ASHLAND, Ohio - In the first duel meet of the 2025-26 season, the Malone University men's and women's swimming & diving programs were defeated by their Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) foe, Ashland University. The Eagle men defeated the Pioneer men 193-40 and the women's score was 189-45.
 
The lone individual win for Malone came in the women's 100-yard breaststroke event. Ann-Katherine Burns swam a time of 1:12.10 to just miss her career-best. Another individual highlight for the women's team came from Danielle Ketler, who was second in the 500-yard freestyle (5:36.48) and third in the 1650-yard freestyle (19:40.50).
 
Ashtyn Rickel moved up one spot in the program's top-ten list en route to a third-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke. Her time of 1:03.75 is now tied for ninth in school history and she also led Malone with a second-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle (25.99 seconds).
 
There was just one top-three finish for the Pioneer men. Dylan Yoder swam a time of 53.85 in the 100-yard freestyle event to place third overall. Despite a lack of success on the individual end, the Malone men showed some strength in relay events.
 
The 200-yard medley relay team of Landon Sutter, Seth McMillen, Elisha Thompkins and Yoder were victorious over Ashland with a time of 1:42.47. The team of McMillen, Carter Anderson, Lincoln Rickleff and Carson Letchworth were third in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:39.71).
 
The women's 200-yard medley relay squad consisted of Rickel, Burns, Lauryn Ebersole and Avery Young and placed second with a time of 1:56.08. The Pioneers also received a third-place effort from Ketler, Kassidy Cannon, Alina Cotlet and Aleah Daugherty in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:57.29).
 
The road trip continues for Malone as they visit The College of Wooster on Saturday, November 1 beginning at 1:00 P.M.