Nov. 8, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving team completes its conference schedule this weekend with a pair of dual meets at the Rolfs Aquatic Center.
The No. 18/21 Fighting Irish (3-0) open league action with a showdown Friday against Pittsburgh (2-1, 1-0 BIG EAST) at 5 p.m., and then welcome No. 23/16 Louisville (1-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. in the final regular season conference meet of the season.
“If you look at Notre Dame, Louisville and Pittsburgh, you probably have the BIG EAST champion for the last 10 years in some order,” Fighting Irish head coach Tim Welsh says. “Pittsburgh is a future ACC school, as we are, and the rivalry between Notre Dame and Pittsburgh has been carried on at the highest level of sportsmanship.
“It’s really a privilege to race Pittsburgh every year because the sportsmanship is so high and it’s ‘old school’ college athletics, the way it’s supposed to be.”
The Fighting Irish are 9-6 all-time against the Panthers in dual competition, including an 8-3 mark under Welsh. Notre Dame has won the last eight meetings between the teams, including a 193-107 decision in Pittsburgh last season (Oct. 28, 2011). Kevin Overholt won three races (50 and 100 free, and was a member of the 200 medley relay) to lead the Fighting Irish, while All-American Frank Dyer (200 free) and Christopher Johnson (100 breast) added individual wins to go along with the 200 medley relay gold.
Notre Dame is 4-4 in the Welsh era against Louisville. The Cardinals were victorious 191-109 in the last meeting between the squads (Nov. 12, 2011).
“The Louisville-Notre Dame rivalry has been very, very intense,” Welsh says. “We have been back and forth as BIG EAST champions over the last several years, so it has always been high excitement, high ambition, and a highly competitive meet. It will be again this year.”
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