INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler swim team opened up the 2017-18 season by hosting the Butler Double Dual. The Bulldogs defeated Valparaiso 162-36, but fell short against Indiana State, Saint Louis, Evansville and Xavier.
 
Head Coach Maurice Stewart was very pleased with Butler's performance in the first meet of the season. "I am very proud of the team focus, swimmer support, and team spirit throughout the meet today," Stewart said. "To have six individuals post BIG EAST qualifying times in seven events is a great way to start the season for our team."
 
Butler's top performance came from freshman Olivia Allen who placed third in the 200 Yard Breaststroke with a time of 2:28.78. Allen also placed fourth in the 400 Yard Individual Medley with a time of 4:43.28. Both of her events registered BIG EAST qualifying times.
 
Fellow Bulldog Emma Spotts also competed in the 200 Yard Breaststroke. She placed seventh with a BIG EAST qualifying time of 2:29.36. Spotts also competed in the 50 Yard Freestyle (25.28) and 200 Medley Relay.
 
Four other Bulldogs posted BIG EAST qualifying times on Sunday afternoon. Emma Harris, Alexis Faith, Tori Horton, and Megan Hanson all swam well in their respective events. Harris and Faith qualified in the 200 Yard Butterfly with times of 2:14.61 and 2:14.08. Horton finished ninth in the 100 Yard Freestyle with a time of 54.98 and Megan Hanson finished eighth in the 200 Yard Backstroke with a time of 2:11.53.
 
Megan Hanson and Andee Bauer placed fourth and sixth respectively in the 1000 Yard Freestyle. Hanson's time of 10:53.62 made her the first Butler swimmer to finish in under eleven minutes at the Double Dual. Bauer clocked in at 11:05.80.
 
Abbie Linek, Emma Harris, and Carolyn McGrail competed in the 200 Yard Freestyle, placing 10th, 12th, and 15th. Tori Horton and Emma Spotts were the lone Bulldogs in the 50 Yard Freestyle, placing 10th and 12th. In addition to Tori Horton's BIG EAST qualifying performance in the 100 Yard Freestyle, Sydney Gurry and Grace Grzybek placed 11th and 13th. Andee Bauer and Jacque Goetz competed in the 500 Yard Freestyle finishing seventh (5:24.15) and eighth (5:28.16).
 
Sofia Camarillo and Rachel Burke rounded out the 200 Yard Backstroke finishing 12^th (2:17.83) and 15^th (2:21.46).
 
Megan Rush and Carson Middlebrook were the remaining Bulldogs competing in the 200 Yard Breaststroke. Rush finished 14^th (2:40.41) and Middlebrook posted a time of 2:33.98 just barely missing BIG EAST qualifying time.
 
Two other Bulldogs competed in the 400 Yard Individual Medley. Annah Van Gheem finished seventh with a time of 4:47.6 and Emily Motil finished 12th with a time of 4:57.63. Van Gheem and Motil also both competed in the 200 Yard Butterfly, finishing 11th (2:16.94) and 15^th (2:19.34).
 
The Bulldogs competed in two relays at the Double Dual. The 200 Yard Medley Relay comprised of Sophie Camarillo, Emma Spotts, Megan Rush, and Tori Horton placed seventh with a time of 1:52.76. The 400 Yard Freestyle Relay also finished seventh. Abbie Linek, Emma Harris, Annah Van Gheem, and Megan Hanson combined for a time of 3:42.64.
 
Butler Double Dual Scores:
Indiana State 156 – Butler 69
Saint Louis 183 – Butler 52
Evansville 140 – Butler 95
Butler 162 – Valparaiso 36
Xavier 154 – Butler 47