March 22, 2017
By Sinhue Mendoza
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – The No. 19 University of Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving team has made its way to the state capitol with a school record-tying nine student-athletes for the 2017 NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships. The championships will be held March 22-25 at the IU Natatorium.
This year’s haul of nine student-athletes matches the total from the 2013 NCAA Championships. Five student-athletes will swim in individual races, ACC 3-meter diving champion Joe Coumos will compete in both the 1 and 3-meter board, and another four will participate in relays.
THE IRISH RESURGENCE
The Notre Dame men’s squad is coming off an historic third-place finish at the 2017 ACC Championships. It was program’s first podium finish since the Irish joined the ACC in 2014. Notre Dame finished with 923.5 points — the most for an Irish team at the ACC Championships.
THE IRISH IN INDY
Joe Coumos: 1-meter, 3-meter
Justin Plaschka: 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 free relay
Daniel Speers: 50 free, 100 free, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 free relay
Robby Whitacre: 200 IM, 100 back, 200 back, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay
Trent Jackson: 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay
Tabahn Afrik: 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay
Reed Fujan: 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay
Benjamin Jany: 800 free relay
Aaron Schultz: 800 free relay
COACH LITZINGER’S THOUGHTS
“Our men have worked very hard for this opportunity and have really come together as a team. Our coaching staff did a great job in preparing them for high-level competition and now we have to execute. It will be a fast, competitive meet, but we will be ready. I’m excited to see what we can do individually on the boards and in the pool, and I believe that we have relays here that can get the job done.”
WHEN AND HOW TO WATCH THE IRISH
ESPN3.com will stream the finals sessions live on Friday and Saturday. Wednesday’s evening session, Thursday’s sessions along with the morning sessions on Friday and Saturday will be streamed live on NCAA.com and indianasportscorp.org/ncaasd. Additionally, ESPNU will air a broadcast via tape delay at 5 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 5. Live results for the championships will be available on NCAA.com.
Notre Dame fans can also follow live results of the week’s action on the team’s Twitter account, @NDMensswimdive, with a complete recap posted to und.com at the conclusion of the meet.
Wednesday, March 22
6:00 p.m.
800 Free Relay (Tabahn Afrik, Reed Fujan , Benjamin Jany, Aaron Schultz)
Thursday, March 23
Day 2 Swimming Trials
200 Free Relay (Justin Plaschka, Daniel Speers, Tabahn Afrik, Reed Fujan)
200 Individual Medley (Robby Whitacre)
50 Free (Justin Plaschka, Daniel Speers)
400 Medley Relay (Justin Plaschka, Daniel Speers, Robby Whitacre, Trent Jackson)
12:30 p.m.
1-meter Diving Trials (Joe Coumos)
15 minutes following trials
Consolation/Final (9-16)
6:00 p.m. Day 2 Finals
200 Free Relay – Consolation/Final
200 Individual Medley – Consolation/Final
50 Freestyle – Consolation/Final
1-meter Diving Final
400 Medley Relay – Consolation/Final
Friday, March 24
10:00 a.m. Day 3 Swimming Trials
100 Fly (Justin Plaschka)
100 Breast (Trent Jackson)
100 Back (Robby Whitacre)
12:15 p.m.
3-meter Diving Trials (Joe Coumos)
15 minutes following trials
Consolation/Final (9-16)
6:00 p.m. Day 3 Finals
100 Fly Consolation/Final
100 Breast Consolation/ Final
100 Back Consolation/Final
3-meter Diving Final
200 Medley Relay Consolation/Final
Saturday, March 25
10:00 a.m. Day 4 Swimming Trials
200 Back
100 Free
200 Breast
Saturday, March 25
10:00 a.m. Day 4 Swimming Trials
400 Free Relay (Justin Plaschka, Daniel Speers, Tabahn Afrik, Reed Fujan)
200 Back (Robby Whitacre)
100 Free ((Justin Plaschka, Daniel Speers)
200 Breast (Trent Jackson)
12:00 p.m.
Platform Diving Trials
15 minutes following trials
Consolation/Final (9-16)
6:00 p.m. Day 4 Finals
200 Back Consolation/Final
100 Free Consolation/Final
200 Breast Consolation/Final
Platform Diving Finals
400 Free Relay Consolation/Final