After no competition in any scored meets for more than a month, the Ball State men's swimming and diving squad showed little, if any, rust.
Friday night, the Cardinals eased past Valparaiso 121-93 by winning nine of 13 events. Several members contributed to the victory, including four freshmen. John Rizor (1,000 free), Ryan Millard (50 free), Zach Whitaker (three-meter diving), and Ian McIntosh (100 free), stepped up in helping the Cardinals to the win.
To kick off the evening, Ball State took the top two places in the first four events. The Crusaders' David Peterson ended the streak in the 200 IM, but the Cardinals' Paul Whitaker and Rod Smith finished second and third, respectively.
Ryan Plantz finished second in the three-meter diving event, then won the one-meter event. Adam Bruesch (200 fly), and the 200-free relay team also won to close out the evening.
Against Mid-American Conference rival Buffalo, the Cardinals put on an impressive display, as many members of the team contributed to the 183-60 pasting. In one stretch, the Cardinals managed to sweep the top three spots in three events in a row.
The Cardinals dominated from the start, as the 400-medley relay won the top two places. Ryan Bounds, with whom coach Bob Thomas was especially pleased, followed with a win in the 1,000 free.
The next three events belonged to the Cardinals. The Bulls didn't receive any points in the 200 free, 50 free and 200 IM as the Cardinals swept each one. That stretch was key, according to Thomas.
"We kind of broke their back," Thomas said. It was like (Buffalo) gave up."
After Josh Schum led the way in adding another sweep in the 100 free later in the meet, the Cardinals took the top two spots in the final five events of the meet with Konopka (200 back), Lullo (50 free), Caudill (200 breast), and the 400-free relay team winning.
Plantz added to his success from the previous night with a second place in the one-meter diving event, and won the three-meter event, with Whitaker finishing second.
Now 6-2 overall and 1-1 in the MAC, Ball State visits Eastern Michigan this Saturday.
"It was a great showing on the team's part," Thomas said. We're on the right track."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
