SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Notre Dame swimming and diving celebrated the year’s accomplishments with its annual awards banquet on Friday.
The following student-athletes were recognized:
Most Valuable — Carli Cronk & Grace Courtney
The No. 1 recruit out of Texas in the 2024 class (per SwimCloud.com), Cronk made an immediate splash for Notre Dame this year. A 2025 NCAA qualifier, Cronk broke the Notre Dame records in both the 400 IM (4:07.63) and 500 free (4:42.59). She also ranks fourth in the 200 fly (1:55.28) and eighth in the 200 free (1:46.51). She won seven individual events over the course of the regular season and earned three top-16 finishes at ACC Championships.
As a junior this season, Courtney made her second consecutive NCAA Championships. She won the 3-meter at the Tim Welsh Invite and finished second in the platform against Wisconsin and Northwestern. Courtney took 10th in the 1-meter at ACC Championships, and after finishing sixth in the 3-meter at the Zone C Championships, Courtney competed in the event at NCAA Championships and finished 42nd in the nation.
Most Improved — Katie Drumm
Drumm joined Notre Dame for a victory lap season this year after graduating from Boston College. Primarily a sprint freestyler, Drumm went best times in the 50 (22.49) and 100 (50.33), earning the No. 10 spot all-time at Notre Dame in the 50. Additionally, Drumm made her first NCAA Championships this spring and competed in both the 200 free and 200 medley relays to close out her collegiate career. She was also part of the medley relay at ACC Championships that broke the school record with her help on the fly leg (1:36.73).
Newcomer of the Year — Lainey Mullins
Mullins made the move to South Bend after a year at Virginia, and the sophomore has already made her mark. A mid-distance specialist, Mullins earned seven top-three finishes at dual meets and made two C finals at the 2025 ACC Championships. With two more years to go at Notre Dame, she already ranks sixth in school history in the 400 IM (4:13.49) and ninth in the 200 fly (1:57.32). Mullins also holds the school record in the 200-meter fly (2:13.09).
Weight Room Warrior — Renee Gillilan
In her third year with the Irish, Gillilan continued to play a key role for the butterfliers with success driven by her work ethic in the weight room. Gillilan pushes herself and others to get stronger every time she is lifting, giving the workout 100 percent of her attention and energy.
Swiss Army Knife — Imogen Meers
A true jack-of-all-trades, Meers competed in eight different events across the course of the season, including two free relays and both medley relays. A graduate transfer from Rice, in just one year with the Irish, Meers now ranks third in school history in the 100 free (49.03), eighth in the 50 free (22.42) and 10th in the 100 back (53.48). She was also a member of the record-breaking 200 free relay against Louisville (1:27.84). Meers closed out her collegiate career by earning a spot on the 200 free and 200 medley relays at the NCAA Championships.
Reaney Award — Jess Geriane & Sophia Karras
This honor is given to a female swimmer who exemplifies what it means to be a champion in the pool and in the classroom, as a teammate and in life. It is named after Emma Reaney, who was the first NCAA champion for Notre Dame swimming and set an American record in the process.
Both senior leaders, Geriane and Karras were rewarded for their thousands of hours of hard work. In the pool, Geriane nearly broke the 50 free record (now second with a time of 22.29) and qualified for her first NCAA Championships, swimming on the 200 free and medley relays. Karras ended her NCAA career with three season-bests, including an NCAA B cut in the 1650 (16:36.76).
Beeler Hipp Award — Alyssa Street
To honor the 1991-92 men’s and women’s swim teams for their courage, discipline and love for one another displayed during the season, this award is given annually to an outstanding freshman who best exemplifies the vitality, competitiveness and love for Notre Dame shown by Meghan Beeler and Colleen Hipp.
Street took the challenge of collegiate distance swimming head on in her first year, making the ACC Championships team and going a best time in the mile at the meet (16:58.86). Even as a rookie, she showed up to practice with a great attitude on a daily basis and always brings out the best in her teammates.
Rockne Scholar-Athlete Award — Greta Kolbeck
Named in honor of legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne, this honor is presented by the Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley to a student-athlete who excels both academically and athletically.
Kolbeck joined Notre Dame this season as a junior transfer from Miami (OH) and notched best times in the 100 free (49.86) and 1000 free (10:26.80). She competed in the 100 free, 200 free, 500 free and 800 free relay at ACC Championships. In the classroom, Kolbeck is majoring in theology.
Captains and Leadership Award — Abby O’Sullivan
The honor is given annually by team captains and graduating seniors in memory of former Irish captain Patrick Reilly McManus to the individual who best exemplifies the term teammate and represents the future leadership and vision of our program.
Last year’s winner of the Beeler Hipp Award was honored for her high character again this year. O’Sullivan is always smiling and always cheering on her teammates while finding success for herself as well. She ended her season on a high note, winning the 400 IM (4:27.09) at the Ohio State Winter Invite and going a season-best in the 500 free (5:00.44).
Tim Welsh Award — Nick Farmer
Named for legendary Notre Dame coach Tim Welsh, this award is given to a friend of the program who has made a significant contribution to the success of Irish student-athletes.
A 1990 graduate of Notre Dame, Farmer stepped up for the program last summer when the group was in need of a head dive coach. He filled in from August to October in an interim role in addition to his job at the University as Associate Director of Admissions, University and Channel Partnerships for the ESTEEM Graduate Program.
Performances of the Year —
- 200 freestyle relay against Louisville —
- The first women’s swimming record broken of the Peterson Family Head Coach Chris Lindauer era, Hollie Widdows, Geriane, Meers and Madelyn Christman went 1:27.84 in the 200 free relay to become the fastest to ever do it for the Irish.
- Maggie Graves’ 1650 freestyle at ACC Championships
- With a new personal best time of 16:09.03, the senior placed sixth in the mile in the toughest conference in the country. Graves’ time ranks second in Notre Dame history as well.
- Carli Cronk’s 400 IM at the Tim Welsh Invite —
- At the January meet, Cronk took down the oldest record on the books for the Irish women’s swimming program. With a time of 4:07.63, Cronk won the 400 IM and topped national champion and American record holder Reaney’s top time.
- Ben Nguyen’s platform at ACC Championships
- The junior took fourth in the ACC with a platform score of 392.25, finishing in the top-five for the second consecutive year.