Ball State women’s swim and dive prepares to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for a senior day matchup Feb. 4.
The Cardinals (4-3, 0-2) returned from Oxford, Ohio, this week after falling to the Miami Redhawks on the road.
Senior captain Courtney Mudd said the team is ready to have some fun with the home meet this weekend.
“We are ready to get back at it in Lewellen,” Mudd said. “This will be the seniors' last time swimming a meet here and we want to soak in every moment.”
Cardinal seniors
Jessica Extine: freestyle, butterfly
Katie Horn: butterfly, individual medley
Allie Kolz: backstroke, butterfly
Courtney Mudd: backstroke, individual medley, freestyle
Brittany Penn: diving
Kimberly Scott: breaststroke, backstroke, individual medley
Notre Dame is coming off a weekend celebrating their seniors as well. The Fighting Irish swam in the Shamrock Invitational where the women’s team came in second. This is the first time Ball State will face Notre Dame in over four years. The last time was in 2011 where the Cardinals lost.
Notre Dame is currently tied for 24th in the NCAA with LSU. Senior Jessica Extine is currently ranked 22nd in the Mid-American Conference women’s 50-yard freestyle. Freshman Cassidy Blackwin is ranked 18th in the 1650 freestyle.
The conference meet is right around the corner for Ball State and Mudd said they are beginning to taper down.
“Yardage is still up at practice but we are starting to focus in on more technique and fix the small things,” Mudd said. “MAC is three and a half weeks away and everyone is getting excited.”
Mudd said the atmosphere will be different going into the meet this weekend because it’s going to be senior day. The girls know Notre Dame will be a challenge.
Mudd said the team has trained really hard up to this point. She said within the next week, they will begin to back off their yardage to get the rest their bodies need for MAC.
The meet begins at 1 p.m. at Lewellen. It will be aired on ESPN 3.