The Butler swim team earned a fourth place finish over the weekend at the Indiana Intercollegiates Invitational hosted by Purdue. The Bulldogs scored 192 points and posted 15 BIG EAST qualifying times.
 
"Overall, we raced well against some good Indiana competition," Head Coach Maurice Stewart stated. "It is great to see our team spirit and our positive team chemistry continue to improve for our second meet of the season." 
 
Stewart had Co-Swimmers of the Meet, recognizing Sam Tomic and Ava Whittaker for their standout performances. Tomic had a season-best, BIG EAST qualifying time in the 200 Free (1:57.98) and placed eighth in the 500 Free (5:16.91).
 
Freshman Ava Whittaker also had a season-best, BIG EAST qualifying time in the 50 Free (25.08). She added a strong performance in the 100 Free (53.56) and posted a strong split in the 200 Free Relay (24.30).
 
Stewart also highlighted Kate Schilling from the meet. The junior placed third in the 100 Fly (56.73) and in the 100 Breast (1:04.48). She had a strong breaststroke split in the 200 Medley Relay at 29.24.
 
The full 200 Medley Relay team included Alani Hightower-Bend, Kate Schilling, Lauren Bergman and Olivia Stotts. That group helped Butler placed third in the event with a time of 1:46.82. The leadoff split was 27.04 in the backstroke, Schilling went next to post her 29.24, Bergman had a 26.50 in the fly and Stotts went 24.04 in the free.
 
Caitlin Herring had a season-best, BIG EAST qualifying time in the 200 Free. She took 10th place with a time of 1:55.18. Tomic came in at 27th at 1:57.98.
 
In the 50 Free, Stotts took seventh place with a BIG EAST qualifying time of 24.55. Teammate Sophie Resner was also in action with a season-best swim at 25.48.
 
The Bulldogs had three student-athletes swim well in the 100 IM. Hightower-Bend was 19th in the event with a time of 1:00.82 and Caroline Zimner was right behind her at 1:01.17. Sadie Brown finished in 22nd (1:01.24).
 
Schilling and Bergman were great for Butler in the 100 Fly. Schilling finished third overall with a time of 56.74. Bergman had a BIG EAST qualifying time to take 14th place (59.83).
 
Three BIG EAST qualifying times were set in the 100 Free for BU. Caitlin Herring had a strong performance to finish third at 53.09. Whittaker was close behind in fourth (53.56) while Elizabeth Naylor earned seventh (54.14).
 
Four upperclassmen hit the water for BU in the 100 Back. Gianna Leffler paced the group with a 16th place finish (59.40). Zimner and McKee finished back-to-back in 19th and 20th posting times of 1:00.33 and 1:00.60. Brown also set a personal-best time in the event (1:01.90).
 
Sam Tomic and Meghan Voelker were the top competitors for BU in the 500 Free. Tomic took eighth with a time of  5:16.91 and Voelker swam at 5:32.82 to place 14th.
 
A third place finish highlighted the day for Butler in the 100 Breast. Schilling clocked in at 1:04.84. She led a trio of Bulldogs that also included Lydia Eberlein (1:07.57) and Ava McGonigle (1:08.45).
 
Butler's 200 Free Relay team took fifth place with a time of 1:38.41. Stotts (24.79), Whittaker (24.30), Bergman (24.96) and Hightower-Bend (24.36) came together to form the team.
 
Butler will continue to train over the final three weeks of October and return to meet action on Friday, Nov. 1 at Valparaiso. 
 
Team Scores
1) Purdue – 865
2) UIndy – 329
3) IU Indy – 234
4) Butler – 192
5) Southern Indiana – 169
6) Franklin – 83
7) Valparaiso – 60
8) Rose Hulman – 55
9) Indiana Wesleyan - 7