Notre Dame vs Michigan State vs Indiana State vs Ball State
- February 1, 2020
- South Bend, Indiana
- FULL RESULTS
Courtesy: Notre Dame Athletics
NOTRE DAME, In. — The Notre Dame Swimming and Diving teams concluded the final home meet of the 2020 campaign with five dual-meet victories over Michigan State, Ball State, and Indiana State.
“It was really good for us to get back into a competitive situation after a pretty emotional Senior Day last weekend,” head coach Mike Litzinger said. “It’s the last time our team is going to be together, so it’s pretty important that the seniors got their last swim in and we were able to put some relays together that we’re going to use at the conference level. It’s always nice to have an undefeated home season and I’m excited for what’s to come over the next few weeks.”
How It Happened
The Irish began the competition with eight consecutive victories in the pool, including wins in both the men’s and women’s races of the 200 medley relay, 1,000 freestyle, 200 freestyle, and 100 backstroke.
Anchoring the 200-yard medley relay, Rachel Wittmer helped the quartet — including Carly Quast, Coleen Gillilan, and Cailey Grunhard — pick up the first Irish win of the day.
Wittmer was one of a number of Irish women who secured multiple victories on the day. The junior also earned a victory for the Irish in the 100 backstroke in the seventh event. 200 medley teammates Quast and Gillilan won their races in the 200 backstroke and 50 freestyle, respectively.
Skylar Fore, the junior from Wisconsin, recorded wins in the 100 butterfly and 200 free. Luciana Thomas added two victories of her own to the Irish count, including those in the 500 freestyle and the 200 butterfly.
On the men’s side, the Irish started off the day with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay behind a strong performance from Brendan Santana, Matthew Limbacher, Zachary Smith, and Aaron Schultz.
Each individual race saw a different winner for the Irish, with Will Barao, Zach Yeadon, Zachary Smith, Max Miranda, Sadler McKeen, Nick Milikich, Jack Hoagland, Cason Wilburn, and Jack Montesi recording wins.
Up Next
The Irish head to Columbus, Ohio, next to compete in the Ohio State Winter Invitational on February 14. It will be the last competition before the Irish head to the ACC Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Courtesy: Michigan State Athletics
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State swimming & diving teams defeated Ball State University and Indiana State University, and fell to Notre Dame in Saturday’s meet held in South Bend, Ind.
The men defeated Ball State, 228-70, and fell to Notre Dame 181-115. The women defeated Ball State (215-83) and Indiana State (209-88), and fell to the Fighting Irish, 194-101.
“We did well today and did a better job overall than last night,” said head coach Matt Gianiodis. “Our relay team did really well at the end and that was great to see. I think overall we had a pretty good meet and our men did a good job on the diving boards.”
Five Spartans took first-place finishes in today’s meet. In the 100 breaststroke, junior Erin Szara finished with a time of 1:02.60 and sophomore Jonathan Lee clocked a time of 55.89. Payton Woods captured a victory in the 50 freestyle with a time of 20.27. With a time of 2:06.54, junior Abbey Neveling took the win in the 200 IM. Finally in the 200 IM, junior Lucas Smiarowski won, touching the pad at 1:54.67.
Junior Aidan Farley took home two second-place finishes in both the 100 freestyle, (45.28), and the 200 freestyle, (1:38.26).
The women’s 200 medley relay took second place, clocking a time of 1:42.99, swam by Sam Villani, Szara, Kasey Venn and Allie Heineman.
In the 100 freestyle, the Spartan men and women both took third place. Freshman Emma Inch clocked a time of 10:13.29 and junior Guy Moskovich touched the pad at 9:46.07.
The Spartan women picked up a pair of second-place finishes. Junior Marie Dickson took second in the 200 butterfly, (2:03.42), while Villani finished second in the 100 backstroke (56.78).
The men picked up another second-place finish from freshman Brad Sanford in the 100 butterfly (48.76).
In the 200 breaststroke, for the women Kasey Venn claimed second, (2:19.05), and for the men Jonathan Lee also took second place (2:03.87)
Closing out the day, both the men’s and women’s 200 freestyle relay teams took first place. The women’s team of Kennedy Truex, Heineman, Chloe Reed and Olivia Chick touched the pad at 1:36.16. The men’s team clocked a time of 1:20.05 swam by Farley, Woods, Nehemiah Mork and Kevin Mills.
On the diving boards, sophomore Jakob Heberling took second in both the 1-meter and 3-meter with scores of 283.45 and 296.15, respectively. Sophomore Ari Wolfson also finished in third on the 3-meter board (281.15).
With the conclusion of the regular season, the Spartans are now preparing for the Big Ten Championships. The women’s take place Feb.19-22 in Iowa City, Iowa and the men compete on Feb. 26-29 in Bloomington, Ind.
Courtesy: Indiana State Athletics
Surging Sycamores in South Bend, Ind.
Indiana State also competed against Notre Dame, Michigan State, and Ball State in South Bend, Ind. The Sycamore got their revenge and defeated Ball State by a score of 146-144. Indiana State fell the Notre Dame and Michigan State by scores of 212-81 and 209-88.
Senior Kendall Hansen placed second overall in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:02.79 while claiming third overall in the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.16.
Andrea Putrimas claimed third place in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:05.61 while placing fifth overall in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 10:26.51.
Ashleigh Sinks placed fourth overall in the 100 butterfly with a time of 57.39.
Megan Schade touched the wall third overall in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:10.08. Rhiannon Wozny was right behind her claiming fourth with a season best time of 2:10.80.
Christensen’s Corner
“We were a little mixed this weekend. The split squad was a little different and we faced some tough competition in Notre Dame and Michigan State,” said head coach Josh Christensen. “In some places we handled that well, in others we need to get better. It’s all continued learning and growth opportunities for our program though.”
Christensen also noted that it is time to focus on conference, “Now, we’re at that point where it’s time to rest and sharpen up for conference. We’ve been very consistent with our training and racing all year, so I’m excited to see what this group can do, as we continue to make big strides as a program.”
Courtesy: Ball State Athletics
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Ball State University swimming and diving team finished its regular season at a four-team event Saturday at Notre Dame and now shifts it focus to the Mid-American Conference Championships.
The women’s team fell to Notre Dame (212-81), Michigan State (215-83) and Indiana State (146-144) on the day while the men dropped contests to Notre Dame (219-78) and Michigan State (228-70).
“I love that our team showed a lot of grit today,” said head coach J. Agnew. “They’re not afraid to race anybody and this will be beneficial for us going into the MAC Championships.”
The day started with the 200 Medley Relay in which the women claimed fifth (1:44.73) and the men eighth (1:34.64). The Cardinals had a strong showing in the final event of the day, the 200 Free Relay, when Peighton Gilbert, Alex Bader, Apsara Sakbun and Anne Vormohr finished second (1:36.59). On the men’s side, Owen Chaye, Duncan McLarty, Jack Wolfred and Ben Andrew also claimed second place (1:25.00).
Top finishers for BSU in the pool included Jared Holder who finished second in the 100 Back (51.50) and Alex Bader with a third-place finish in the 100 Breast (1:04.94).
On the diving boards, Caitlin Locante finished fifth on 3M (258.85) and fourth on 1M (268.00). Wyatt Blake was the top finisher on the men’s side placing fifth on 1M (254.20) and sixth on 3M (229.25).
The Cardinals will now prepare for the MAC Championships to complete the season and attempt to qualify for NCAA’s. The women’s championships will be hosted by Buffalo February 26-29 while the men will travel to Southern Illinois March 4-7.
