Co-coaches Laura Seibold-Caudill and Bob Thomas expected a highly competitive meet Saturday against Eastern Michigan University, and that's exactly what they got.
The women's team lost the meet by a final score of 141.5 to 158.5, and the difference was the outcome in just one race according to Seibold-Caudill.
"Had we finished 1-2 in the last relay, we would have won," Seibold-Caudill said. "Had a few races went the other way, the outcome would have been different. I think our team learned that just because [Eastern Michigan] is the returning conference champions, that doesn't mean they are unbeatable and it was really close."
The Cardinals started off strong in the 400-yard medley relay. The Ball State University "A" team of Brittany Sayler, Addison Del Rio, Erin Johnson and Michelle Haung finished with a time of 3:57.92. The "B" team of Katie Jasmon, Emily Hurst, Erika Paul and Kelly Johnson completed the event sweep by finishing second with a time of 3:59.04.
A few events later, Sayler, Jasmon and Erin Johnson finished 1-2-4 in the 100-yard backstroke with all three finishing within three seconds of each other.
Hurst also had a second-place swim in the 100-yard breaststroke with a final time of 1:06.96. She was touched-out by Eastern Michigan's Ashley Duranid by .21 seconds. Del Rio and Bekah Gingerich also finished third and fifth in the event.
"On the girls' side it was a very close meet all the way through," Thomas said. "There were a few races that we just got touched-out, and that cost us the meet. It was frustrating to lose by such a close amount, but that was just a great performance to challenge the defending MAC champions."
The men's team also lost to Eastern Michigan during the dual meet by a final score of 135.50 to 99.50.
One main point-scorer for the team was senior Zach Whitaker. Whitaker won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards with 277.65 and 307.72 points, respectively. Sophomore David Linn finished the meet with fourth and fifth placings for both boards to score much-needed points.
"Zach won both boards and David Linn had probably the best meet of his career," Seibold-Caudill said. "They both did extremely well and they are coming along just like I expected. Practice and competition are two different things and they can handle both very well. They both are stepping up to the challenges and are handling it very well."
The trio of Ryan Franklin, Griff Goas and Jordan Rantz swept the 200-yard breaststroke event and all three finished within three seconds of each other.
The women's team also traveled to Normal, Ill., yesterday to compete and beat Illinois State University by a final score of 190-110. The team won 11 of the 16 total events.
"Thursday the girls had the day off and I was hoping that it would spark them a little for Saturday, which I think it did," Thomas said. "Their swims today just weren't where they needed to be, but I think we all are feeling quite tired right now."
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