March 7, 2012
Psych Sheet | Invited Swimmers by Team | Alternate List
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For the first time in program history, Notre Dame will send multiple swimmers to the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships set to take place March 22-24 in Federal Way, Wash. The Irish will be represented by junior Bill Bass and sophomore Frank Dyer while Nick Nemetz, Michael Kreft, Ryan Koter and Ted Wagner vie for the opportunity to join the swimming duo beginning at this week’s NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
Bass, the Most Outstanding Swimmer at the 2012 BIG EAST Conference Championships, qualified for the 200 individual medley as Dyer made the cut in both the 500 and 200 free. Furthermore, Bass was invited to compete in the 100 and 200 fly while Dyer will take part in the 100 free.
Dyer swam the 100, 200 and 500 free at last season’s NCAA Championships while becoming the second swimmer to compete at the postseason showdown. Tim Kegelman was the first to advance to the NCAAs, swimming the 100 and 200 fly along with the 200 individual medley in 2005.
Bass and Dyer comprise the only duo ever to advance to the NCAA Championships in the same season and Dyer is only the second two-time invitee (and the first swimmer) at the NCAAs.
Divers Bob Ebel (1975) and Michael Bulfin (2006, 2008) sprang off the boards for Notre Dame as Bulfin went on to earn a pair of points in the 3-meter event in 2008 to become the program’s first All-American.
Dyer is a two-time BIG EAST champion in the 500 free and earned seven all-BIG EAST honors at the 2012 meet held last month at Trees Pool in Pittsburgh, Pa. He ranks third nationally – and first among Americans – in the 200 free (1:33.71). His 100 free time (43.22) is 21st and his 500 free time (4:18.50) is 16th.
Ranked 24th in the 200 fly (1:45.60), Bass’ first trip to the NCAAs will also feature performances in the 200 individual medley (1:44.81 – T-13th) and 100 fly (47.03 – 26th).
Also a seven-time all-BIG EAST performer in 2012, Bass is the league’s defending 200 individual medley and 100 fly champion. Bass placed third in the 200 fly at the league meet.
Nemetz looks to parlay his BIG EAST titles in the 1- and 3-meter events, which boosted him to earn the Most Outstanding Diver award, into a trip to the NCAAs along with Nemetz, Koter and Wagner. The crew will represent Notre Dame at the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships from March 8-9 at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. The 3-meter event will take place on Thursday with the 1-meter portion being held on Friday.
A total of 270 participants (235 swimmers and 35 divers) will compete in the NCAA Championships. Student-athletes qualified for the swimming portion of the championships by meeting the established minimum time for the events in which they entered.
ESPN3.com will stream finals sessions on March 22-23. Additionally, ESPNU will air a 90-minute show at 12:30 p.m. (ET) on April 1.
Live results will be available at UND.com.
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