Feb. 19, 2000
Long Island, N.Y. – The University of Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving team finished in second place with 501 points at the 2000 BIG EAST Swimming and Diving Championships in Long Island, N.Y. Pittsburgh won the men’s race with 737 points, followed by Notre Dame, Rutgers (438), Syracuse (407.5) and St. John’s (359.5). Notre Dame has finished second the last two seasons after never finishing higher than fourth since joining the conference in 1996.
Sophomore Jonathan Pierce claimed his first BIG EAST individual title winning the 1650 freestyle in a school-record time of 15:33.16. Pierce broke his own school record of 15:35.65 set at the Shamrock Classic last season.
Senior Ray Fitzpatrick finished a strong meet by placing fourth in the 100 freestyle in 45.52. Fitzpatrick earned his first BIG EAST individual title yesterday, winning the 200 freestyle in a school-record and NCAA-provisional time of 1:38.36. He also tied his school record in the 50 freestyle, placing fifth, on Thursday with a time of 20.73.
Ryan Verlin also produced a “B” qualifying time and a school record in the 200 butterfly. Verlin’s time of 1:48.39 just trailed winner Djordge Filipovic of Pittsburgh, who finished in 1:47.71.
Junior Dan Szilier placed second in the 200 breaststroke with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 2:01.72. If Fitzpatrick, Szilier or Verlin qualify, he would become the first Notre Dame men’s swimmer to ever compete at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.
Final Standings 1. Pittsburgh 737 points 2. Notre Dame 501 3. Rutgers 438 4. Syracuse 407.5 5. St. John’s 359.5 6. Miami 290 7. West Virginia 289 8. Villanova 214 9. Connecticut 211.5 10. Seton Hall 179.5 11. Georgetown 81 12. Boston College 67 13. Providence 40
1650 Yard Freestyle 1. Jonathan Pierce (Notre Dame), 15:33.16, 2. Scott Gentles (Miami), 15:39.79, 3. Tim Harris (Rutgers), 15:48.40. Other Notre Dame Times: 6. John Lubker 15:50.57
200 Yard Backstroke 1. Josko Vucetic (Syracuse), 1:46.91, 2. Brett Bergmann (Syracuse), 1:48.26, 3. Erik Soria (Rutgers), 1:49.06. Other Notre Dame Times: 10. Brian Skorney 1:51.84, 11. T.J. Durkin 1:52.48.
100 Yard Freestyle 1. Miah Heath (Pittsburgh), 45.18, 2. Jerrod Janes (St. John’s), 45.33, 3. Mike Grube (Pittsburgh), 45.35. Other Notre Dame Times: 4. Ray Fitzpatrick 45.52
200 Yard Breaststroke 1. Mike Pron (Pittsburgh), 1:59.45*, 2. Dan Szilier (Notre Dame), 2:01.72, 3. Maciej Lewandowski (St. John’s), 2:04.55. Other Notre Dame Times: 7. Jason Fitzpatrick 2:05.34, 10. Michael Koss 2:06.13
200 Yard Butterfly 1. Djordge Filipovic (Syracuse), 1:47.71, 2. Ryan Verlin (Notre Dame), 1:48.39, 3. Mark Arzaga (Seton Hall), 1:49.37.
400 Yard Freestyle Relay 1. Pittsburgh, 2:59.84 (Grube, Elko, Demos, Heath), 2. Rutgers, 3:01.33 (Wood, Kush, Matulewicz, Laracy), 3. West Virginia, 3:03.42. 8. Notre Dame (Hedden, Anderson, Fetter, R. Fitzpatrick) 3:06.27