Swimmers face tough upcoming schedule
by ANDREW SOUKUP
Sports Writer
If Bob Davie thought he had a tough schedule in the fall, he shouldn't go looking for sympathy from women's swimming coach Bailey Weathers. After all, Davie's team never had to face two nationally ranked opponents 24 hours apart.
Notre Dame's women's swimming and diving team has the unenviable task of facing two nationally ranked opponents back-to-back. Today, the No. 18 Irish travel to Evanston, Ill. to swim against the No. 23 Wildcats. Friday, the Irish will be back in the water at Rolfs Aquatic Center swimming against the No. 14 Wolverines.
"We basically feel that our best plan is to swim our best on Thursday and hope that carries over into Friday," Weathers said. "I think it's an advantage for us to swim at home the second day rather than the first day."
The Irish have already seen the Wolverines in action this season. Notre Dame swimmers competed side by side against Michigan swimmers at the Wolverine Invitational, although Notre Dame was only scored against Illinois. Although Notre Dame was not scored against Michigan, Irish coaches estimated that the Wolverines would have beaten the Irish.
The Irish, who are 8-1 in dual meets this year, would like to repeat the dual meet magic they worked at the end of last season.
Last year, the Irish jumped out to an early lead as they upset the then No. 11 Wildcats 158-141. A week later, Notre Dame knocked off then-No. 8 Michigan to finish the dual meet season undefeated.
As they have all season, the Irish will expect big performances from junior Kelly Hecking and freshman Marie Labosky.
Hecking is nearly unbeatable in the backstroke. Of the 14 times that Hecking has swum in a backstroke final, she has won 11 times. The other three times, Hecking took second place.
Hecking swam a personal-best 55.7 seconds in the 100 backstroke at the Notre Dame Invitational, the 15th fastest time in the nation, according to Swimming World. Hecking also holds the 16th fastest spot nationally in the 200 backstroke.
At the Wolverine Invitational, Hecking won the 100 backstroke and finished second in the 200 backstroke and the 50 freestyle.
"Kelly's faster at this point in the season than she's ever been," Weathers said. "She's pretty amazing in terms of her competitive instincts."
Labosky is having a remarkable year in her first season of collegiate competition. The freshman, who specializes in the individual medleys and in distance events, has won 13 individual events so far this season. Two weeks ago, Labosky won the 200 and 400 individual medleys and placed second in the 1,650 freestyle.
Junior diver Heather Mattingly will also play an important role today and tomorrow. Mattingly, who will compete in the one-meter and three-meter springboard, won the same two events at the Wolverine Invitational.
Friday's meet against Michigan, which begins at 4:00 in the Rolfs Aquatic Center, is the final dual meet of the season for the Irish. Notre Dame will then have three weeks off to prepare for the Big East championship meet.
All Sports Stories for Thursday, January 25, 2001
