By: Ball State Athletics
OXFORD, Ohio – The Ball State women's swimming and diving team completed the third day of split squad competition at the Miami Invitational and the Eastern Michigan Invitational. The swimmers finished fifth overall in Oxford, Ohio with 891.5 points, while the divers excelled in Ypsilanti, Mich. with the Ball State men's swimming and diving program.
"We are so pleased with how our team performed this weekend," Ball State women's swimming and diving head coach Kristy Castillo said. "Nearly all of the team posted season-best swims in addition to many lifetime-best performances as well. Our ladies stepped up their intensity, showing grit, heart and energy that we have been missing throughout the first part of our season. We are very proud of how training has come together for them and that they were able to have a reward for the hard work they are putting in."
To kick off the third day of action in the Corwin Nixon Natatorium, sophomores Morgan Brebberman and Jenna Zitkus flew in the 200 backstroke with times of 2:10.51 and 2:12.02, respectively. Other Ball State participants in the race included Allie Kolz (2:07.19), Mikayla Dostall (2:07.97), Audrey Mayer (2:08.80), Andrea Richter (2:09.48), Kimberly Scott (2:10.32) and Taylor Miles (2:16.58).
Junior Jessica Extine was then the lone Cardinal to take on the finals of the 100 freestyle, and posted a time of 53.68. The event was followed up by the 200 breaststroke, in which senior Sydney Harris marked a 2:25.16 time for 14th. Harris was narrowly trailed by sophomore Kaiti Sullivan who posted a 2:27.42, and freshman Liz Madison who touched the wall at 2:28.74. Sophomore Amanda Kedzierski (2:28.80) and freshmen Mason Dahman (2:29.67) and Meaghan Mahoney (2:35.78) also took on the race.
Sophomore Traci Muszalski marked Ball State's highest finish of the day when she touched the wall at 2:06.03 in the 200 butterfly for 10th. Fellow Cardinals in the event were sophomore Hannah Cressman, who earned a 2:07.86 final, junior Katie Horn, who posted a 2:09.61 time, and freshman Maryn Meldrum, who finished in 2:09.11.
To round out the Miami Invitational, the Cardinals swim squad competed in the 400 freestyle relay with times of 3:32.95 for the A relay, and 3:38.00 for the B relay. The A finishers included Kedzierski, freshman Lauren Elston, Madison, and Extine, of which shaved off three whole seconds from its seed time, while the B finishers Mayer, Richter, Scott and Muszalski took off two seconds from its respective seed time.
In diving action at the Eastern Michigan Invitational, junior Quinn Bixler finished third overall in one-meter action with a score of 236.50. Senior Madie Zirzow earned a 226.60 mark on the one-meter board, while she placed high for the Cardinals in one-meter action with a score of 233.95. Taylor Fiew sat closely behind Zirzow after the three-meter with a mark of 233.40, while she earned a 225.30 on Friday in one-meter competition. Brittany Penn was the final Ball State women's diver to fly into the pool, and earned scores of 205.75 and 215.10 on the one- and three-meter boards, respectively.
"I'm pleased with the diving performances as well," Coach Castillo added. "We're glad that they were able to continue their progress this season. It was good for them to see some conference competition as well."
The Ball State women's swimming and diving team will be back in action after the holidays when they participate in a co-ed meet with IUPUI and Xavier on Friday, Jan. 8 in Indianapolis, Ind.
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