SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After a successful 2023-24 campaign for the Notre Dame swimming and diving programs, the Irish have announced a lengthy list of annual awards.
Women’s Awards —
Most Valuable Swimmer — Madelyn Christman
Christman had a junior season to remember, making her first NCAA Championships with a 1:53.06 time in the 200 backstroke. Christman scored 40 individual points in the backstroke events at ACC’s after winning six individual events throughout the regular season. Additionally, Christman set the school record in the 100 meter backstroke in November (1:02.13).
Most Valuable Diver — Calie Brady
Brady made NCAA Championships for the third time in her three-year Irish career and earned All-America Honorable Mention status in the 3-meter event after taking 11th place at the meet. Brady was also a finalist in both springboard events at ACC Championships this year.
Freshman of the Year — Katie Raby
Raby placed third in the platform at the IUPUI House of Champions Invitational in the fall, fifth in the 3-meter against Pittsburgh and Penn State and 20th in the 3-meter at the ACC Championships.
Performance of the Year — Maggie Graves’ 1650 Freestyle at NCAA Championships
After posting multiple best times in the distance freestyle events throughout the season, Graves went 16:10.82 in the 1650 freestyle in her NCAA Championships debut, placing 28th in the nation. That mark ranks second in program history.
Most Improved Swimmer — Madelyn Christman
Christman accomplished the previously mentioned milestones and went best times in five different individual events. She now ranks third in school history in the 100 freestyle (49.07) and 100 backstroke (52.66) and second in the 200 backstroke (1:53.06).
Most Improved Diver — Grace Courtney
Like Christman and Graves, Courtney made her first NCAA meet this season. She took 22nd in the 1-meter and 21st in the 3-meter. Courtney also finished fourth in both the 1-meter and 3-meter at ACC’s after falling short of the final in both events last season.
Swiss Army Knife Award — Jess Geriane
The jack-of-all-trades was a mainstay this season in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, but she also made major contributions to relays. She participated in four of them at ACC Championships. She ranks 10th in program history in the 50 (22.59) and fifth in the 100 backstroke (52.94).
Swimming Weight Room Warrior — Grace Brenneman
A native of nearby Elkhart, Ind., Brenneman is a sprint specialist that now ranks ninth in school history in the 50 freestyle after going 22.56 at ACC Championships. She brings an intense energy to the weight room and pool deck every day, one that is palpable for anyone in the vicinity.
Diving Weight Room Warrior — Claire Feick
Feick transferred to Notre Dame after spending her freshman season at Villanova. She finished 12th in the 3-meter at ACC Championships and was a Zone C Championships qualifier.
Beeler-Hipp Award — Abby O’Sullivan
The Beeler-Hipp Award is given annually to a freshman who best exemplifies the vitality, competitiveness and love for Notre Dame shown by late swimmers Meghan Beeler and Colleen Hipp.
O’Sullivan came to South Bend from Southern California and was a bright light in the distance group throughout her first campaign for the Irish. An always humble student-athlete, she ended the season winning both the 500 freestyle and 400 IM at the Ohio State Winter Invitational.
Reaney Award — Grace Brenneman & Ellie Jew
This honor is given to a female student-athlete who exemplifies what it means to be a champion in the pool, in the classroom, as a teammate and in life. It is named for Notre Dame’s first national champion Emma Reaney, who broke the 200 breaststroke American record en route to her NCAA gold.
While just a sophomore, Brenneman has been a perfect teammate and helped the Irish in numerous ways in and out of the pool, particularly in the sprint freestyle events. She was a member of the 2024 All-ACC Academic Team.
Jew returned to Notre Dame for her fifth year after making NCAA Championships and serving as a team captain during her senior season. She, too, was a member of the 2024 All-ACC Academic Team and made two B finals at ACC’s.
Captain’s Award — Reese Lugbill
Given to a student-athlete that performs in high pressure situations and is always a great teammate, Lugbill earned this year’s Captain’s Award. In the pool, Lugbill ended the season on a high note by winning the 100 breaststroke (1:03.85) at the Ohio State Winter Invitational. In her first season as an upperclassman, she always exemplified grace and respect both on deck and away from the sport.
Rockne Scholar-Athlete Award — Sarah Bender
Bender is just a few weeks away from earning an undergraduate degree in both political science and statistics and was a member of this year’s All-ACC Academic Team. The breastroke and IM specialist has been a member of the ACC team in each of her four years in South Bend and ranks fifth in program history in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:12.80.
