NOTRE DAME, In. — The Notre Dame Swimming and Diving teams concluded the final home meet of the 2020 campaign with five dual-meet victories over Michigan State, Ball State, and Indiana State.
“It was really good for us to get back into a competitive situation after a pretty emotional Senior Day last weekend,” head coach Mike Litzinger said. “It’s the last time our team is going to be together, so it’s pretty important that the seniors got their last swim in and we were able to put some relays together that we’re going to use at the conference level. It’s always nice to have an undefeated home season and I’m excited for what’s to come over the next few weeks.”
IRISH WIN
We took wins in each of our five separate dual competitions in the final home meet of the season.#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/B5uMXIDyL2
— ND Swimming & Diving (@NDSwimDive) February 1, 2020
How It Happened
The Irish began the competition with eight consecutive victories in the pool, including wins in both the men’s and women’s races of the 200 medley relay, 1,000 freestyle, 200 freestyle, and 100 backstroke.
Anchoring the 200-yard medley relay, Rachel Wittmer helped the quartet — including Carly Quast, Coleen Gillilan, and Cailey Grunhard — pick up the first Irish win of the day.
Wittmer was one of a number of Irish women who secured multiple victories on the day. The junior also earned a victory for the Irish in the 100 backstroke in the seventh event. 200 medley teammates Quast and Gillilan won their races in the 200 backstroke and 50 freestyle, respectively.
Skylar Fore, the junior from Wisconsin, recorded wins in the 100 butterfly and 200 free. Luciana Thomas added two victories of her own to the Irish count, including those in the 500 freestyle and the 200 butterfly.
On the men’s side, the Irish started off the day with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay behind a strong performance from Brendan Santana, Matthew Limbacher, Zachary Smith, and Aaron Schultz.
Each individual race saw a different winner for the Irish, with Will Barao, Zach Yeadon, Zachary Smith, Max Miranda, Sadler McKeen, Nick Milikich, Jack Hoagland, Cason Wilburn, and Jack Montesi recording wins.
Up Next
The Irish head to Columbus, Ohio, next to compete in the Ohio State Winter Invitational on February 14. It will be the last competition before the Irish head to the ACC Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina.
—ND—