Feb. 6, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – After a convincing win over Iowa at last weekend’s Shamrock Invitational, the No. 24 University of Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team closes out the home portion of its season with a Saturday dual against Cleveland State at Rolfs Aquatic Center. The men’s and women’s meet is slated to get underway at 12 p.m. and is free of charge for fans.
Due to the ticketed men’s basketball game that is slated to begin at 12 p.m. as well, spectators attending the meet should enter the Rolfs Aquatic Center entrance located near gate five of the Joyce Center. Parking is available in front of the Joyce Center, beside the soccer and baseball facilities and in the library lot that’s beside the Guglielmino Athletics Complex.
Fans that can’t make the dual meet can follow on UND.com or check out the team’s Twitter page (@NDwSwimming).
The Irish (7-5) are less than two weeks out from their first Atlantic Coast Conference Championship meet (Feb. 19-22) in Greensboro, N.C.
Last week proved to be a good warm up for the team as the two-day invitational had three sessions and provided swimmers an opportunity to race several times in a short amount of time. The diving competition was also set up to completely mirror the ACC schedule.
At the invitational, Notre Dame breezed to victory against the Hawkeyes as the Irish won 16 of the 20 events on the weekend. Highlighting the weekend was a pair of pool-record swims by junior Emma Reaney in the 200 IM (1:58.42) and the 800 free relay squad composed of Reaney, Kelly Ryan, Katie Miller and Bridget Casey (7:22.65).
This weekend’s opponent, Cleveland State (9-5), will meet Valparaiso Friday night before making the hour journey to South Bend.
“This meet against Cleveland State will give us another opportunity to gain some information about our conference team,” said head coach Brian Barnes. “Our swimmers will participate in events that they might not normally compete in, but will be valuable for conference. A prime example is for those that will compete in the 800 free relay, swimming the 200 free this weekend would be beneficial.”
Saturday marks the final home meet for seniors Sarah Dotzel, Mikelle Masciantonio, Christen McDonough, Kelly Ryan and Lauren Stauder as well as long-time Irish men’s head coach Tim Welsh.
Welsh, who came to Notre Dame in 1985 from Johns Hopkins, coached the Irish women for a decade from 1985-95 and won a North Star Championship and eight Midwestern Collegiate Conference titles. The only year Notre Dame didn’t win a league crown was 1986-87 when the Irish were independent as they transitioned between the two conferences.
Six times Welsh has led the men’s team to BIG EAST championships and has coached 400-plus student-athletes since arriving on campus.
“Tim has given so much to swimming and diving at Notre Dame,” said Barnes. “He came here in 1985 and made a commitment to both programs. The evolution of both teams since he arrived is just amazing. He is a consummate professional and a great leader and role model for all the student-athletes that have come through both the men’s and women’s programs over the years.”
Cleveland State head coach Wally Morton is also retiring following the conclusion of the season after almost 40 years of service to the University. Morton, who coaches both the men’s and women’s squads, matched wits with former Notre Dame head coach Dennis Stark in the early 1980’s before Stark retired and Welsh came to Notre Dame.
Schedule of Events
1. W: 200 Medley Relay
2. M: 200 Medley Relay
3. W: 1,000 Free
4. M: 1,000 Free
5. W: 200 Free
6. M: 200 Free
7. W: 100 Back
8. M: 100 Back
9. W: 100 Breast
10. M: 100 Breast
11. W: 200 Fly
12. M: 200 Fly
13. W: 50 Free
14. M: 50 Free
15. W: 1-M Diving
16. M: 1-M Diving
17. W: 100 Free
18. M: 100 Free
19. W: 200 Back
20. M: 200 Back
21. W: 200 Breast
22. M: 200 Breast
23. W: 500 Free
24. M: 500 Free
25. W: 100 Fly
26. M: 100 Fly
27. W: 3-M Diving
28. M: 3-M Diving
29. W: 400 IM
30. M: 400 IM
31. W: 200 Free Relay
32. M: 200 Free Relay
2013-14 ACC Weekly Honorees
Swimmer of the Week
Oct. 15 – Emma Reaney
Nov. 5 – Emma Reaney
Nov. 19 – Emma Reaney
Dec. 10 – Emma Reaney
Jan. 14 – Emma Reaney
Diver of the Week
Nov. 19 – Allison Casareto
Dec. 10 – Lindsey Streepey
2013-14 School Records
200 Breaststroke
Emma Reaney – 2:05.85 (NCAA A Cut)
2013-14 Rolfs Aquatic Center Pool Records
200 IM
Reaney – 1:58.42 (NCAA B Cut)
800 Free Relay
Reaney / Kelly Ryan / Katie Miller / Bridget Casey – 7:22.65 (No Standard)
NCAA Zone C Qualifiers
Allison Casareto – 1M, 3M, Platform
Emma Gaboury – 1M, 3M, Platform
Lindsey Streepey – 1M, 3M, Platform
ACC Rankings (Top 3 Only)
1-Meter Dive
2. Allison Casareto – 324.7
3-Meter Dive
2. Allison Casareto – 361.2
100 Breaststroke
1. Reaney – 59.22 (NCAA B Cut)
200 Breaststroke
1. Reaney – 2:05.85 (NCAA A Cut)
200 IM
1. Reaney – 1:55.18 (NCAA A Cut)
100 Butterfly
3. Courtney Whyte – 53.44 (NCAA B Cut)
400 Medley Relay
1. Miller / Reaney / Whyte / Ryan – 3:36.84 (No Standard)
200 Medley Relay
2. Catherine Mulquin / Reaney / Catherine Galletti / Ryan – 1:39.80 (No Standard)
NCAA Rankings – Individual (Top 50 Only)
200 Breaststroke
1. Reaney – 2:05.85 (NCAA A Cut)
100 Breaststroke
6. Reaney – 59.22 (NCAA B Cut)
22. Christen McDonough – 1:00.51 (NCAA B Cut)
200 IM
6. Reaney – 1:55.18 (NCAA A Cut)
28. Miller – 1:58.16 (NCAA B Cut)
400 IM
27. Miller – 4:12.06 (NCAA B Cut)
200 Backstroke
35. Ryan – 1:55.75 (NCAA B Cut)
100 Butterfly
T-43. Whyte – 53.44 (NCAA B Cut)
200 Butterfly
29. Casey – 1:57.62 (NCAA B Cut)
100 Backstroke
T-50. Ryan – 53.87 (NCAA B Cut)
NCAA Rankings – Relays (Top 25 Only)
200 Free Relay
24. McDonough / Ryan / Galletti / Reaney – 1:31.55 (No Standard)
200 Medley Relay
21. Mulquin / Reaney / Galletti / Ryan – 1:39.80 (No Standard)
400 Medley Relay
15. Miller / Reaney / Whyte / Ryan – 3:36.84 (No Standard)
–– Russell Dorn, Assistant Media Relations Director
–ND–