Womens Swimming: Notre Dame wins three matches over weekend
By PAT LEONARD
Sports Writer
It took over four hours, but the Irish did it.
The womens swimming and diving team increased its dual meet record to 8-1-1 on Saturday at Bowling Green by defeating the Falcons 70-43 at home, and completing the weekend sweep with victories over Louisville (70-43) and St. Louis (89-24). It was a strong showing for the Irish in a meet delayed by St. Louis' late arrival and trouble with the timing system.
Bowling Green and Louisville gave the Irish problems in a few events, but it was nothing coach Bailey Weathers' girls could not handle.
"Both teams [Bowling Green and Louisville] were about the same," Weathers said. "One would be better in one event and one would be better in the other. But they each were better in different spots so that made the meet more challenging and exciting for us." Entering Bowling Green on Saturday, the Irish knew Louisville's strength lay in the freestyle events. Notre Dame responded by dominating the mid- and long-distance freestyle events, and effectively dominating the meet.
Junior Lisa Garcia won the 1,000 freestyle and the 100 backstroke (59.70), senior Heidi Hendrick touched first in the 200 freestyle (1:53.14) and 100 freestyle (51.79), and the two were victorious in the 400 freestyle, as well.
"Heidi Hendrick probably had her best dual meet times ever," Weathers said.
Couple Hendrick's efforts with sophomore Katie Eckholt's victory in the 50 freestyle (24.50) and senior Amy Deger's win in the 400 IM (4:30.82), and no team stands a chance against this Irish squad.
"The other teams had some good kids in the meet. Our kids were pretty ready to swim, though," Weathers said.
The Irish are a dangerous team. Last season, the womens swimming and diving team became the first team ever to qualify its entire roster for the Big East championships. Normally, according to Weathers, a school will qualify one or two swimmers.
In the meet on Saturday, sophomore Brooke Taylor (2:10.04) and senior Christina Jackson (2:10.26) qualified with "B" times in the 200 butterfly. Freshmen Courtney Campbell and Courtney Choura swam "A" qualifying times of 2:08.64 in the 200 backstroke and 2:08.97 in the 200 IM, respectively. Freshman Kara Santelli completed the backstroke in 2:09.85 for a "B" level time.
The Irish finish the regular season at home against Michigan Saturday at 2 p.m.
All Sports Stories for Monday, January 27, 2003
