AJ Friend

Position:
Freestyle, Butterfly
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Woodbridge, Va.
High School:
CD Hylton

Career Honors
- First Team All-MVC (2026)
- 2x MVC Freshman of the Week (10/16/2025 & 10/23/2025)
17 Appearances in the Top 10 Times in Ball State S&D History
- No. 1 in program history in the 50 freestyle (19.87), 100 butterfly (47.11) and 400 freestyle relay (2:53.93)
- No. 2 in program history in the 400 freestyle relay (2:56.29), 200 medley relay (1:26.44), 400 medley relay (3:11.95) and 200 butterfly (1:47.10)
- No. 3 in program history in the 200 freestyle relay (1:19.40) and 400 medley relay (3:13.92)
- No. 4 in program history in the 400 medley relay (3:14.22)
- No. 5 in program history in the 200 medley relay (1:28.03) and 400 freestyle relay (2:59.18)
- No. 6 in program history in the 400 freestyle relay (2:59.82)
- No. 7 in program history in the 200 medley relay (1:29.67) and 400 freestyle relay (3:00.54)
- No. 8 in program history in the 100 freestyle (45.16)
- No. 9 in program history in the 200 freestyle relay (1:21.10)

2025-26: Sophomore
- First Team All-MVC.
- Captured five individual event wins and nine relay wins.
- Member of the 400 freestyle relay team that won silver (2:53.93) at the MVC Championships (Feb. 28), setting a program record.
- Claimed bronze in the 50 freestyle (19.87) at the MVC Championships (Feb. 25), setting a program record.
- Swam leadoff for the 200 freestyle relay team that took bronze (1:19.40) at the MVC Championships (Feb. 25), earning the third-best time in Ball State history.
- Earned a program record in the 100 butterfly (47.11) at the MVC Championships (Feb. 26), topping the preliminary round.
- Swam the second-best time in the 200 butterfly (1:47.10) at the MVC Championships (Feb. 27), placing ninth in the final.
- Part of the 200 medley relay team that captured the second-best time in program history (1:26.44) at the MVC Championships (Feb. 26), placing fourth.
- Member of the 400 medley relay team that combined for the second-best time in program history (3:11.95) at the MVC Championships (Feb. 25), placing fourth
- Part of the 400 freestyle relay team that combined for the second-best time in program history (2:56.29) at the CSCAA National Invitational Championships (March 14), placing seventh.
- Claimed the eighth-best time in Ball State history in the 100 freestyle (45.16)

2024-25: Freshman
- Two-time MVC Freshman of the week (Oct. 16 and Oct. 23).
- Captured three individual event wins and three relay wins
- Earned the fourth-fastest time in the 50 freestyle (20.22) during the B Final at the MVC Championships (Feb. 20), placing 10th.
- Earned the third-fastest time in the 200 Butterfly (1:49.38) during prelims at the MVC Championships (Feb. 22) to advance to the A Final where he placed fifth.
- Member of the 200 medley relay team that captured the fourth-fastest time in program history (1:28.03) at the MVC Championships (Feb. 19), placing fourth.
- Part of the 400 medley relay team that swam the second-fastest time in program history (3:14.22) at the MVC Championships (Feb. 20), placing fifth.
- Was leadoff for the 200 freestyle relay team that earned the eighth-fastest time in program history (1:21:10) at the Miami Invitational (Dec. 5).
- Member of the 400 freestyle relay team that captured the third-fastest time in program history (2:59.18) at the MVC Championships (Feb. 22).
- Part of the 800 freestyle relay team that combined for the 10th-fastest time in program history (6:44.95) at the Miami Invitational (Dec. 6).
- Qualified for the CSCAA National Invitational Championships (March 13-15), making a finals appearance in the 50 butterfly.
- Swam the third-fastest time in program history in the 100 butterfly (48.54) during prelims at the CSCAA National Invitational Championships (March 14).