The Ball State women's swimming team had a dominant victoryagainst Illinois State this past Friday, defeating the Redbirds191-92.
Assistant coach Jason Mahowald, along with the rest of the team,was very impressed with the win.
"I thought our girls swam great," Mahowald said. "We had a lotof good times for this early in the season. They did a good jobseeing competition for the first time, and we are very pleased withhow they performed."
The meet began with the 200-yard medley relay, in which BallState took first and second. However, in the second event, the1,000-yard freestyle, Illinois State answered by sweeping the topthree spots.
"I was very worried after the 1,000 free," co-head coach BobThomas said. "We took first and second in the first event, but thenthey swept us in the very next event, so I was starting to sweat.But, they didn't let that defeat bring them down, and they cameback."
In the 200-yard freestyle, BSU responded with its own sweep andnever let down from there. Out of the 16 events, Ball State won 13and swept six.
Other than the 1,000 freestyle, the only events Ball Statedidn't win were both diving events. However, in both of the divingevents, Katie Boyle placed a very close second and CassandraPavlovich placed third in the three-meter diving event.
There were many key swimmers who led to Ball State defeating theRedbirds for the fifth year in a row. Addison Del Rio placed in allof her events while winning the 200 medley relay, 100 backstrokeand the 200 IM.
Karla Bailey, Erin Johnson and Ashley Vanosdol, who won the 200medley relay with Del Rio, also placed in all of their events witha few of their own. Sarah Welter and Brittany Sayler helped Baileyand Vanosdol win the 400 freestyle relay.
Jenna Arnold, Michelle Braden, Tara Zimmer and Danielle Fisheralso had individual victories.
Coach Thomas was very impressed with the victory, probably moreso than others, because this was his first competition with thewomen's swim team.
"I came into this knowing one thing, and that was that I wantedus to do better than what we did at the scrimmage last Friday, andI feel we definitely did just that," Thomas said. "Having coachedjust the men's swimming team for all these years, this was a hugeadjustment for me, and one that I am still having to work on."
Not knowing the women's team as well as the men's, Thomas saidhe lowered his standards a little before the meet. After seeing thewomen compete though, he said the bar was going to be raised alot.
"They are getting the job done, and they are going to continueto get the job done. I can't ask for any more than that," hesaid.
The women's and men's swimming and diving teams will return toaction Oct. 30 at the Indiana Intercollegiate in West Lafayette,Ind.
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