Instead of competing at the Eastern Michigan Invitational last weekend, Ball State women's swimming and diving coach Laura Seibold-Caudill wanted to give her team a few extra days to prepare for Saturday's home meet against Michigan State.
The decision paid off as Ball State pulled off a blowout 182-108 win over the Big Ten opponent, a result that Seibold-Caudill admits she didn't see coming.
"I had no idea the results of this meet would turn out the way it did," she said. "I had no idea that three days of rest would do this. On paper, they should have beaten us by over 60 points."
Seibold-Caudill said the tone of the meet was set from the very first event, the 200-yard medley relay. In the event Ball State's team of Nicole Saulters, Bridgette Ruehl, Haley Richter and Carlena Magley placed first while another Ball State team of Katelyn Pratt-Collins, Stacey Wierman, Sara Hostetler and Mallory Przybylinski took second.
"When we started out going one-two against a Big Ten team, I think it took the wind out of their sails," Seibold-Caudill said. "From that point on, we never looked back."
The fact that Michigan State competed in an invitational last weekend also played a factor into the result of the meet.
Out of the 16 events, the Cardinals failed to place first in the 50-yard freestyle, the 200-yard IM and the 400-yard free relay. Seibold-Caudill said in the final event, the 400-yard free relay, she made an exhibition event, which is similar to putting in the second team in a football game.
Seibold-Caudill called the win over Michigan State one of the most gratifying wins of her career.
"It's in the top five, maybe even the top three," she said. "Who would have thought we had to make a courtesy call against Michigan State? I think mentally our girls wanted this meet more than they did."
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