Closing out the dual-meet portion of the season, the Ball State men's swimming and diving team easily defeated Mid-American Conference rival Ohio, 165-78, Saturday at Lewellen Pool.
With 11 wins in 13 events, the Cardinals improved to 8-3 overall and 2-2 in the MAC.
Adam Konopka led the way with wins in the 200-yard IM and 200-yard backstroke. Both events were also top-three sweeps for the Cardinals. Seniors Ryan Bounds (1,000-yard freestyle), Erik Goodrich (50-yard freestyle) and Jason Revere (200-yard butterfly) added wins in the final home meet of their collegiate careers.
Ryan Plantz continued his successful season, winning the 1-meter diving event and finishing second in the 3-meter event, behind defending MAC champion Robert Krickbaum.
Kurtis Leer (200-yard freestyle), Josh Schum (100-yard freestyle), Jim Lullo (500-yard freestyle) and Ritchie Caudill (200-yard breaststroke), added wins for the Cardinals.
Coach Bob Thomas said he was very pleased with the team's effort.
"The guys were ready, and we accomplished what we set out to do," he said.
Ball State finished with eight second places and seven thirds, including a total of three top-three sweeps.
For seniors Bounds, Goodrich, Revere, Adam Bruesch, Clint Cadden, Fred Hill, and Rod Smith, this was the final home meet. Thomas said the emotions of this fact played a role for both seniors and their teammates.
"They've always been able to step up and do a nice job," he said.
Thomas said the start of the meet was key in his team's victory, especially when they won the 1,000 free, something he didn't expect to happen because John Palmer, the defending MAC champion in that event, was entered in that race.
He also was happy with the performance of Leer, Goodrich, Konopka, and Plantz, and was surprised by Ohio's poor showing.
They're capable of much more," he said. "For whatever reason, they didn't put up any fight."
The Cardinals don't compete again until March 4, when the MAC Championships begin. That meet will be held at Ypsilanti, Mich, home of 23-time MAC champion Eastern Michigan.\
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