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Meet Preview: Pittsburgh & Penn State

MEET DETAILS

Dates/Times: Friday, October 21 (Diving — 3p, Swimming — 5p) | Saturday, October 22 (Diving — 8:30a, Swimming — 10a)
Location: Joseph C. Trees Pool | Pittsburgh, Pa.
Admission: FREE
Watch (ACCNX): Friday Stream | Saturday Stream

The Notre Dame men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will begin their respective seasons on Friday, as the Irish head to Pittsburgh for a two-day tri-meet against the Panthers and visiting Penn State. 

The Oct. 8 Blue/Gold/Green Intrasquad Meet gave new head swimming coach Chris Lindauer and third-year diving coach Mark Bradshaw a glimpse at what they can expect from the teams this season. 

On the women’s side, junior Megan Deuel, sophomore Sophia Karras and freshman Gretchen Lueking each won a pair of individual events. Newcomer Grace Brenneman won her first individual event with an Irish cap on, taking home a win in the 50 freestyle. 

The usual suspects shined on the men’s team. Sprint freestyler Chris Guiliano won both the 50 and 100 freestyle, while senior Jack Hoagland notched wins in both the 400 and 800 freestyle. Standout and NCAA qualifier Cason Wilburn won all three of his individual events, touching first in the 100 and 150 butterfly as well as the 100 IM.

Both Giuliano and Wilburn will be essential pieces of Lindauer’s relays this year, something that the first-year head coach has made a priority for the program.

Divers Calie Brady and Andrew Knapp are names to watch this weekend. Brady, a sophomore, competed at NCAAs last season and is looking to build upon a stout rookie campaign. Knapp is a standout freshman who can make an immediate impact for Bradshaw’s group.

Lindauer’s counterpart at Pittsburgh, Chase Kreitler, is also entering his first meet as the head coach for the Panthers. This is the 22nd overall meeting between the two programs. 

The group is led by 14 seniors, including three-time ACC bronze medalist and school record holder Cooper Van der Laan.  Junior Sophie Yendell returns for her third season after notching school records in the 200 Medley Relay, 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly last year. 

The Penn State men’s team (1-1) is coming off of a win over Boston College and a loss to Navy last weekend, while the women’s team topped both opponents and is 2-0 on the year. 

Sophomore Victor Baganha was named the men’s Big Ten Swimmer of the Week with two individual wins and a relay victory against Boston College and Navy. Rookies Julia Meisner and Mariano Lazzerini won the women’s and men’s Freshman of the Week honors for the Big Ten. Meisner won the 200 IM by nearly four seconds with a time of 2:04.14.