CLEVELAND, Ohio – – The Ball State women’s swimming & diving program placed 16 student-athletes on the 2020-21 Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team as announced by the league office.
Of Ball State’s 16 honorees, three finished their Ball State careers a three-time award winners: Caitlin Locante, Cailin Merck and Audrey Schank.
The five Cardinals picking up the award for the second time in their careers are Alex Bader, Abbie McCarter, Alexa McDonald, Cecilia Moore and Katie Walker.
Ball State also had eight first-time honorees including Shelby Crist, Jessie Fraley, Madison Gatzlaff, Jenn Gillen, Meri Gray, Phoebe Rensink, Apsara Sakbun, Gracie Saulman.
A total of 128 student-athletes earned the Academic All-MAC distinction in women’s swimming & diving by maintaining at least a 3.2 GPA and participating in at least half of the team’s contests for the season. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
The Cardinals capped a strong 2020-21 season with the program’s best finish at the MAC Swimming & Diving Championships since the 2005 season, placing fifth as a team with 320 total points.
Ball State had its first individual MAC Champion since the 2014 season and set seven program records over the course of the campaign.
Ball State’s 2020-21 Academic All-MAC Selections (Name, Year, Major, GPA)
1. Alex Bader, Junior, Nursing, 3.944
2. Shelby Crist, Sophomore, Elementary Education, 3.443
3. Jessie Fraley, Sophomore, Advertising, 3.949
4. Madison Gatzlaff, Sophomore, Pre-Exercise Science, 3.516
5. Jenn Gillen, Sophomore, Criminal Justice and Criminology, 3.879
6. Meri Gray, Sophomore, Pre-Nursing, 3.750
7. Caitlin Locante, Senior, Elementary Education, 3.862
8. Abbie McCarter, Junior, Predental Preparation, 3.824
9. Alexa McDonald, Junior, Biology, 3.977
10. Cailin Merck, Senior, Biology, 3.781
11. Cecilia Moore, Junior, Sport Administration, 3.966
12. Phoebe Rensink, Sophomore, Telecommunications, 3.995
13. Apsara Sakbun, Sophomore, Business Analytics, 3.537
14. Gracie Saulman, Sophomore, Speech Language Pathology, 3.855
15. Audrey Schank, Senior, Marketing, 3.497
16. Katie Walker, Junior, Elementary Education, 3.629
