Bulldogs Prepare for Postseason at Xavier and Ball State

Feb. 1, 2006

Complete Results

Butler continued its preparation for the Horizon League Championships with a pair of weekend meets. The Bulldogs traveled to Cincinnati to swim against Xavier Friday before taking on Ball State Saturday afternoon in Muncie, Ind. While the Bulldogs dropped both matches, head coach Maurice Stewart saw many positives leading up the conference meet Feb. 22-25 in Cleveland.

"The team is starting to show signs of energy and life in the competition pool as our swimmers achieved 53 season-best times over the weekend," said Stewart. "Now that we are sharpening skills and cutting back in the weight room, the team is beginning to believe in their abilities. We just need to stay positive and continue moving forward."

The Musketeers dropped the Bulldogs 63-29 on the women's side and 63-17 in men's competition Friday in Cincinnati.

For the women, junior Mary Beth Arnold had a season-best time of 5:04 in the 400-yd. individual medley and placed second in the 100-yd. breaststroke. Stewart also praised the efforts of Megan McGann (personal-bests in both the 50-yd. and 100-yd. freestyles), Genny Berning, Melissa Nemec, Janna Fett (season-best time in the 500-yd. freestyle) and Krista Peterson (lifetime-best in the 100-yd. butterfly).

For the men, Jeff Martin matched his season-best in the 200-yd. freestyle and Jason Brozek swam a season-best in the 400-yd. IM (4:27.90), in addition to solid performances in the 100-yd. backstroke and a season-best leading off the 200-yd. freestyle relay (22.9). Chris Scroggin (100-yd. breaststroke) and Travis Cheney (500-yd. freestyle) also turned in season-bests.

Ball State took a 137-86 decision on the women's side and a 135-82 victory against the men Saturday in Muncie.

Arnold placed second in the 100-yd. individual medley and broke 30 seconds in the 50-yd. butterfly. Berning, Sarah Lynne Gates and Nemec followed close behind. Elizabeth Shafer had a season-best in the 200-yd. freestyle (2:06.45) and Elaine Mohler dropped her time in the 100-yd. butterfly by more than two seconds from Friday's performance. Katie Krueger placed second in both the 50-yd. (26.56) and 100-yd. freestyle (59.64) events.

On the men's side, Stewart raved about Travis Cheney, who shattered his previous best in the 200-yd. freestyle (2:05.12) and then followed that 10 minutes later by swimming the 100-yd. butterfly in a season-best time of 1:01.39. He led off the 400-yd. freestyle relay with a time of 55.92, also a personal-best. Brozek posted season-bests in both the 100-yd. breaststroke (1:02.7) and the 100-yd. IM (56.80), placing second in both events. Junior Raj Duggal won the 1000-yd. freestyle with a time of 10:12.

The Bulldogs return to action Sunday, hosting Wright State at Carmel High School, just north of Indianapolis. The 1 p.m. start will also include a Senior Day tribute to the team's lone four-year member, Amanda Walter.