Muncie, Indiana — 2022 was a year to remember for Ball State Athletic.
A few teams made a national stir, coaches and administrators went back and forth, and a handful of teams and individuals hoisted championships, while others were closer than they’ve been in years. Take a look back at Ball State’s biggest sports stories of the year.
David Letterman Returns to Ball State esports Partnership (February)
Ball State’s most notable alumnus, David Letterman, has returned to campus to announce an esports partnership with his alma mater with his racing team, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL). The partnership further demonstrates BSU’s commitment to esports, and throughout the 2025-26 academic year he will offer two $5,000 scholarships, with the goal of recruiting the world’s top his players to Muncie. is.
more:David Letterman Returns to Ball State for Partnerships with RLL Racing, BSU esports
Women’s Basketball Is Slightly Short At The MAC Championship
Ball state women’s basketball advanced to the MAC Championship Game after beating #1 seed Toledo in the semifinals. The Cardinals, who voted him ninth in the MAC preseason coaches poll, had not been in the league’s championship game since 2014 and had not advanced to the NCAA Tournament since 2009. Top scorer Anna Clefang suffered an ACL injury in the regular season that left her just short of the MAC title in a 79-75 loss to Buffalo, accepting a WNIT bid, but in the opening round she won Lost to Marquette.
more:Ball State proved they belong once again by losing to Buffalo in the MAC Championship.
Ball State Fires James Whitford, Hires Michael Lewis as Men’s Basketball Coach (March)
The two weeks following Ball State’s elimination from the MAC Men’s Basketball Tournament have been a whirlwind. James Whitford, who served as head coach for nine years, fired him on March 15. Ten days later that night, before the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament, Ball State announced that they had hired former UCLA assistant Michael Lewis as their next head coach. Lewis retained Ben Botts (assistant coach) and Bill Comer (head coach’s special assistant) with several players for the first few weeks, and Wichita State’s Lou Gudino (associate head coach) and Monmouth’s Jamal Meeks (assistant). I hired a coach and was busy. .
“Home Run Rental”:A week into office, Ball State’s Michael Lewis keeps busy
Softball pitcher Angelina Russo throws perfect game (April 20)
Ball State freshman pitcher Angelina Russo made history by throwing the first perfect game in program history in a 5-0 win over West Michigan. Russo threw 98 pitches in seven innings and out of 21 batters he struck out 10.
more:Freshman Pitcher Angelina Russo Throws First Perfect Game in Ball State Softball History
Ball State men’s volleyball wins MIVA, advances to NCAA Tournament
Under first-year head coach Donan Cruz, Ball State men’s volleyball won the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Championship, qualifying for the first time since 2002 to the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals lost to eventual champion Hawaii in the semifinals, but this year’s national coach Cruz helped bring them back to the highest level of college men’s volleyball.
more:Title hopes dashed in stunned silence, ball state volleyball sees championship potential
Ball State Women’s Tennis Advances to NCAA Tournament for Second Year in a Row
For the second straight season, Ball State Women’s Tennis qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals (19-5) finished the season opener against No. 4 Texas, but under head coach Max Norris, they have reached the NCAA Tournament three times in six years and have won four MACs. Won regular season titles (2016, 2017, 2021, 2022) and two tournament championships (2016, 2022).
more:Ball State Women’s Tennis Season Ends, BSU Baseball Continues, Prep Results & More
Ball State Baseball Eliminated in MAC Championship (May 29)
Once again very close to the NCAA Tournament, Ball State Baseball went on a two-game losing streak in the MAC Championship, extending the drought to 16 seasons. The Cardinals finished with his 40-19 record (32-7 in MAC), clinching his first MAC regular season title since 2014. Finish another successful season.
more:Ball State Baseball Loses Heartbreaker to Central Michigan in MAC Tournament Championship
Charity Griffiths Places 5th in NCAA Outdoor Championship (June 11)
Junior Charity Griffiths completed an extraordinary track and field season with a 5th-place finish (1.83 m) in the high jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, earning First Team All-American honors. During the indoor season, Griffiths won the Mid-American Conference Championships and qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in both, before earning national honors in the high jump and pentathlon. Griffith is a USATF Outdoor Championship qualifier, multiple-time her MAC Champion, and a multiple-time All-MAC selection both athletically and academically.
more:A mindset shift helped Ball State’s Charity Griffith qualify for the NCAA Championship
Women’s golf coach Catherine Mowat resigns after 18 years (June 17)
Ball State Women’s Golf Coach Katherine Mowat has resigned from her position after leading the program for 18 seasons. Under Mowat, the Cardinals won her 20th tournament. She has coached her 58 Women’s Golf Coaches Association National Scholar Athletes, 36 Academic Her All-MAC Winners, and has earned MAC Coach of the Year honors twice (2010, 2013). ).