Men’s Awards —
Most Valuable Swimmer — Chris Guiliano
The sprint freestyler conquered nearly every record in the books this year en route to being named ACC Swimmer of the Year. Guiliano was a five-time First Team All-American this season, set conference records in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle and swept the aforementioned events at the ACC Championships. A strong candidate for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team, Guiliano is also now the school record holder in all five NCAA relays.
Most Valuable Diver — Ben Nguyen
Nguyen hit two huge milestones this season as a sophomore; he earned his first trip to the NCAA Championships and earned a bronze medal in the platform at ACC Championships. At the latter meet, Nguyen also finished fourth in the men’s 1-meter and fifth in the men’s 3-meter. In total, Nguyen notched 78 points for the Irish at ACC’s.
Freshman of the Year — Lucas Logue
Logue made the ACC team and notched three best times this season: 50 freestyle (20.20), 100 backstroke (46.81) and 200 backstroke (1:44.99). He made the C final in the 100 backstroke at ACC Championships.
Men’s Performance of the Year — 400 Freestyle Relay at ACC Championships
To finish off a record-breaking ACC performance for the Irish men, Guiliano, Filion, Janton and Elaraby went 2:45.58 in the 400 freestyle relay to bring home a gold medal. In doing so, Notre Dame is now one of just eight schools that has posted a 400 freestyle relay time of 2:45 or faster.
Most Improved Swimmer — Marcus Gentry
Gentry earned his first trip to NCAA Championships this year after lowering his best times in 100 backstroke (45.12), 200 backstroke (1:40.35) and 100 butterfly (46.07). He was temporarily the 100 backstroke school record holder before it was subsequently broken, and he now ranks third in program history in that event, fifth in 200 backstroke and eighth in 100 butterfly. Gentry was also the backstroker on the 200 medley relay that now holds the program record.
Most Improved Diver — Daniel Knapp
Despite missing a few meets with an injury to start the season, Knapp bounced back in a significant way. The sophomore won four events during the regular season and finished sixth in the 1-meter at ACC Championships. He ended his year earning All-America Honorable Mention status in the men’s 1-meter after taking 15th place at the NCAA Championships.
Swiss Army Knife Award — Tommy Janton & Jack Fitzpatrick
Janton and Fitzpatrick were called upon in a number of spots throughout the year and always delivered. Janton now holds school records in the 100 and 200 backstroke plus the 400 medley and freestyle relays. He also ranks ninth in school history in the 100 butterfly (46.36) and 10th in the 50 freestyle (19.85).
Fifth-year senior Fitzpatrick helped lead a relatively small distance freestyle contingency for Notre Dame this year and notched top-24 finishes in both the 500 and 1650 freestyle.. He went 3:45.80 in the 400 IM at ACC Championships, a mark that won the B final at the meet and now ranks fifth in program history.
Swimming Weight Room Warrior — Sammy Sierra
Sierra went best times in the 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 200 IM and 400 IM. He dropped nearly 20 seconds in the 200 breaststroke from his previous best time and now ranks sixth all-time in program history in the event (1:56.21).
Diving Weight Room Warrior — Ben Nguyen
Nguyen accomplished all of the aforementioned feats and did so while always bringing a positive attitude and desire to improve to the Irish weight room.
Beeler-Hipp Award — Will Clark
Clark is this year’s male recipient of the award after serving as a model teammate this season despite being a rookie. A breastroker that finished the season with three top-eight finishes at the Ohio State Winter Invite, Clark can often be found cheering his heart out and supporting his teammates on deck while not in the pool.
Blanchard Award — Tanner Filion
The honor is given to a male swimmer who by performance, inspiration and leadership has exemplified the personal qualities of former Irish captain Charles Blanchard. Filion, a graduate transfer, did just that in his sole year in South Bend. In addition to a bubbly personality that lights up a room, Filion made multiple finals at ACC Championships and was critical in Notre Dame’s 10th place finish at NCAA Championships.
Captain’s Award — Dillon Edge
The Irish men’s captains were thrilled with Edge’s performance, leadership and positive attitude this season, during which he broke out and earned his first appearance at NCAA Championships. Additionally, Edge is now the school record holder in the 200 IM (1:43.63).
Rockne Scholar-Athlete Award — Dillon Edge
Edge doubled up on honors this year after posting one of the best grade point averages on the team while majoring in finance in the Mendoza School of Business. He was a member of the All-ACC Academic Team for the second consecutive year.