The Ball State men's and women's swimming and diving teams will face their toughest test of the young season when they travel to Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
Coach Bob Thomas and the men's team will be facing an Eastern Michigan squad that has won five straight Mid-American Conference championships.
"They're just solid all around, top to bottom," Thomas said. "Everybody has to go out and compete at their best ability."
Though the matchup may be a daunting one to begin the conference season, the Cardinals have some firepower of their own.
Junior Gavin McNeeley ranks third in the conference the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, and junior Chris Krupa ranks in the top-six in the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, and the 200 individual medley.
Sophomore Michael Weber also is ranked in the top ten in the 100 and 200 backstroke, as well as the 200 individual medley.
Overall, 13 swimmers are ranked in the top ten in the conference in their respective events.
Still, Thomas says that his team will need to take advantage of being an underdog and considers the Eagles the "best competition of the season."
The women's team, sporting a 3-0 record, also will face a challenge in perennially-solid Eastern Michigan.
"They have depth and are very strong in the freestyle, but are pretty balanced overall," coach Laura-Seibold Caudill said. "They're definitely one of the top teams to beat in the conference."
Similar to the men's team, the women also enter into the meet with several swimmers ranked in the top-10 in the MAC.
Freshman Bridgette Ruehl is making an impact right away, ranking second in the 100 breaststroke and third in the 200 breaststroke. She's one of 13 Cardinal swimmers ranked in the top-10.
Going into the meet, Seibold-Caudill is confident in her team's ability but wants to see them compete first and foremost.
"The first goal is just to have the best performance we can have," Seibold-Caudill said. "We need to work together and pull for each other as a team. We'll have to do extra things to win."
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