Dec. 17, 2000
The University of Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team has moved up to 16th in the nation in the most recent Speedo America top 25 poll (Dec. 14, 2000).
The Irish are coming off a first place finish in the Notre Dame Invitational (Nov. 30-Dec. 2), led by freshman Marie Labosky (Churchville, Pa.) and junior Kelly Hecking (Rutherford, NJ), who won three events in the competition. Labosky captured first in the 200 and 400 IM (2:04.71 and 4:24.23) while also winning the 1,650 freestyle in 16:51.64. Labosky led an Irish individual medley contingent that ended up dominating the meet, as Notre Dame would place six swimmers in the top five of both the 200 and 400 IM.
Hecking was a member of the successful individual medley relay teams and won the 100 and 200 backstroke events in 55.70 and 2:00.54, respectively. She also combined with freshmen Danielle Hulick (Galesburg, Ill.), Sarah Bowman (Hopewell Junction, NY) and junior Brooke Davey (Cheshire, Conn.) to finish second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:37.29). All told, Hecking posted five top-five finishes over the three day competition.
The Irish will be traveling to Honolulu, Hawaii, to compete in the Rainbow Invitational Jan. 2-3, 2001. After Notre Dame returns from Hawaii they will face two ranked teams in three consecutive meets. In January, the Irish will face 13th-ranked Michigan twice, 20th-ranked Northwestern, Oakland and Illinois in dual meet competition.