Breaststroker Stephens Closes Out Irish Career with Third Record of the Weekend at 2015 NCAA Championships Saturday

March 28, 2015

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Notre Dame men’s swim team concluded their season at the 2015 NCAA Championships Saturday, with a three-day tally of eight points that was good for 32nd place in the team standings. Senior Zachary Stephens capped his Irish career by breaking three of his own school records, and was present to cheer on sophomore teammate Tom Anderson when he broke his own record in the 200 back.

“We had a great meet — this year, it was a great experience for our young guys, and for Zach [Stephens] and Jon[athan Williamson] to end their careers on this stage with best times is tremendous,” Irish head coach Matt Tallman says. “Last spring, we talked about getting to the meet, and knowing that we belong. This is a huge building block for our program. As we look back at the week, we are proud of our accomplishments and excited to move forward.

“We had best times in six of our eight individual swims,” continues Tallman, “and I hope our teammates that are back in South Bend are hungry and know they need to work hard to join us in Atlanta in 2016.” 

Says Stephens on his performance this weekend, “I wanted to end my career with best times in every event; fortunately, I was able to attain that goal, and I am extremely happy to be able to end my career on that note.”

In the Saturday morning prelim session, Anderson finished 29th in the 200 back with his 1:42.61 showing. Stephens earned a berth in the consolation final of the 200 breast with his record-setting 1:53.33 time in the 200 breast, ultimately finishing in 16th (1:54.69). Fellow senior Jonathan Williamson also finished his collegiate career with his final race in the 200 fly, touching in at 1:43.20, good for 21st.

 

Individual Results — All Three Days

 

Thursday

500 free – Tom Anderson, 49th (4:22.99)*

200 IM – Zachary Stephens, 19th (1:44.00)!*

1-meter diving – Joseph Coumos, 23rd (330.00)

 

Friday

200 Medley relay — Plaschka, Jackson, Williamson, Fujan, 24th (1:28.90)

400 IM — Tom Anderson, 18th (3:44.67)

100 fly — Jonathan Williamson, 36th (47.05)*

100 breast — Zachary Stephens, 13th (52.50)!* in the morning; finished 12th in the evening (52.55)

800 free relay — Jackson, Jany, Fujan, Anderson, 16th (6:25.54)

3-meter diving — Joseph Coumos, 20th (370.30)

 

Saturday

200 Back — Tom Anderson, 29^th (1:42.61)!*

200 breast — Zachary Stephens, 16^th (1:53.33)!*; evening final time, 1:54.69

200 fly — Jonathan Williamson, 21^st (1:43.20)

 

! — school record

* – personal best

 

Lizzie Mikes,

Media Services Coordinator