Tyler Schweitzer, Zach Cole Selected in MLB Draft (June)
Two more Ball State baseball players were selected in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft. Left-handed pitcher Tyler Schweitzer, who was named MAC Pitcher of the Year, was drafted by the Chicago Whites in his fifth round, 161st overall. Outfielder Zach Cole was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 10th round, 313th overall.
more:How Ball State’s Tyler Schweitzer went from relief pitcher to MLB prospect in one year
more:How Zach Cole’s dominance in his last two months at BSU led to an MLB draft pick
Beth Getz Accepts Position at University of Iowa, Ball State Hires Interim AD Ken Bothoff (September 9)
Ball State Track and Field Director Beth Getz has accepted a position as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the University of Iowa Track and Field. On May 21, 2018, he was appointed Director of BSU’s Athletic in his Goetz tenure, during which time he announced that 12 teams would be regular MAC players in his season or conference win his championship. supervised the Two days after her resignation, Ball County President Jeffrey Maynes appointed Ken Bossoff as interim athletic director. His Bothof, who spent his nine years with his Mearns in Northern Kentucky, brought him 35 years of college athletics experience.
more:Ball State Sports Director Beth Getz Accepts Position as Iowa Deputy AD, COO
more:Ball State University Appoints Ken Bossoff as Interim Athletic Director
Ball State Field Hockey Returns to MAC Tournaments (4 Nov)
Led by first-year head coach Kaitlyn Walsh, Ball State Field Hockey set the best conference record since 2006 (4-3) and advanced to the MAC tournament semifinals for the first time in 15 years. Ball State lost to Miami 2-0 in the semifinals, but look confident going into next season under Walsh’s leadership.
more:How Kaitlyn Walsh turned BSU Field Hockey around and why this is just the beginning
Ball State Soccer Eliminated in MAC Championship (6 Nov)
Ranked 7th in the MAC pre-season coaches’ poll, Ball State Soccer finished runner-up in the MAC’s regular season and tournament. The Cardinals, who finished the season 7-5-8 (6-1-4 MAC), lost the MAC Championship to Buffalo 2-0.
Ball State Women’s Volleyball Wins Open Bid for NCAA Tournament (27 Nov)
Ball State advanced to the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament for the third time in four seasons. The Cardinals, who finished as MAC regular season co-champions and MAC tournament runners-up, were selected for the public bid for the national competition. Bowling Green won the conference automatic bid, but 2022 will be the first time since 2016 that her two MAC teams have entered her NCAA Tournament. In the program’s history, in four years, he is one of only three teams to have appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times. Ball State lost to No. 16 Marquette 3-0 in the first round.
more:Ball State women’s volleyball success hits highest in program history
Running back Carson Steele enters transfer portal after outstanding season (Dec 3)
Ball State Football had the chance to play three consecutive bowl games, an unachievable one in the program’s history, but lost four of its last five games to finish the season 5-7. , was inadequate. The offseason began with several players announcing their intentions to pursue professional opportunities or enter the transfer portal. The blow came when sophomore running back Carson Steele announced his intention to continue his college career elsewhere. Steele finished the season sixth in the Football Bowl subdivision with 1,556 yards, tied for Ball State in single season lanyard yards (1,556), single season touchdowns (tied for third, 14) and career rushing yards (2,447). It’s in the top 10. .
more:Is Ball State’s Carson Steele the most interesting person in college football?
Robbie General is in charge of sports for Star Press Ball State University and East Central Indiana High School. Contact him by email at rgeneral@gannett.com or on his Twitter @.rgeneraljr.