Nov. 14, 2000
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WHO:The Notre Dame Women’s Swimming and Diving team.
WHAT:Indiana University Invitational
WHERE:Bloomington, Ind.
WHEN:Nov. 17-19
Goal: Maintain Momentum: The Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team, ranked 18th in the country, has continued its dual-meet dominance early this season. The Irish are 6-1 in 2000-01 and the loss to Purdue on Nov. 4, was the first for the team since the 1998-99 season. Head coach Bailey Weathers and his team hopes the momentum created during the early dual meet season will result in a strong showing at the Indiana University Invitational this weekend (Nov. 17-19).
The team began the season with a strong start in the Oct. 9, Notre Dame Relays, where the Irish won 12 of 13 events to finish ahead of Illinois State, Valparaiso, Butler, St, Mary’s and Marquette. The meet was highlighted by the record-breaking performance of Brooke Davey (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.), Allison Lloyd (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Tiffany O’Brien (Redmond Wa.), and Danielle Hulick (Galesburg, Ill.) in the 500 crescendo relay (4:35.99). Irish swimmers now hold Notre Dame Relay meet records in 12 of 13 events and will hold the 400-yard freestlye relay record, which eluded the team this year, as a top priority next season.
Using the momentum from the Notre Dame Relays, the Irish were able to produce an impressive victory over the 17th-ranked Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes. The Irish started strong with a victory in the first event, as Kelly Hecking (Rutherford, N.J.), Lloyd, Sarah Bowman (Cheshire, Conn.) and Hulick combined for a victory in the 400 medley relay (3.52.83).
Notre Dame swimmers dominated the meet, winning 12 of 14 events, and four swimmers proved to be double-winners for the Irish. Hecking placed first in both the 100 (56.09) and the 200 (2:04.71) backstroke events and senior Kristen Van Saun (Lawrence, Kan.) also came out as the winner in the 200 and 500 freestlye. Hulick produced a standout performance with wins in the 50 (24.68) and 100 (53.02) freestyle events.
Freshman Marie Labosky (Churchville, Pa.) had a big meet as well, capturing the 1,000 freestyle and the 200 IM, while Lloyd contributed an individual victory in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.66). Lisa Garcia (Denver, Colo.) was able to produce a win in the 200 butterfly (2:05.15) and Amy Deger (Pittsburgh, Pa.) picked up a victory in the 100 butterfly (57.38).
The Irish continued their winning ways in a Nov. 3, quad meet with Kenyon College, Pittsburgh, and Miami (Ohio). Notre Dame was able to win 11 of 16 events to earn three more dual-meet victories.
Five Notre Dame competitors won two individual events in the quad meet. The underclassmen showed their strength as Labosky won both the 1,650 freestyle (17:06.25) and the 400 IM (4:25.99), and Deger took the 100 and 200 butterfly.
Not to be outdone, the veteran swimmers also did well with Hecking sweeping both the 100 and 200 backstroke events in 57.00 and 2:03.94, respectively. Junior Heather Mattingly (Houston, Tx.) captured the one- and three-meter diving events and Van Saun beat the field in the 200 (1:55.15) and 500 freestyle events (5:01.77).
The Irish strength and depth was showcased in the quad meet as Hecking, Garcia, Jessica Roberts (Oak Brook, Ill.) and O’Brien swept the top four spots in the 100 backstroke.
Hulick also made her presence known as she chipped in with a victory in the 100 backstroke (53.53).
The Irish moved to West Lafayette, Ind., the next day after the quad meet for (Nov. 4) their second consecutive day of competition, as the team recorded a victory over Evansville (230-57) before falling to Purdue 138-161. The loss marked the first for the team since the 1998-99 season.
Mattingly was once again a double-winner for the Irish at the Purdue meet, taking both the one- and three-meter diving events. Labosky flashed her endurance in winning the 1,000 freestyle (10:41.16) and the 200 IM (2:06.46) while earning her third and fourth individual victories of the weekend.
Van Saun also was able to capture a win in the 500 freestyle (5:03.68), as was Hecking in the 200 backstroke and Lloyd in the 200 breaststroke (2:03.77).