Nov. 1, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team picked up six wins and showed steady improvement virtually across the board in a 170-128 dual-meet loss to No. 24 Purdue at Rolfs Aquatic Center Saturday afternoon.
Despite the final outcome, Irish interim head coach Tim Welsh was pleased with the improvement the Irish (2-4) showed throughout the meet.
“Today was very positive for us,” said Welsh. “What happened in this meet was we saw dramatic improvement across the board. It’s exciting for us after some really hard weeks of training and travel. To see improvement happening was a very encouraging sign. It started from the first event with the 200 medley relay. I was very pleased with the whole day.”
Perhaps the biggest win of the day came on the boards as junior Lindsey Streepey won the 3-meter with 313.28 points.
“Purdue diving is always extremely good,” said Welsh. “Its lead 3-meter diver is a former Olympian in the 10-meter synchronized diving event.
“If you look at their best scores coming into the meet, her (Dunnichay) point total was better than Lindsey’s. But it was a wonderful performance by Lindsey that really helped re-energize the team again and put the meet to within a three or four point spread.”
The Irish got off to a spectacular start to the meet, as the 200 medley relay squad of Catherine Mulquin, Emma Reaney, Courtney Whyte and Catherine Galletti claimed first by over a second in 1:42.16.
Elsewhere, Mulquin won the 100 back (55.98) and Reaney claimed both breaststroke events in NCAA B cut times. She swam the 100 in 1:00.90 and the 200 in 2:14.16.
With Purdue exhibitioning the finale, the Irish squad of Genevieve Heidkamp, Danielle Margheret, Genevieve Bradford and Elizabeth House won the 200 free relay in 1:39.68.
Mulquin finished second in the 50 free (23.69), while Galletti claimed second in the 100 free (51.46) and Whyte touched the pad in the runner-up spot in the 200 back (2:04.06). Other second place finishes included Danielle Margheret in the 100 breast and senior diver Allison Casareto on the 1-meter board (301.80).
In the 200 breast, freshman Sherri McIntee placed third with an improved time of 2:17.16 and earned praise from Welsh.
“Sherri has improved in the 200 breaststroke by a second the last three meets,” said the veteran coach. “That’s exciting and very encouraging.”
Notre Dame welcomes in Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh to Rolfs Aquatic Center next weekend for a two-day Atlantic Coast Conference meet. Action gets underway at 5 p.m. Friday and will continue at 10 a.m. Saturday.
IRISH WINS
200 Medley Relay (1:42.16): Catherine Mulquin / Emma Reaney / Courtney Whyte / Catherine Galletti
100 Back (55.98): Catherine Mulquin
100 Breast (1:00.90): Emma Reaney (NCAA B Cut)
200 Breast (2:14.16): Emma Reaney (NCAA B Cut)
3-Meter (313.28): Lindsey Streepey (NCAA Zone C Qualifier)
200 Free Relay (1:39.68): Genevieve Heidkamp / Danielle Margheret / Genevieve Bradford / Elizabeth House (Purdue exhibitioned event)
IRISH RUNNER-UP FINISHES
100 Breast (1:04.01): Danielle Margheret
50 Free (23.69): Catherine Mulquin
100 Free (51.46): Catherine Galletti
200 Back (2:04.06): Courtney Whyte
1-Meter Dive (301.80): Allison Casareto (NCAA Zone C Qualifier)
–Russell Dorn, Assistant Media Relations Director
–ND–