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Irish Women Divers Fare Well After First Day Of Early Bird Invitational

Oct. 22, 1999

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving team are in second place overall after one day of competition at the Early Bird Invitational Friday at the Edora Pool and Ice Center on the campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. The Irish women’s divers, who are also competing at the meet, swept three of the top four places in their lone event of the day, three-meter diving.

The men, who have 240.50 points overall, trail first place Air Force, which leads the men’s team competition with 328. Notre Dame sophomore Jonathan Pierce was the lone Irish event winner of the day, winning the 500 freestyle in 4:43.21, more than four seconds faster than his nearest competitor. Pierce was helped in the 500 free by teammates James Scott-Browne, who finished third in 4:48.47, and Sean Casey, who placed seventh in 4:53.95. Notre Dame also had three finishers in the top 10 in the 200 individual medley, including Casey (fifth – 2:02.07), junior Ryan Verlin (ninth – 2:02.81) and freshman Clay Miller (10th – 2:03.23). Senior captain Ray Fitzpatrick and freshman T. J. Durkin finished seventh and 10th respectively in the 50 freestyle, while the men’s top 200 freestyle relay was third and the men’s top 400 medley relay was second respectively.

The women’s three-meter diving competition, sophomore Heather Mattingly took home first place with a score of 461.85, which also qualified her for the NCAA Zone C diving meet next March. Senior Gina Ketelhohn placed second to Mattingly with a score of 405.35, while junior Karli Richards was fourth with 370.60 points. In the men’s one-meter diving event, Herb Huesman finished second (457.60) and freshman Tony Xie was sixth (321.55).

The Early Bird Invitational continues Saturday with the finals beginning at 4 p.m. Mountain Time.

EARLY BIRD INVIATIONAL

Team Scores After Day One (12 events)Women                               Men 1. Colorado State         339      1. Air Force                328 2. Fresno State           241      2. Notre Dame            240.50 3. San Diego St.          151      3. Denver                   189 4. Denver                 110      4. Metro State           150.50 5. Northern Colorado      105      5. Colo. School of Mines    126 6. Colo. School of Mines   51      6. Wyoming                   35 7. Notre Dame              50      7. Colorado                  34 8. Metro State             44 9. Wyoming                 3710. Colorado                22
Event 2 Event 4Men's 200 Free Relay Men's 500 Freestyle 3. Notre Dame 1:28.59 1. Jonathan Pierce 4:43.21 7. Notre Dame 1:30.69 3. James Scott-Browne 4:48.47 7. Sean Casey 4:53.9516. John Lubker 5:04.5017. Grant Burrall 5:05.0018. Dan Szilier 5:05.16
Event 6 Event 8Men's 200 IM Men's 50 Freestyle5. Sean Casey 2:02.07 7. Ray Fitzpatrick 22.279. Ryan Verlin 2:02.81 10. T.J. Durkin 22.5010. Clay Miller 2:03.23 14. Matt Grunewald 22.7812. David Horak 2:03.61 15. Mike Koss 22.8220. Rob Fetter 2:06.28 18. Matt Hedden 23.0223. Brendan Lechner 2:07.23 20. Brendan Lechner 23.1426. Dan Szilier 2:08.03 21. Brian Skorney 23.1833. Tony Fonseca 2:10.63 38. Tony Fonseca 24.8036. Jason Colettis 2:11.2838. Greg Juszli 2:12.87
Event 9 Event 10Women's Three-Meter Diving Men's Three-Meter Diving1. Heather Mattingly 461.85* 2. Herb Huesman 457.602. Gina Ketelhohn 405.35 6. Tony Xie 321.554. Karli Richards 370.60 * = Qualifying score for the NCAA Zone C Diving Meet
Event 12 Men's 400 Medley Relay2. Notre Dame 3:33.175. Notre Dame 3:39.43