SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Notre Dame men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs bolstered their respective rosters this week, as the Irish added a wealth of talent from coast to coast.
“We are extremely excited,” Peterson Family Head Swimming Coach Chris Lindauer said on Wednesday. “We’ve brought together a class that we believe is one of the best, brightest and most talented in the country, in the classroom and in the pool. Their mentality and vision for growth is crucial for the future and development of this program.
“The group is very versatile — we have speed all the way to distance across multiple events. They will help continue to build to being a top NCAA program in this country.”
Maddie Faikish — Lansdale, Pa.
Pennsylvania rank: 8; 2025 rank: 189
A Pennsylvania 3A champion, Faikish swims mid-distance free for the North Penn Aquatic Club and attends North Penn Senior High School. Faikish’s best events are the 200 and 500 free. She is the cousin of former Irish swimmer Sean Faikish.
Top SCY Times:
- 200 free: 1:48.65
- 500 free: 4:49.63
Tess Heavner — Fenton, Mich.
Michigan rank: 5; 2025 rank: 331
Heavner committed to Notre Dame in December 2023 and swims back and IM for Club Wolverine in Ann Arbor, Mich. Last fall, she was the Michigan Division II state champion in both the 100 back and 200 IM. Heavner has familial Notre Dame connections dating back more than 100 years.
Top SCY Times:
- 100 back: 54.92
- 200 back: 1:59.46
- 200 IM: 2:01.83
- 400 IM: 4:24.65
Kate Hotem — Richmond, Va.
Virginia rank: 5; 2025 rank: 210
Another back and IM addition to the Irish, Hotem went her best times in her best events just before committing to Notre Dame last season. She won the 200 IM at the VHSL Class 5 State Championship in February and finished in the top four of three events at the VSI SC Senior Champs. Hotem attends Godwin High School and swims for Nova of Virginia Aquatics.
Top SCY Times:
- 100 back: 55.65
- 200 back: 1:56.42
- 200 IM: 2:02.28
- 400 IM: 4:22.24
Gracyn Lanning — Jacksonville, Fla.
Florida rank: 17; 2025 rank: 278
Lanning’s best event is 200 breast, but she’s an extremely versatile Swiss Army knife. She earned her first Winter Juniors cut in the event in March. Lanning comes from one of the best swimming schools in the nation, The Bolles School, and she competes for their club as well.
Top SCY Times:
- 100 breast: 1:02.39
- 200 breast: 2:15.85
Ava Pape — Prosper, Texas
Texas rank: 5; 2025 rank: 90
Pape was the first one to give a 2025 verbal commitment to Notre Dame. A Summer Nationals qualifier in the 400 IM and Summer Juniors qualifier in the 200 back, 200 fly and 200 IM, she attends Coram Deo Academy and swims for Texas Ford Aquatics.
Top SCY Times:
- 200 back: 1:57.45
- 200 fly: 1:59.87
- 200 IM: 2:00.57
- 400 IM: 4:13.47
Kate Simon — East Grand Rapids, Mich.
Michigan rank: 3; 2025 rank: 278
The daughter of a former Irish hockey player and golfer, Simon will carve her own path at Notre Dame starting next fall. Simon is a multi-sport athlete who also plays tennis and attends East Grand Rapids High School. She went multiple best times at the 2024 S ULTRA Championships last spring and won three events.
Top SCY Times:
- 50 free: 23.23
- 100 free: 50.65
- 100 back: 56.33
Jack Armour — Frisco, Texas
Texas rank: 3; 2025 rank: 55
Armour was a 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier, competing in the 200 breast in Indy in June. Additionally, Armour boasts three U.S. Open cuts and went best times in his best events earlier this month at the NT LAC Fall Classic, a great sign for the next few months for the Irish signee. His current 200 breast best time would already rank 10th in school history.
Top SCY Times:
- 100 breast: 54.19
- 200 breast: 1:57.26
- 200 IM: 1:45.85
Brady Calkins — Gold River, Calif.
California rank: 7; 2025 rank: 153
Top SCY Times:
- 200 free: 1:38.59
- 100 back: 48.35
- 200 back: 1:44.98
- 400 IM: 3:55.20
A Northern California native, Calkins has six cuts for Winter Junior Nationals, including a pair of long course cuts he has achieved in 2024. Calkins competes for the Sierra Marlins Swim team and attends Jesuit High School.
Evan Conti — Batavia, Ill.
Illinois rank: 8; 2025 rank: 182
Conti makes a loaded Irish backstroke group even stronger. A U.S. Open qualifier in the 200 back, he finished eighth overall at last year’s NCSA Spring Championships in the event. Conti was also a finalist in both the 200 free and 100 back at the IHSA Boys State Championships in February.
Top SCY Times:
- 100 back: 49.60
- 200 back: 1:44.92
Zack Oswald — Newtown Square, Pa.
Pennsylvania rank: 1; 2025 rank: 46
Oswald committed to Notre Dame earlier this month and has gone multiple best times this year. Those marks would already final or be on the brink of making last year’s finals at the ACC Championships. As for his junior senior, he won the 100 back and finished second in the 200 IM last spring at the Eastern Interscholastic Swimming Championship. Oswald is a senior at The Haverford School.
Top SCY Times:
- 100 back: 46.82
- 200 back: 1:44.25
- 200 IM: 1:47.61