The Bulldogs got the 2025-26 season off to a strong start Saturday with multiple Top 10 finishes and BIG EAST Championship qualifying times at the Double Dual meet hosted in downtown Indianapolis at the IU Natatorium.
 
"Coach (Maurice) Stewart and I have been really excited about the potential of this year's roster, and we knew today would be an exciting opportunity to finally see our talent against some tough competitors," said Butler assistant coach Hannah Cressman. "Overall, we saw the strength of our team through some fast and smart individual swims, but we also saw the strength of our team's depth through multiple Top 10 finishes. We're excited knowing this is just the beginning for this team!" 
 
In the Double Dual format, Butler defeated Bellarmine (166-95) while also matching up against Xavier (93-168), IU Indy (106-187), St. Louis (115.50-117.50), and Bowling Green (54-239).
 
The coaching staff selected sophomore Ava Whittaker as Butler "Swimmer of the Meet". Whittaker posted a pair of top-three individual finishes (second in the 50 butterfly and third in the 100 butterfly). Her split of 24.51 in the 200-Free Relay was the fastest on the team.  
 
Kayla Wright joined Whittaker with a top-three individual finish (third in the 1,000 Freestyle at 10:42.31). Wright was also fourth in the 500 Freestyle (5:15.60). Kate Schilling finished fourth in the 100 Breaststoke (1:06.49) and fifth in the 100 Butterfly (58.85).
 
BIG EAST Championship Qualifying Times:
200 Freestyle: Caitlin Herring, 1:59.03
100 Butterfly: Ava Whittaker, 58.41; Kate Schilling, 58.85
100 Backstroke: Sarah Jones, 1:00.07; Caroline Zimner, 1:00.85
100 Breaststroke: Kate Schilling, 1:06.49; Lydia Eberlein, 1:08.34
500 Freestyle: Kayla Wright, 5:15.60
200 Individual Medley: Kate Schilling, 2:10.31; Caroline Zimner, 2:12.29; Ashlyn Canale, 2:12.34

Notable Butler Performances: 
400 Medley Relay: Placed eighth with a time of 3:59.09
--Backstroke Caroline Zimner (1:00.04), Breaststroke Kate Schilling (1:05.20), Butterfly Ava Whittaker (57.89), Freestyle Olivia Stotts (55.96)
200 Freestyle: Caitlin Herring, tenth at 1:59.03; Sam Tomic, 14^th at 2:01.11
50 Backstroke: Sarah Jones, tenth at 27.83; Sophia Amendola, 16^th at 28.75
50 Breaststroke: Lydia Eberlein, 12^th at 31.50; Ashlyn Canale, 13^th at 31.84
100 Butterfly: Ava Whittaker, third at 58.41; Kate Schilling, fifth 58.85
50 Freestyle: Sarah Jones, 13^th at 25.81; Olivia Stotts, 14^th at 25.91; Madeleine Russell, 16^th at 26.33
100 Freestyle: Zizi Mateja, 11^th at 55.47
100 Backstroke: Sarah Jones, tenth at 1:00.07; Caroline Zimner, 14^th at 1:00.85
500 Breaststroke: Kate Schilling, fourth at 1:06.49; Lydia Eberlein, ninth at 1:08.34
500 Freestyle: Kayla Wright, fourth at 5:15.60; Caitlin Herring, seventh at 5:19.51; Sam Tomic, 16^th at 5:27.61
50 Butterfly: Ava Whittaker, second at 25.81; Ashlyn Canale, ninth at 27.37; Sophia Amendola, 14^th at 27.99
200 Individual Medley: Kate Schilling, seventh at 2:10.31; Caroline Zimner, eighth at 2:12.29; Ashlyn Canale, ninth at 2:12.34
200 Freestyle Relay: Placed eighth with a time of 1:41.53 
--Caitlin Herring (25.87), Elizabeth Naylor (25.65), Ava Whittaker (24.51), and Olivia Stotts (25.50)
 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs return to action next weekend with the Indiana Intercollegiates. The meet, hosted by Purdue, is scheduled for a Noon start.