The Ball State men's swimming and diving team missed a chance to pull out an impressive conference win over the Miami RedHawks by a difference of one second on Saturday after the two teams were tied going into the last event.
The Cardinals posted wins in five of the 13 events and finished the meet with a score of 107 against Miami's score of 134.
The last event, a 200-yard medley relay, started off well as senior Chris Krupa finished the first leg ahead by a couple seconds, but the RedHawks fought back in the next three legs to secure the team victory.
"I thought we did a great job," coach Bob Thomas said. "They were just a little deeper and stronger there at the end."
Ball State started off the meet strong with a first and second place finish in the 400-yard medley relay. Senior Casey Schroeder was a big part of the relay win and also added wins in two other events, the 50-and 100-yard freestyle. His 50-yard freestyle time was his season-best.
Sophomore Drew Tharp recorded his second consecutive and overall collegiate victory of the season in the 200-yard butterfly and impressed Thomas with his improvements.
"He's just swimming out of his mind right now." Thomas said.
Thomas said the individual performances he hoped for going into the meet showed up against Miami which allowed Ball State to keep the meet close.
"They were just swimming against a much better team," Thomas said. "For us to be tied with one event to go sends a good statement out there."
Thomas said he believes the tough competition is going to push his team to faster times for the Mid-American Conference Championships.
Freshman Andrew Lamb finished with a season-best time in the 1,000-yard freestyle and sophomore Cameron Watters had a season-best time in the same event. Junior Nicholas Stevens recorded a season-best time in the 500-yard freestyle. Senior Gavin McNeeley also posted a win in the 200-yard breaststroke.
Ball State's next meet will be senior night against Southern Illinois at 6 p.m. on Friday in the Lewellen Aquatic Center.
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