Jan. 26, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team closes out the 2011-12 home schedule this weekend when it welcomes in Iowa and Ohio State for the Shamrock Invitational.
Friday’s action begins at 6 p.m., with the two Saturday sessions getting underway at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. The meet will follow a championship format, with the complete schedule below.
The weekend will also mark the final home competition for seniors Amy Prestinario and Emily Barton. Both will be honored before the Saturday night session along with senior manager Nick Schappler.
QUICK NOTES
Recapping the 2011 Shamrock Invitational: Last year at the Shamrock Invitational, Notre Dame beat Denver (253-117) and Iowa (264-104) and lost to Ohio State (197.5-166.5) and Northwestern (193.5-176.5) to go 2-2 on the weekend. Day one saw Jenny Chiang win the 3-meter dive and the 400 medley relay team win in a NCAA B-cut time. On day two, Kim Holden (100 and 200 back) and Samantha Maxwell (100 and 200 breast) won two events each.
Leading the BIG EAST: Notre Dame currently leads the BIG EAST in eight events. Pacing the Irish is sophomore Kelly Ryan, as she leads the league in the 50 free (23.17), 100 free (49.62), 100 back (53.60) and 200 back (1:55.66) and was a part of the 400 free relay (3:20.93) and the 400 medley relay (3:39.59) teams that currently lead the conference. Reaney leads the 200 IM (1:57.67), while fellow freshman Suzanne Bessire leads in the 200 free (1:49.05).
Looking Nationally: Looking at the national landscape, Ryan is 18th in the 200 back (1:55.66), 29th in the 100 back (53.60) and 40th in the 100 free (49.62), while Reaney is ninth in the 200 IM (1:57.67), 20th in the 400 IM (4:12.19), 25th in the 200 breast (2:12.37) and 28th in the 100 breast (1:01.10). Sophomore Lauren Stauder is 32nd in the 200 breast (2:13.05). The 400 free relay team (3:20.93) composed of Amy Prestinario, Kelly, Reaney and Hannah Bowen sits 24th, the 400 medley relay team (3:39.59) of Ryan, Bessire, Reaney and Prestinario is 20th and the 800 free relay team (7:21.79) composed of Ryan, Bessire, Reaney and Prestinario is 27th.
BIG EAST Weekly Award: Notre Dame has made a habit of winning the BIG EAST Women’s Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week award this season, with Kelly Ryan becoming the latest Irish swimmer to etch her name on the award. The Irish have now won four times, including three in a row. Reaney has been honored three times, while no other school has been honored more than once. Notre Dame has exactly half of the eight weekly awards given out so far this year.
Reaney Impresses: Freshman Emma Reaney has made quite an impact for the Irish this season. The Lawrence, Kan., native is 9-0 in IM events and won five breaststroke and five relay events. For her efforts she has been named BIG EAST Women’s Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week three times, which is a new league standard for most weekly scrolls in a season. In the Jan. 16 issue of Sports Illustrated, Reaney appeared in Faces In The Crowd. She’s currently the top freshman nationally in the 200 breast and IM events and fourth in the 100 breast and 400 IM events.
Casey Named To USA Swimming National Junior Team: Freshman Bridget Casey entered Notre Dame in impressive fashion, earning a spot on the USA Swimming National Junior Team in the 200 fly this past summer. She qualified for the team after being the fifth 18 and under swimmer to touch the pad at the 2011 ConocoPhillips National Championships in August.
Irish Raise $5,000 Towards Cancer Research: The women’s swimming team held the first annual Fighting Irish Swim Clinic on Saturday, Sept. 24 and raised $5,000 towards cancer research. The money will go towards the American Cancer Society and the local RiverBend Cancer Services.
NCAA B-Cut Times: Nine Notre Dame women’s swimmers have recorded NCAA B-Cut times so far this season.
Suzanne Bessire – 800 Free Relay
Hannah Bowen – 200 and 400 Free Relay
Bridget Casey – 200 Fly
Amy Prestinario – 100 Free, 200 Medley Relay, 200, 400 and 800 Free Relay
Emma Reaney – 100 and 200 Breast, 200 and 400 IM, 400 Medley Relay,400 and 800 Free Relay
Kelly Ryan – 100 Free, 100 and 200 Back, 400 Medley Relay, 200,400 and 800 Free Relay
Lauren Scott – 200 Free Relay
Lauren Stauder – 200 Breast
Schedule of Events
Friday – 6 p.m.
1. W: 200 Free Relay
2. M: 200 Free Relay
3. W: 500 Free
4. M: 500 Free
5. W: 200 IM
6. M: 200 IM
7. W: 50 Free
8. M: 50 Free
9. W: 3-Meter Dive
10. M: 1-Meter Dive
11. W: 400 Medley Relay
12. M: 400 Medley Relay
Saturday – 10 a.m.
13. W: 200 Medley Relay
14. M: 200 Medley Relay
15. W: 400 IM
16. M: 400 IM
17. W: 100 Fly
18. M: 100 Fly
19. W: 200 Free
20. M: 200 Free
21. W: 100 Breast
22. M: 100 Breast
23. W: 100 Back
24. M: 100 Back
25. W: 800 Free Relay
26. M: 800 Free Relay
27. W: 1-Meter Dive
28. M: 3-Meter Dive
Saturday – 5 p.m.
29. W: 1,650 Free
30. M: 1,650 Free
31. W: 200 Back
32. M: 200 Back
33. W: 100 Free
34. M: 100 Free
35. 200 Breast
36. 200 Breast
37. W: 200 Fly
38. M: 200 Fly
39. W: 400 Free Relay
40. M: 400 Free Relay
–ND–