Freshman Adam Konopka continued his successful debut season forthe men's swimming and diving team Friday night at the IUPUINatatorium, winning the 200 individual medley and 200 backstroke.Against the host Jaguars and St. Louis, the Cardinals eased past,defeating St. Louis 80-33, and IUPUI 72-41.
Ball State took eight of the 13 events, including PaulWhitaker's two wins in the 200 and 500 free. Senior Ryan Boundsadded a first in the 1000 free, and Jeff Sheets contributed with avictory in the 100 free.
Diver Ryan Plantz did his part in winning the one-meter event,which he would again accomplish the following day against MichiganState.
Coach Bob Thomas was very pleased with his team's effort onFriday night. He said there was not one specific event where he wasespecially pleased; rather, he was very pleased with the team as awhole.
"We had an opportunity to swim in what I consider the fastestpool in the world. It always brings out the best in everybody," hesaid. "I was pleased with all our swims on Friday."
Against the Spartans, Ball State was outmanned, falling 141-102.Like the previous week, the Cardinals relied on underclassmen topick up many of its points. Sophomore Kurtis Leer led the way,winning the 100 and 200 free, and was a member of the 400 freerelay's win, teamed with Josh Schum, Sheets and senior ErikGoodrich. Goodrich also added a first place in the 50 free. In all,Ball State won five events and finished second twice.
The second-place efforts came from Plantz in the three-meterevent, and Ritchie Caudill in the 200 breast. Thomas was verypleased with Plantz's weekend.
"Ryan Plantz did an excellent job this weekend. (He) qualifiedfor the NCAA. He's doing much better than in the past," Thomassaid.
Michigan State dominated several events by taking both first andsecond place -- six total -- including a thrilling 1000 free racein which Michigan State's Rudolf Wagenaar overcame the Cardinal'sJim Lullo in the final 50 yards to finish second.
"We knew going into it, they were a much better team. We wantedthem to take it one event at a time," he said. "It was a lot closerthan the 40-point spread showed."
Ball State, now 2-2 overall in dual meets and 0-1 in theMid-American Conference, faces a busy week. They square offWednesday at home with Butler, then travels to Xavier onFriday.
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