SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame wrapped up its list of home meets during the 2023-24 season this weekend, as the Irish hosted Akron, Indiana State and Ohio State for the annual Tim Welsh Classic. In total, 17 swimmers posted 21 best times, and Notre Dame won all four diving events. The No. 12 Irish men won the meet, while the women’s team finished third to a top-5 Ohio State and a talented Akron.
Men —
Notre Dame started off the meet going 1-2 in the 200 free relay. Chris Guiliano, Tommy Janton, Tate Bacon and Cason Wilburn composed the winning squad with a time of 1:18.06. Connor Lathrop followed that up with a best time in the 500 free (4:29.23), and Tanner Filion did the same with a winning performance in the 200 IM (1:45.91). Luka Cvetko added a win in the 50 free with a time of 20.03, his fastest showing in a Notre Dame cap. To close down the first session, the Irish once again went 1-2 in a relay. Janton, Tyler Christianson, Wilburn and Guiliano notched a first place finish in the 400 medley relay.
The Irish started Session 2 with another relay victory, this time the 200 medley (Janton, Christianson, Wilburn and Guiliano). Guiliano followed that win with a win in an unexpected event: 100 fly. He went a best time (46.03). The Irish actually went 1-2-3-4-5 with Guiliano, Wilburn (46.41), Bacon (46.60), Janton (46.74), Filion (46.77). Christianson won the 100 breast (53.28), and Lucas Logue won his first event in an Irish cap by taking first in the 100 back (46.82).
In the final session of the meet on Saturday morning, Janton did what Janton does best and took first in the 200 back (1:40.42). Filion (1:42.26), Marcus Gentry (1:42.29) and Kaden Smesko (1:43.35) took the next three spots. Guiliano added a victory in the 100 free (41.77), and Christianson notched another gold in the 200 breast (1:56.21). Notre Dame won the final swimming event of the meet, taking first in the 400 free relay (Guiliano, Filion, Janton and Wilburn).
Diving-wise, sophomore and 2023 NCAA qualifier Daniel Knapp won both of his events: 1-meter (369.65) and 3-meter (398.75). Both performances are his best of the season.
Women —
Mary Cate Pruitt started off the meet with a season-best and fifth place finish against a strong Ohio State distance group, going 4:49.89 in the 500 free. Ellie Jew strayed from her usual breaststroke event list for the morning, swimming the 200 IM and finishing eighth with a time of 2:02.59. That is her best of the season.
Lente Geelen then helped the Notre Dame B relay to a fifth-place finish in the 400 medley relay, as the sophomore posted a personal best in the 100 back (54.03).
Turning the page to Friday night, Geelen got the Irish started once again in the 200 medley relay. Geelen, Jew, Renee Gillilan and Madelyn Christman finished fourth in the 200 medley relay. Jew then took third in the 100 breast with a time of 1:01.93, and Jess Geriane finished fourth in the 100 back (54.26).
To finish out Day 1, Notre Dame posted its best relay finish of the meet: second in the 800 free relay composed of Christman, Megan Glass, Pruitt and Kallie Chelsvig. Christman had the fastest split despite leading off (1:47.65). She had never broken the 1:51.00 mark prior to Friday.
On Saturday, Christman once again lowered her best time in the 100 back. She went 1:54.07 two weeks ago, and she went 1:53.27 on Saturday. That time ranks 11th in the nation and second in the ACC this season. Jew added another third place finish in the 200 breast (2:12.43), and senior captain Megan Deuel wrapped up Senior Day with a 1:58.90 200 fly, fast enough for fifth.
On the boards, Calie Brady and Grace Courtney swapped spots in the two springboard events. Courtney won the 1-meter (315.00) and took third in the 3-meter (305.65). Brady won the 3-meter (367.40) and took third in the 1-meter (279.30).
Notre Dame now enters the championship season in a few weeks. Around half of the team will head to the Ohio State Winter Invitational from Feb. 16-18, while the other half will prepare for ACC Championships from Feb. 20-22.