January 24, 1999
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s swim team used its depth to its advantage, placing first at the six-team Bill Ritter Invitational hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Friday and Saturday. Although the Irish only won five of 40 events outright, the team managed to place several swimmers within the top ten in almost every event.
In the morning session of the second day of competition, the Irish increased their lead to 725-691.50 over second-place Wisconsin-Milwaukee after being ahead by only seven points after day one. Sophomore James Scott-Browne (Seattle, Wa.) became the second individual Notre Dame swimmer to win an event in the invitational, claiming first over teammate Ryan Verlin (Rye, N.Y.) in the 400 individual medley with a time of 4:10.66. The Irish 800 freestyle relay team also finished first, outdistancing the field by almost five full seconds, while the team notched second-place finishes in the 200 medley relay, the 400 individual medley, 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke to increase its lead.
In the evening session, Scott-Browne picked up his second win of the weekend with a time of 16:39.68 in the 1650 freestyle, while the 400 freestyle relay team also got the team’s second relay win of the competition with a time of 3:10.40. Second-place finishes went to Irish freshman Jonathan Pierce (Newburgh, Ind.) in the 200 backstroke (1:57.38), Scott Zumbach (Katonah, N.Y.) in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.07), Chris Fugate (Independence, Mo.) in the 200 butterfly and Verlin in the 1650 freestyle (16:40.39).
The Notre Dame men’s swim team will travel in two weeks for dual meets against Buffalo (Feb. 5) and St. Bonaventure (Feb. 6).