Aug. 17, 2005
The University of Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team announced its 2005-06 schedule this week – and the beginning of the Carrie Nixon era will be a challenging one for the Irish.
After the Dennis Stark Relays on Oct. 7, Notre Dame will face California in a dual action at the Rolf’s Aquatic Center on Oct. 28. The Bears finished eighth overall at the 2005 NCAA Championship and are perennially one of the strongest programs in the nation.
The Irish also will face Michigan (Jan. 13), Purdue (Oct. 29) and Illinois (Jan. 13) – all teams that placed in the top 40 of the final NCAA Championship team standings last season.
“You need to swim the best to be the best,” head women’s swimming and diving coach Carrie Nixon says.
“It is important to win, but it is just as important to compete against fast teams. We have lined up teams that match up well against us and will challenge our swimmers and divers during each competition.”
Notre Dame will face dual meet action against Pittsburgh (Nov. 4) on the road and Minnesota (Nov. 11) at home before taking part in the Golden Gophers’ Invitational from Nov. 18-20. The Minnesota Invitational is traditionally one of the toughest in-season invitational meets in the Midwest.
Other competitions include a tri-meet with Louisville, Oakland and Missouri at home on the weekend of Jan. 27-28 and the Notre Dame Invitational from Dec. 1-3.
Notre Dame will focus on winning their 10th consecutive BIG EAST Championship title when the meet begins in Long Island, N.Y., on Feb. 15, 16, 17 and 18. The Irish sent two swimmers and a diver to the 2005 NCAA meet, finishing in a tie for 24th place. The team will look to better that finish in this season’s NCAA Championship, which will be held at the University of Georgia beginning March 16.
For the full 2005-06 Notre Dame Women’s Swimming and Diving schedule click here.