 2026 MAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year.
Up next for several Cardinals are possible postseason competitions between the NCAA Zone Diving Championships (March 9-10), the CSCAA National Invitational Championships (March 12-14) and the NCAA Championships (March 18-21).
Final Team Results
1.Akron – 771
2.Ohio – 559
3.Ball State – 500
4.Miami (OH) – 492
5.Buffalo – 446
6.Eastern Michigan – 263
7.UMass – 195
8.Toledo – 174
9.Bowling Green – 159
Ball State Results on Day 4 of the MAC Championships
SATURDAY EVENING FINALS RESULTS
1650 Freestyle | Program Record - 16:32.61 by Marcella Ribeiro in 2021
2nd – Addy Czarnecki – 16:44.23 – third in program history
4th – Callie Tuma – 16:45.69
12th – McKenna Potteiger – 17:07.66
200 Backstroke | Program Record - 1:57.93 by Ava Butterfield in 2025
5th – Ava Butterfield – 1:57.44
9th – Alyssa Messenger – 1:58.00 – second in program history
16th – Olivia Owens – 2:00.11
100 Freestyle | Program Record - 48.60 by Payton Kelly in 2025
2nd – Payton Kelly – 48.58 – program record
200 Breaststroke | Program Record - 2:11.77 by Bridgette Ruehl in 2013
8th – Julia Ofman – 2:15.54 – fourth in program history
13th – Maya McDonald – 2:17.75 – fifth in program history
16th – Milagros Amione – 2:19.00 – 10th in program history
200 Butterfly | Program Record - 1:58.52 by Alexa Von Holtz in 2025
1st – Alexa Von Holtz – 1:58.75
5th – Reagan Graves – 2:00.37 – third in program history
10th – Haley Johnson – 2:02.32 – 8th in program history
400 Freestyle Relay | Program Record - 3:20.28 by Keen, Butterfield, Graves, Kelly in 2025
4th – Anna Keen, Reagan Graves, Ava Butterfield, Payton Kelly – 3:19.59 – program record
SATURDAY MORNING PRELIMS RESULTS
200 Backstroke | Program Record - 1:57.93 by Ava Butterfield in 2025
4th – Ava Butterfield – 1:56.93 – Advances to A Final – program record
12th – Alyssa Messenger – 1:59.41 – Advances to B Final
15th – Olivia Owens – 2:00.33 – Advances to B Final
26th – Lauren Fecher – 2:03.77
EX: Ella Sears – 2:00.23
EX: Aubrey Simmons – 2:01.83
100 Freestyle | Program Record - 48.60 by Payton Kelly in 2025
2nd – Payton Kelly – 49.35 – Advances to A Final
30th – Kiley Zoeller – 52.11
EX: Haley Sakbun – 51.28
EX: Kiran Stauffer – 52.33
EX: Natalie Marshall – 52.35
200 Breaststroke | Program Record - 2:11.77 by Bridgette Ruehl in 2013
8th – Julia Ofman – 2:15.81 – Advances to A Final
13th – Maya McDonald – 2:18.59 – Advances to B Final
15th – Milagros Amione – 2:19.38 – Advances to B Final
18th – Addie Beasley – 2:19.74
200 Butterfly | Program Record - 1:58.52 by Alexa Von Holtz in 2025
2nd – Alexa Von Holtz – 1:59.69 – Advances to A Final
4th – Reagan Graves – 2:00.97 – Advances to A Final
11th – Haley Johnson – 2:02.70 – Advances to B Final
Players Mentioned
IM, Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast, IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly, Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back, Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly, IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back, Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Back, Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Fly, IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly, IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free, Breast
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