Oct. 3, 2003
Notre Dame, Ind. – The Notre Dame women’s swimming team won 12 events and took the team crown with 257 points at the 2003 Dennis Stark Invitational at the Rolfs Aquatic Center in Notre Dame, Ind. The Irish finished well ahead of second-place Illinois State (187 points). Wisconsin-Milwaukee was third with 136 points, followed by Valparaiso (108 points), Saint Mary’s (88 points) and Marquette (56 points).
The Irish had an exceptional night breaking six meet records in the win. In the first race, the Irish team of freshman Rebecca Grove, junior Georgia Healey, freshman Grace Galagan and freshman Krissy Archer took first in a time of 1:39.09. Illinois State was second in 1:41.42, followed by Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1:42.16).
In the 400 medley relay, the Irish team of senior Danielle Hulick, freshman Jessica Stephens, freshman Katie Carroll and junior Katie Eckholt set a new meet record in a time of 3:55.51. The foursome beat the old record set by Notre Dame in 1998. Wisconsin-Milwaukee was second (4:07.52) and Illinois State was third (4:10.12).
Another meet record was broken in the 800 freestyle relay as the Irish team of freshman Ellen Johnson, sophomore Courtney Campbell, freshman Meghan Linnelli and freshman Abby Strang was first in 7:53.38, breaking the only mark of 7:53.86 set by Notre Dame in 1998. Illinois State was second in 8:06.72, while Wisconsin-Milwaukee was third in 8:16.51.
Next up was the 400-yard individual medley relay where each competitor swims a100-yard individual medley. Notre Dame took top honors as the relay of senior Marie Labosky, freshman Kiley Gooch, junior Kelli Barton and senior Lisa Garcia was first in a time of 4:06.76. Illinois State was second in 4:20.26 and Wisconsin-Milwaukee was in its familiar third-place spot in 4:20.74.
Notre Dame’s third record of the event was set in the 500 freestyle crescendo relay where five swimmers swim in increments of 50, 100, 200, 100 and 50 yards. Notre Dame’s team of Hulick, junior Kristen Peterson, freshman Ann Barton and Galagan were first in 4:34.10. The old record was 4:35.99 set by Notre Dame back in 2000. Illinois State placed second (4:43.46), while UWM was third (4:54.76).
The Irish women set another meet record in the 400 butterfly relay. The relay of Garcia, senior Lisa D’Olier, sophomore Annie Mantey and junior Brooke Taylor touched in at 3:54.23, breaking the old record of 3:56.20 set by Notre Dame in 2000. The Redbirds finished over 14 seconds back, while Wisconsin-Milwaukee was 16 seconds behind.
Notre Dame made it seven straight wins taking the 400 backstroke relay in a time of 3:59.99. Gooch swam the first leg for the Irish, followed by Campbell, Peterson and Ann Barton. Illinois State was nine seconds behind, while UWM finished 18 seconds behind.
Notre Dame set its fifth record of the evening in the 400 breaststroke relay as the team of Stephens, Sweeney, Kelli Barton and senior captain Laurie Musgrave was first in 4:30.61. The Irish bested the old record of 4:31.13set by Notre Dame in 2000.
Labosky and Strang recorded another Notre Dame win in the 1,000 freestyle relay as each participant raced 500 yards. Labosky and Strang finished in 10:12.62, almost 30 seconds ahead of runner up Illinois State (10:42.42). Wisconsin-Milwaukee was third in 10:43.43.
The 200 medley relay of Grove, sophomore Courtney Choura, D’Olier and Musgrave kept Notre Dame’s perfect evening alive finishing first in 1:49.42. Illinois State was second in 1:54.61 and Wisconsin-Milwaukee touched in third with a time of 1:56.21.
The Irish swimmers finished the evening in grand style setting its sixth meet record of the evening in the 400 freestyle relay. The all-freshman team of Carroll, Archer, Linnelli and Johnson finished in 3:33.72, well ahead of the previous meet record of 3:37.95 set by Illinois State in 1999. Illinois State was second in 3:43.35, while Wisconsin-Milwaukee was third in 3:46.48.
Notre Dame won the one-meter diving event and was second in the three-meter competition. Senior Meghan Perry-Eaton and junior Samantha Raneri took first in the one-meter event with 465.60 points. The duo was second in the three-meter competition with 456.67 points. Illinois State’s team of Whisman and Fealherstan was first with 474.67 points.
The Irish are off until Oct. 23or 24 when they compete against the University of Tampa as part of their fall training trip to Orlando, Fla. Meet time is still to be determined.