BSU picked ahead of Miami by one spot inpreseason polls
The Ball State men's swimming and diving team hits the roadSaturday for a conference showdown with rival Miami (Ohio). Miamiis coming off a victory last weekend against Buffalo, whichimproved their record to 1-1 overall, 1-0 in MAC meets.
Ball State enters the weekend fresh from their off-week. Twoweekends ago, they finished second at the Indiana Intercollegiate,behind only Purdue. This will be their first dual meet of theseason, as well as their first competition with a MAC opponent. Inthe pre-season polls, Miami was picked to finish third in the MAC,only one spot behind the Cardinals.
"Miami has got the upper hand on us," coach Bob Thomas said."What it's going to come down to is our upperclassmen stepping up.They're capable of beating Miami. It's just a matter of, 'can we doit this weekend?'
"We're anxious to compete. If anything, the weekend ofnon-competition makes them a little bit hungrier," Thomas said.
Miami has a deep lineup that kept them in their season-openingmeet against Cleveland State before falling, 136-107. The Redhawksonly won four events, but were led by two freshmen, Paul Ricard(500 free), and Griffin Marshall (1000 breast).
Last weekend, the Redhawks bounced back with a 135-107 win overBuffalo. Senior Andrew Keefe led the way, winning the 100 and 200free. He also joined teammates Ricard, Justin Marcy, and John Grubbfor a victory in the 400 freestyle relays. For his performance,Keefe was named MAC Swimmer of the Week this week.
Against Buffalo, Ricard once again took the 500 free, andMarshall posted a victory in the 200 breast.
Diving has proven to be another strength for the Redhawks, asZach Niehaus has led the way by winning the one- and three-meterdiving events against Buffalo. He also finished second in theone-meter event against Cleveland State. Against the Vikings,Miami's divers finished second through fourth in both the one- andthree-meter diving events.
"I'd like to see our freshman continue to show positive signs ofgetting faster in their events. With our returning swimmers, I wantto see them step up and lead the way, because this will be new tothe freshman," Thomas said.
"The home team has the advantage (because of the travelingdistance). When you can pull off a win on the road, it's a bigwin," Thomas said.
BSU hopes to bounce back from previous meets'performances
After a disappointing weekend against Akron and Buffalo lastweek, the Ball State women's swimming and diving team hopesto bounce back against Miami, the favorite to win the MAC thisseason.
This is the home opener for Ball State, and coach LauraSeibold-Caudill thinks her team is excited to compete in front ofhome fans for the first time this season. But a big task liesahead.
"They're the top dog in the conference,"Seibold-Caudill said. Miami is just loaded. They've got goodswimmers in every event, 3, 4, 5 deep in every event."
Miami is coming off a successful weekend after facing the sametwo teams. The victories sustained a 19-meet winning streak in MACdual meets, a streak that began against Buffalo in Miami'slast dual meet of the 2000-01 season.
The Redhawks defeated Buffalo Friday night, 176-124, winning 10of 16 events. Sophomore Laura Armbruster and senior Amy Miranda ledthe way winning two events each, Armbruster in the 100 and 200breaststroke, and Miranda in the 500 and 1000 freestyle.
Against Akron, the Redhawks eased to a 184-116 victory, and wereagain led by Armbruster, who won three of the team's tenfirst places (100 and 200 breast, 400 IM). Miranda again won the500 and 1000 free.
"Their best events are our best events, but I think theyhave a bit of an edge on us," Seibold-Caudill said, citingbreaststroke and the IM.
Miami's divers, Christin Eberst (one-meter) and HeidiWillemssen (three-meter) also won their respective events at bothmeets.
Miranda is coming off last season's MAC championship inthe 500 and 1650 freestyle event.
Miami arrives at Ball State 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the MAC,their only setback being against Purdue in the season opener.
"We're going to give it our best shot. I don't knowif we have enough depth, but we're going to die trying, so tospeak," Seibold-Caudill said. "It just depends on how bad ourswimmers want it. I truly believe this team has the capability topull off some amazing things."
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