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Both Notre Dame teams place second in Tim Welsh Classic

FINAL RESULTS

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — This weekend, the Notre Dame men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs hosted the Tim Welsh Classic. Both Irish teams placed second, falling to fifth-ranked Ohio State men’s and women’s programs.

Men’s Final Scores: 

  1. Ohio State — 1955.5
  2. Notre Dame — 1095.5

Women’s Final Scores: 

  1. Ohio State — 1803
  2. Notre Dame — 884
  3. Akron — 749
  4. Indiana State — 372

“Overall, I was really pleased with how we performed and raced this weekend,” Peterson Family Head Coach Chris Lindauer said. “It is always an honor to represent Notre Dame at home with our fans and be able to honor our seniors at their last home meet.”

A couple of seniors stuck out on the weekend, including Jack Hoagland. The distance swimmer continued his already dominant year, winning the 500 free (4:16.48) and 400 IM (3:46.51). Fellow senior Jack Fitzpatrick’s 47.70 time 100 back was good enough to take home the gold.

Sophomore Chris Guiliano broke his own school record in the 100 freestyle, lowering his 42.34 to a 42.32 as the first leg of the 400 freestyle relay. He also holds the fastest time in school history in the 50 free (19.17).

“School records are hard to come by, and the way he raced was tremendous to see,” Lindauer said.

In addition to Guiliano, five swimmers posted seven different times that rank in the top 10 in program history:

 

Marcus Gentry — 100 Back (47.07, 6th) & 200 Back (1:44.26, 9th)

Jess Geriane — 100 Back (53.74, 9th)

Tommy Janton — 200 Back (1:41.08, 3rd)

Ellie Jew — 100 breast (1:00.58, 6th) & 200 breast (2:11.56, 3rd)

Mary Cate Pruitt — 1000 Free (9:51.56, 4th)

 

On her senior day, Jew won the aforementioned 200 breast and placed third in the 100. The Notre Dame women’s best event was the 200 fly, where Coleen Gillilan (1:56.62), Megan Deuel (1:57.93) and Renee Gillilan (1:58.52) went 1-2-3 to sweep the podium. 

“I’m excited that this will lead us forward into the championship season,” Lindauer added. “We know we have a lot more left on the table and a lot more to continue to pursue. 

On the diving side, head coach Mark Bradshaw was extremely pleased with his group. He highlighted sophomore Calie Brady and freshman Daniel Knapp in detail, but he was incredibly impressed with everyone. Brady won the 1-meter event (314.55) and took second in the 3-meter (347.95). Knapp placed second in both events (384.75 and 395.50, respectively). 

“Calie was really dialed in and competed really well,” Bradshaw said. “Daniel is just scratching the surface, and this was against an Ohio State group that is pretty doggone good. Both days, Daniel was right there with their top divers.”

Senior Samantha Gillis will not travel to ACCs in a few weeks, so Saturday was her final competition. The North Carolina native served as a captain this year.

“She ended it on a great note,” Bradshaw said. “She had her best score of the year so far, and she was really consistent.”

Up next is championship season for the many of the Irish. Some of the team will compete in a late-season meet at Ohio State while others head to the ACC Championship Meet in Greensboro, N.C., from Feb. 14-18.