NOTRE DAME, Ind. — No. 16/12 Notre Dame will compete in its last event prior to championship season this weekend, as the Irish travel to Columbus for the Ohio State Winter Invitational, taking place from Feb. 14-16.
The meet serves as the last chance for competition of the 2019-20 season for the Notre Dame athletes who will not be competing in the ACC Championships, and other teams involved in the meet will be approaching the weekend in the same way, according to Irish head coach Mike Litzinger.
THE MEET DEETS
Teams: No. 14/7 Ohio State, Purdue, Eastern Michigan, No. 25/13 Kentucky, Pittsburgh, No. 16/12 Notre Dame, Akron, Illinois and Johns Hopkins
Dates: Feb. 14-16, 2020
Location: McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion
Live timing: Meet Mobile and https://data.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/livestats/w-swim/index.htm
SCHEDULE
Feb. 14
11 a.m. Swim Prelims (500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free)
5 p.m. Swim Finals (200 Free Relay, 500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free, 400 Medley Relay)
Feb. 15
11 a.m. Swim Prelims (100 Fly, 400 IM, 200 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Back)
5 p.m. Swim Finals (200 Medley Relay, 100 Fly, 400 IM, 200 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Back, 800 Free Relay)
Feb. 16
11 a.m. Swim Prelims (200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly)
4 p.m. Swim Finals (1650 Free, 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, 400 Free Relay)
“We just want to swim as fast as we can and put up some times that are meaningful to us in our program,” Litzinger noted of Notre Dame’s goals for the weekend. “Most of these people that go to this meet are freshmen. We want to be able to see them use this opportunity to step forward and take advantage of a really great pool and a good facility and a championship-level meet to show us what they can do, and hopefully plug them in in the future.”
“You can actually see what the year gave you in terms of work, and it helps plan for your future, because we’ve had athletes out of this meet that, the following year, advanced to the ACC meet,” the Notre Dame head coach described.
While multiple student-athletes compete for the Irish in Columbus, those competing in the ACC Championships later this month will continue training. Diving and women’s swimming championships begin Feb. 19, while the men’s championships begin Feb. 26.
“We’ve got some time, but this is the time of year when you really dial in your speed work and try to get some rest and let yourself recover from a full season of training,” Litzinger shared.
Each team is permitted to bring 21 student-athletes to the ACC Championship, with a limit of 18 swimmers. Notre Dame has chosen to compete 17 swimmers and four divers for the men and for the women.
Competition at the Ohio State Winter Invite begins Friday at 11 a.m. with Day One Prelim races. Follow along on Twitter @NDSwimDive for updates.