After a record-breaking weekend at the Shamrock Invitational, the No. 19/24 Notre Dame swimming and diving program face Ball State at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Lewellen Aquatic Center.
TOP-25 PROGRAM
Notre Dame’s swimming and diving teams were both ranked in the most recent TYR / CSCAA Division I polls. The Irish men are ranked No. 19 after a big win in last weekend’s Shamrock Invitational. Notre Dame knocked off No. 22 Wisconsin in its home finale. The women, who are ranked No. 24, narrowly lost to No. 12 Wisconsin last week.
LAST TIME IN THE POOL
The Irish continued successful swimming in a record-breaking weekend in the Shamrock Invitational. The Notre Dame men were victorious (1192.5 points), besting the Badgers (1007), Grand Canyon (721) and Missouri State (514.5). The women finished second (1053) behind Wisconsin (1194.5) but well ahead of Grand Canyon (596), Nebraska (501.5) and Clemson (107, who only competed in women’s diving). Ball State returns to the pool following its 153-81 victory over rival Evansville. The Cardinals’ women came up short against Miami (OH), 221-78.
RECORDS AT ROLFS
Notre Dame set a number of school or pool records last weekend at the Rolfs Aquatic Center. The Irish quartet of Katie Smith, Abbie Dolan, Catherine Mulquin and Sofia Revilak won their event and broke the Notre Dame 200 free relay record with a time of 1:29.93.
Teammates Justin Plaschka, Daniel Speers, Reed Fujan and Tabahn Afrik followed suit in the men’s event. They set a Rolfs Aquatic Center record in the 200 free relay recording a time of 1:19.25.
Senior Catherine Mulquin set a school record in her leadoff split in the 400 medley relay. She swam 52.84 and broke the previous backstroke record set by Kim Holden in 2011.
The relay team of Mulquin, Meghan O’Donnell, Revilak and Dolan won the event with a time of 3:35.40, which broke the pool record for the 400 medley relay. Revilak contributed a leg in both relay record setting teams.
The foursome of Robby Whitacre, Trent Jackson, Plaschka and Speers broke the men’s 200 medley relay pool record with a time of 1:27.51.
Dolan continued her impressive rookie campaign when she essentially broke the 200 free record for the Rolfs Aquatic Center on two different occasions. She won the 200 free with a time of 1:47.00, besting the previous mark of 1:47.14. Dolan then swam 1:46.93 in the leadoff leg of the 800 free relay.
COACH LITZINGER’S THOUGHTS
On what he looks to focus on at the dual against Ball State …
“We’re using the competition at Ball State to fine tune a few things in terms of race strategy, but regardless, it is an opportunity to compete and we always take advantage of a chance to race.”
On his teams being ranked in the top-25 …
“Rankings at this point are a tip of the cap to how your team has performed thus far in the dual meet season. They’re voted on by your peers, and I would like to think that people are taking notice of the great work that has been done by our team.”
On what he looks to get out of the weekend’s meet …
“This meet is a last chance to race before we head to the championship meet, and our team enjoys those opportunities.”
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
200 Medley Relay
Women 1 Meter Diving
Men 3 Meter Diving
1000 Freestyle
200 Freestyle
50 Freestyle
200 IM
Men 1 Meter
100 Fly
100 Freestyle
100 Backstroke
500 Freestyle
Women 3 Meter
100 Breast
200 Free Relay
400 Free Relay
Fans can watch Saturday’s meet at Ball State on ESPN3, online ( will link – http://es.pn/2iXUkHA) or through the WatchESPN app. Supporters can also follow live results of the meet on both team Twitter accounts, @NDWSwimDive and @NDMensswimdive, with a complete recap posted to und.com at the conclusion of the meet.
News courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics.
