Notre Dame Men
The University of Notre Dame men's swimming and diving team wrapped up their first road meet of the season Saturday, swimming against Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh. Notre Dame lost to Virginia Tech 237-131, and beat the Panthers 214-150.
"We were a little better today," head coach Matt Tallman states. "We still need to sharpen our skills, and swim smarter. We're showing signs of getting to where we need to be, but after this weekend it's clear we could certainly be better."
Relay results from this morning's events include the A-team lineup of Rob Whitacre, Trent Jackson, Justin Plaschka and Tabahn Afrik claiming second in the 400 medley relay. The A-team of Afrik, Plaschka, Kevin Bradley and Daniel Speers also clinched first place in the 400 free relay, with their time of 3:00.85.
In the individual races, Plaschka came in first place with his 20.68 time in the 50 free, and was followed by Speers (fourth, 20.88), Afrik (21.26, sixth) and Daniel Fujan (11th, 21.77). Matthew Grauslys won the 200 fly (1:49.69), followed closely by Bradley (second, 1:51.83). In diving, James Lichtenstein finished sixth in the 3-meter event, tallying a 306.65 final score.
The Irish have one more meet in the month of November, the Purdue Invitational held at the Boilermaker Aquatics Center Nov. 20-22nd.
Notre Dame Women
The University of Notre Dame women's swimming and diving team wrapped up competition with Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center. The Irish were bested by the Hokies, 208-162, and narrowly lost to the Panthers, 188-182.
"We had many opportunities throughout today to take steps forward; and we took advantage of some of them," head coach Mike Litzinger says. "However, this team needs to transfer the great work ethic they have in the training pool into the competition pool."
After finishing first and second in Friday's 3-meter event, senior divers Lindsey Streepey and Emma Gaboury had the top scores for the Irish in the 1-meter event Saturday. Gaboury came in third (283.40) while Streepey placed fourth (281.70).
In the swimming portion of the meet, both Kyra Sarazen and Ella Moynihan swam season-best performances. Sarazen placed third in the 200 IM (2:06.58) and took fourth in the 100 back (56.77), while Moynihan finished fourth in the 500 free (4:58.16) and came in second in the 200 free (1:50.89). Moynihan also anchored the A-team lineup in the 400 free relay with her 51.13 split, helping the team finish second (3:27.25).
Other top-three performers for the Irish on Saturday included Catherine Galletti (second, 23.79) and Sofia Revilak (third, 23.86) in the 50 free, as well as Nicole Smith (third, 2:03.80) in the 200 fly and Alice Treuth (third, 56.38) in the 100 back. The A-team lineup of Catherine Mulquin, Danielle Margheret, Galletti and Revilak also clinched third place in the 400 medley relay with their time of 3:48.09.
The Irish have one more meet in the month of November, the Purdue Invitational held at the Boilermaker Aquatics Center Nov. 20-22nd.
"Next up, we have the Purdue Invitational; it will be another multi-day meet, and this group will have to continue to challenge themselves," states Litzinger, "but as a team we will continue to work hard and work together."
Pittsburgh
The Pitt women’s swimming and diving team edged Notre Dame as the men’s and women’s dual meet with the Irish and host Virginia Tech concluded on Saturday at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.
“It was a significant win for our women over Notre Dame,” said head coach Chuck Knoles. “It was the definition of a team effort, earning points from sprint, middle distance, distance, and diving. I was impressed. Our men hung tough and I know they’re focused on closing that margin as we move through the year. Virginia Tech and Notre Dame are very good teams right now.”
The women defeated Notre Dame, 188-182, while the men fell, 214-150. Both squads came up short to the Hokies, 254-116 on the men’s side and 224-146 for the women. Sophomores Emily Murphy and Meme Sharp were chosen by the team as the women’s top performers, while senior David Sweeney and junior Dominic Giordano were selected by the men.
Murphy continued her strong showing on the weekend, taking a victory in the 50 free (23.42) to give her two individual wins in the meet. Murphy, senior Leticia Lelli, junior Melissa Pocsai, and freshman Rachel Brown claimed the 400 free relay for Pitt as well.
Sweeney also grabbed a top spot for the Panthers, taking first in the 200 free (1:40.17).
A number of other swimmers finished near the top of their respective events to contribute to the cause. Freshman Amanda Richey maintained her strong performance this year in distance events, placing second in the 500 free (4:54.63). Junior Spencer Gray took the same spot in the men’s event (4:57.70).
Other runner-ups included freshman Hannah Wittman in the 200 IM (2:05.75) and junior Kinga Cichowska in the 200 breast (2:17.35). Sophomore Katie Fernander finished just behind Cichowska with a time of 2:18.94.
Among the divers, Junior Dominic Giordano won the 3M for the fourth time in as many tries this year with a top score of 365.45. Sophomore Meme Sharp placed second in the 1M (294.85).
“We raced tough and dived well this weekend,” said Knoles. “Now we must carry that momentum and resolve into the Pitt Invite and the Big Al meet at Princeton prior to the semester break.”
The teams will return to action later this month when the Panthers host the Pitt Invitational Nov. 21-23 at Trees Pool.
