Oct. 25, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving team will begin the dual meet portion of its 2012-13 schedule this weekend, traveling to Oakland University for a 6 p.m. swim Friday before heading to Michigan State University for a 12 p.m. start Saturday.
“Both teams are very competitive, and are typically tougher at home than they are away,” Notre Dame head coach Tim Welsh says. “Swimming both at their place is a big challenge for us, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Friday’s contest will be the second time the Fighting Irish compete against Oakland this season. The Grizzlies finished in second place behind Notre Dame at the season-opening Dennis Stark Relays Oct. 12 at the Rolfs Aquatic Center.
“(Coach) Pete Hovland has done a wonderful job at Oakland year after year,” Welsh says. “It’s always been a good meet athletically, there’s been very good sportsmanship and it’s highly competitive.”
Notre Dame holds a 12-6 dual meet record (9-3 under Welsh) against Oakland, last defeating the Grizzlies 194-100 Oct. 15, 2011 at the Rolfs Aquatic Center.
The Fighting Irish downed Michigan State 174-121 at home last season (Jan. 21) when the teams last met in a dual matchup.
“Michigan State’s home pool is an older facility, and we have to adjust to that,” Welsh says. “They race very well in their own pool, as most teams do, and being the second day on the road, we think that it will be a challenging meet.”
Notre Dame is 6-4 all-time against the Spartans (all under Welsh), winning five of the last seven meetings between the teams.
–ND–