Results
 
INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldog swim team hosted the 15th Annual Butler Invitational on Sunday, Jan. 28. After a full day of competition, Butler recorded 746 points to finish third out of six teams. Sadie Brown was selected as the BU Swimmer of the Meet and the coaching staff celebrated the 2024 Senior Class that included Grace Crane, Jamie Gindorf, and Emily Landwehr.
 
"The annual Butler Invitational is always a fun meet as it begins by honoring our senior swimmers," assistant coach Allie Carmichael explained. "This year, we got to celebrate seniors Grace Crane, Jamie Gindorf, and Emily Landwehr as they close out their collegiate swimming career. All three seniors have been incredible leaders, motivators, and teammates ever since they stepped foot on campus amidst the 2020 pandemic, and the Butler swim team has only gotten better because of their presence. The team was so excited to honor these seniors and their amazing families, and it was a great way to kick off the meet!"
 
Butler's Swimmer of the Meet was Sadie Brown! The sophomore from Lincoln, Rhode Island had an incredible split in the 400 Medley Relay (1:00.61) and was Butler's top performer in the 500 Free. Brown set a personal-best time in the 500 (5:22.35) shaving 12 seconds off her time from last year's BU Invite. Olivia McKee and Sam Tomic also swam well in the event. McKee earned 11th with a time of 5:28.11 and Tomic was 12th, touching the wall at 5:29.56.
 
Brown, Kate Schilling, and Crane all swam for BU in the 200 Free. Schilling paced the trio with a seventh-place finish, just missing a season-best time (1:58.65). Brown had a season-best time in the event to place eighth (2:00.55) and Crane finished strong to earn 11th with a time of 2:03.35.
 
The 200 Free Relay included Olivia Stotts, Lauren Bergman, Alani Hightower-Bend, and Emily Landwehr. That group finished sixth with a time of 1:40.51, which was slightly faster than last weekend at IUPUI.
 
"In the pool, the coaches were so happy to see the girls take advantage of the opportunity to race," Carmichael added. "This week was a very tough week of training, and seeing swimmers achieve season best and personal best times was very encouraging. I am very proud of this team as they continue to race well and seek improvement every day, especially as we are starting to prepare for the BIG EAST Conference Championship meet in February."
 
The 'Dawgs also placed sixth in the 400 Medley Relay with a time of 4:00.41. That team was composed of Gianna Leffler (backstroke- 59.47), Kate Schilling (breaststroke – 1:06.90), Lauren Bergman (fly – 59.45), and Olivia Stotts (free – 54.18).
 
Leffler was the honorable mention selection for Butler's Swimmer of the Meet. She started the meet off strong in the 400 Medley Relay with a backstroke split of 59.47, which is one of her fastest in-season times ever. Leffler did a great job in the 50 Free, and finished the meet swimming an event she doesn't typically swim (200 IM) but raced very well.
 
Leffler ended up in 12th place in the 200 IM (2:18.90) while Kate Schilling finished sixth (2:13.64).
 
In the sprints, Olivia Stotts led all Bulldogs in the 50 Free while Elizabeth Naylor paced the team in the 100. Stotts 10th place finish included a time of 25.32 and Abby Hobrough was close behind in 11th (25.44). Naylor swam the 100 at 55.00 for 10th place and Alani Hightower-Bend had some explosive turns to finish 13th (55.86).
 
Hightower-Bend was the top BU performer in the 100 Back. She placed sixth with a time of 1:00.67. Sophie Resner also made huge improvements in the event to take ninth (1:02.77).
 
BU saw another sixth-place finish in the 100 Fly. Lauren Berman had a great first 50 to clock in at 1:01.03. Stotts was also active with a time of 1:02.58 for 12th.
 
In the 100 Breaststroke, Emily Landwehr nearly won the race with a time of 1:08.31. She made some adjustments following her relay swim and it paid off to get her up to second place.
 
The 200 Fly was highlighted by Lily Schwelgin's sixth place finish. She posted a season-best time of 2:16.08.
 
A pair of 'Dawgs competed in the 200 Back. Caroline Zimner had consistent splits to take sixth (2:10.66) and Kate Schilling earned 11th (2:16.40).
 
Ava McGonigle was the top swimmer for the 'Dawgs in the 200 Breast. She finished 15th with a time of 2:35.44. Lydia Eberlein also raced well to touch the wall at 2:42.92.
 
Scores
1) Xavier 1264.5
2) UIndy 1207
3) Butler 746.5
4) Valparaiso 690
5) Lewis 643
6) Eastern Illinois 546