ANNAPOLIS, Md. — After a few weeks of winter training in Naples, Fla., for the men’s and women’s swim teams and extended training back in South Bend for the dive teams, Notre Dame will be back in action for the first time in 2023 this weekend. The Irish will head to Annapolis to take on Navy and Princeton in a tri-meet.
“Once again our team continues to thrive together and build momentum as we approach championship season,” Peterson Family Head Coach Chris Lindauer said. “Our training camp has been electrifying, and our team has stepped up and responded with dominance. Training camp builds perspective and appreciation for the opportunity we have to be Irish. Our staff is excited to see how we respond this weekend against some great competition!”
Men’s Preview
The Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving squad, which is currently ranked No. 23 in the nation, will face 8-1 Navy and 5-1 Princeton teams.
Princeton is coming off of a 231-65 drubbing of La Salle on Jan. 7 to start 2023. The Tigers won 15 of 16 events. Senior Raunak Khosla earned four total victories: 200 freestyle (1:38.62), 200 backstroke (1:52.15), 200 medley relay (1:30.45) and 200 freestyle relay (1:22.16). Khosla was a three-time Ivy League champion in 2022 and won the meet’s high-point award.
Navy edged Towson on Saturday, 150-139. After winning a Patriot League title last season in the 100 breaststroke, senior Jackson Schultz continues to be a threat for the Midshipmen. He won the 200 breaststroke (2:00.03) and 200 IM (1:49.83) against Towson. Sophomore diver Blakeman Shaw won both diving events at the meet (355.80 in the 3-meter and 320.40 in the 1-meter).
The Irish men have had quite a long break since their last competition, although freshman diver Daniel Knapp competed at the USA Diving Winter Nationals just before Christmas. He took 17th place down in Morgantown, W.V., while facing some of the nation’s elite.
Between the lane lines, sophomore Chris Guiliano and freshman Tommy Janton were the standouts at the early December U.S. Open. Both men broke school LCM records and qualified for 2024 Olympic Trials in Indianapolis.
Women’s Preview
The Princeton women most recently topped La Salle in the previously mentioned meet, 180-110. They are a relatively young team with just a pair of seniors. Freshman Sabrina Johnston won three of her four events against the Explorers, including a 56.21 100 backstroke performance. The rookie posted the fourth-fastest 50 freestyle in school history earlier this year (22.69).
Unlike the Navy men, the women (7-1) have yet to compete this calendar year. They last topped Army on Dec. 2 by a score of 172.5-127.5. Freestyler Cameron Horner picked up wins in both the 200 freestyle (1:47.47) and 500 freestyle (4:52.13). Butterflyer Caroline Irwin won both the 100 and 200 butterfly, including a pool-record time of 53.13 in the 100. She went 1:57.66 in the 200.
Senior Coleen Gillilan has been the Irish women’s heartbeat this season, winning three events in meets against Pittsburgh and Penn State plus a home meet versus Louisville. She was an A-finalist in three events at the Ohio State Invitational just before Thanksgiving.
Friday’s meet session will begin at 3 p.m. ET, while Saturday will start at noon. There will not be a video stream, but results will be posted on Meet Mobile.
Note from Navy: No one without a Dept. of Defense approved ID card can drive onto the USNA. Fans without that permission must park outside of the USNA and walk through the gate one visitor center. Those ages 17 and under must be with an adult and those ages 18 and over must display a photo ID.