INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Bowling Green didn’t waste any time making noise to open the 2025–2026 swim and dive season. The Falcons went for five victories at the IU Indy Invite, topping Indiana-Purdue Indianapolis, Saint Louis, Xavier, Butler, and Bellarmine in what looked more like a statement than a start.
“It was a total team effort,” head coach Tanner Barton said. “Our ladies brought high energy to the pool deck, and they had confidence in themselves and in one another. This is how we kick off the new season.”
The Falcons didn’t just show up—they took over. In the first event of the day, the 400-yard medley relay, senior Emily McNicol, junior Grace Perlberg, and sophomores Karina Solera and Samia Becdach stopped the clock at 3:48.01. McNicol wasn’t done there—she later swept the 50 and 100 backstroke, leading a 1-2-3 finish in the 50 with freshman Bella Treib and junior Bridget Kurtzweil right behind her.
“Emily had an incredible day,” Barton said. “Fastest she’s ever been in the 100 back during the regular season. She’s setting the bar high early.”
Sophomore distance standout Carol Toledo swept both the 1,000 and 500 free, winning her first two collegiate events outright. Another rookie, freshman Lauren Jablonski, led a Falcon sweep in the 100 breast, finishing ahead of Perlberg and senior Madison Bond.
“Carol and Lauren both had impressive swims in their first collegiate meet,” Barton said.
Becdach grabbed the 50 free title (23.80) and finished second in the 100 (51.21), executing her races exactly as planned. Bond notched personal bests in both breaststroke sprints, clocking 30.96 in the 50 and 1:06.47 in the 100—both coming in early October.
“Doing that this time of year is impressive,” Barton said. “She’s making the most of every opportunity.”
In the fly events, senior Grace Bodrock (57.13) and Solera (57.39) went 1–2 in the 100, before Solera came back to win the 50.
On the boards, junior diver Natalia Mayorga put together podium finishes on both, with scores of 259.05 (1-meter) and 259.85 (3-meter).
By the end of the day, Bowling Green capped off the meet with another relay win—McNicol, freshman Grace Rieskamp, sophomore Annie Berrow and Becdach taking the 200 free relay in 1:35.88.
Bowling Green returns home Oct. 18 to host Miami (OH) at Cooper Pool.
