Feb. 7, 2015
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team wrapped up the home portion of the 2014-15 season with a victory over Cleveland State, 209-80, Saturday afternoon at Rolfs Aquatic Center.
The Irish were credited with victories in 14 of the 16 events and runner-up finishes in 12 events, but they also exhibitioned the last two events, which would have given Notre Dame a clean sweep on the day.
Many of the Irish swimmers competed in alternate events for the last home meet of the year. For example, senior Emma Reaney won her usual 100 breast (NCAA B Cut – 1:02.30), but also claimed the 200 back title in 2:04.94.
Another two-time individual winner included freshman Molly Treble, who had the tough task of competing in the 1,000 free, completing a quick warm down and then swimming the 200 free 10 minutes later. She handled the quick transition well though, as she won the 1,000 in 10:27.46 before taking the 200 in 1:56.71.
“It was tough but I knew I had to warm down a lot,” said Treble about the quick transition from the 1,000 to the 200. “I got up on the block and did the best I could.
“The two events are very different. In the 1,000 you pace yourself more and it’s an easier rhythm to get into, and then in the 200 it’s pretty much a full-out sprint for me. So it was two opposite events to go back to back in.”
Junior Genevieve Bradford touched the pad first in the 100 free (54.09) and the 200 breast (2:26.22), while senior Courtney Whyte won the 100 back (57.93) and the 100 fly (56.86).
Other individual wins included senior Bridget Casey in the 200 fly (2:03.24), junior Catherine Galletti in the 50 free (23.82) and sophomore Elizabeth House in the 500 free (5:08.80).
In the first relay, the senior foursome of Whyte, Reaney, Casey and Suzanne Bessire won the 200 medley in 1:45.47 to get the day started on the right foot.
Notre Dame would have also claimed the two exhibitioned events, as sophomore Katie Miller swam 2:11.35 in the 200 IM and the senior relay team of Bessire, Reaney, Casey and Whyte went 1:38.45 in the 200 free relay.
While the swimmers had some fun competing in different events, the divers were putting on a show on the left side of Rolfs. Notre Dame dominated both events, with junior Emma Gaboury winning the 3-meter (328.05) and senior Allison Casareto (333.52) claiming victory on the 1-meter. Casareto just missed out on the school and pool record on the 1-meter by less than five points.
Elsewhere on the boards, Gaboury set a personal best on the 1-meter (309.52), while freshman Annie Crea finally locked up her spot at the NCAA Zone C meet, by scoring 271.50 on the 1-meter after missing out on qualifying last weekend by just .25 points.
“I knew I had more of a chance to qualify for zones on 1-meter, so I focused more of my attention on that this week during practice,” said Crea. “I did the repetition of my list to get more of a meet feel so I was a lot more comfortable doing my dives.
“After my fourth dive, which is my inward, I felt like I could qualify today. It was a sigh of relief (when I saw the final score) and also a lot of excitement.”
Notre Dame (7-9) next heads to the ACC Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, which begin in 11 days (Feb. 18) and run through Feb. 21.
For more information on the Irish women’s swimming and diving team, follow the squad on Facebook (/NDwSwimmingDiving), Twitter (@NDwSwimming & @NDDiving) and on Instagram (NDwSwimming).
FINAL SCORE
Notre Dame 209, Cleveland State 80
NCAA B CUTS
100 Breast (1:02.30): Emma Reaney
NCAA Zone C Diving Qualifying Marks
1-Meter Dive (333.52): Allison Casareto
1-Meter Dive (309.52): Emma Gaboury
1-Meter Dive (295.80): Lindsey Streepey
1-Meter Dive (271.50): Annie Crea
3-Meter Dive (328.05): Emma Gaboury
3-Meter Dive (314.33): Lindsey Streepey
3-Meter Dive (303.52): Allison Casareto
IRISH VICTORIES
200 Medley Relay (1:45.47): Courtney Whyte / Emma Reaney / Bridget Casey / Suzanne Bessire
1,000 Free (10:27.46): Molly Treble
200 Free (1:56.71): Molly Treble
100 Back (57.93): Courtney Whyte
100 Breast (1:02.30): Emma Reaney
200 Fly (2:03.24): Bridget Casey
50 Free (23.82): Catherine Galletti
3-Meter Dive (328.05): Emma Gaboury
1-Meter Dive (333.52): Allison Casareto
100 Free (54.09): Genevieve Bradford
200 Back (2:04.94): Emma Reaney
200 Breast (2:26.22): Genevieve Bradford
500 Free (5:08.80): Elizabeth House
100 Fly (56.86): Courtney Whyte
IRISH RUNNER-UP FINISHES
200 Medley Relay (1:45.55): Catherine Mulquin / Danielle Margheret / Katie Miller / Catherine Galletti
1,000 Free (10:48.74): Molly Barry
200 Free (1:57.93): Danielle Margheret
100 Back (59.37): Suzanne Bessire
100 Breast (1:06.89): Genevieve Bradford
200 Fly (2:06.34): Katie Miller
50 Free (25.07): Elizabeth House
3-Meter Dive (314.33): Lindsey Streepey
1-Meter Dive (309.52): Emma Gaboury
100 Free (54.13): Suzanne Bessire
500 Free (5:18.88): Molly Barry
100 Fly (57.87): Catherine Mulquin
–Russell Dorn, Assistant Media Relations Director
–ND–