The Butler swim team opened their 2024-25 season on Sunday afternoon by hosting a double dual meet at Fishers High School. The Bulldogs beat two of the four teams they swam against and posted great times throughout the day. Caroline Zimner was tabbed BU Swimmer of the Meet and Gianna Leffler was honorable mention for the recognition.
 
"We kicked off our first meet of the season the right way," head coach Maurice Stewart explained. "The team brought high energy, high spirit, and support for each other from the start of the meet until the last relay. This team has a lot of potential to do great things this season, and it showed at our home opener."
 
Zimner was great for Butler in the 100 Back, 400 Medley Relay, 400 IM, and 400 Free Relay. Leffler joined Zimner in the 400 Medley Relay. She also had great times in the 100 Back and 200 Back.
 
Kayla Wright took second place for Butler in the 1000 Free with a time of 10:51.82. Sam Tomic was also in action for the first time in the 1000 Free. She placed fifth at 11:11.72.
 
Another second place finish went to Caitlin Herring on Sunday afternoon. She swam 1:57.12 in the 200 Free. Elizabth Naylor was also in action to earn 13th place with a time of 2:02.89.
 
In the 50 Free, Alani Hightower-Bend and Olivia Stotts paced the Bulldogs with top-ten finishes. Hightower-Bend swam 25.08 for fifth and Stotts clocked in at 25.26 for ninth.
 
Kate Schilling was excellent for BU in the 400 IM. She led a trio of teammates in the event with a time of 4:38.99 to finish second. Sadie Brown earned 4th place (4:41.54) and Caroline Zimner took seventh (4:43.84).
 
Action in the 200 Fly featured Caitlin Herring and Ciesla finishing back-to-back. Herring finished in third place with a time of 2:12.60. Ciesla was close behind in fourth (2:13.43).
 
Ava Whittaker and Elizabeth Naylor swam well in the 100 Free. Whittaker was the top finisher at 55.43, good enough for sixth place. Naylor finished 12th at 56.35.
 
Leffler took fifth place for BU in the 200 Back (2:11.02) while Olivia McKee placed eighth (2:12.20). The 200 Breast included Kate Schilling and Ava McGonigle. Schilling came in at third (2:25.58) and McGonigle was seventh (2:31.15).
 
The top BU swimmer in the 500 Free was Kayla Wright. She finished third (5:20.17) and Sam Tomic landed in seventh (5:27.41).
 
The 400 Free Relay team of Olivia Stotts, Ava Whittaker, Caitlin Herring, Alani Hightower-Bend posted a time of 3:38.43 in the A Relay to finish second.
 
Dual Meet Scores
Butler 109 – Bellarmine 96
Butler 161 – Evansville 67
Xavier 147.5 – Butler 57.5
Saint Louis 128 – Butler 103