Jan. 24, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame women’s swimming standout Kelly Ryan has earned her first career BIG EAST Women’s Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week award, the conference office announced on Tuesday.
The sophomore won four events last Saturday in a dual meet against Michigan State. She earned individual victories in the 100 and 200 backstrokes (56.08, 2:02.60) and the 50 freestyle (23.65), and also swam the second leg on the winning 400 free relay team (3:28.64) as the Irish rolled through the Spartans, 218-82.
While teammate Emma Reaney has earned much of the publicity on the Irish team this season, Ryan has steadily dominated the BIG EAST competition, as she currently sits in first place in four individual events and two relays. These events include the 100 and 200 back, the 50 and 100 freestyle and the 400 free and medley relays. The Hinsdale, Ill., native is also second in the 200 free.
Nationally Ryan sits 18th in the 200 back (1:55.66) and 29th in the 100 back (53.60), with both times coming at December’s Ohio State Invitational.
Notre Dame has made a habit of winning the weekly award this season, with Ryan’s citation the fourth of the year and the third in a row for the Irish. Reaney has won the award three times and Ryan once, while no other school has been honored more than once. Notre Dame has exactly half of the eight weekly awards given out so far this year.
The Irish (4-5) close out the home portion of their 2012 schedule this Friday and Saturday with the Shamrock Invitational.
BIG EAST Women’s Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week
Oct. 25 Hannah Gadd, Louisville
Nov. 1 Patrisha Averill, Rutgers
Nov. 8 Caitlin Gallagher, Connecticut
Nov. 15 Emma Reaney, ND
Nov. 22 Kerrie Kolackovsky, SHU
Dec. 5 Emma Reaney, ND
Jan. 17 Emma Reaney, ND
Jan. 24 Kelly Ryan, ND
–ND–