Minneapolis, Minn. — It was a historic week for Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving.
The 18th-ranked Irish aptly finished No. 18 overall at the 2022-23 NCAA Men’s Championships, which were held at the University of Minnesota from March 22-25. It was the program’s best finish in school history, and the 62 points posted was also a team best. Notre Dame broke seven school records en route to scoring 47 more points than originally projected.
A pair of record-breaking relays got Notre Dame started on Wednesday night. The 200 medley relay of Tommy Janton, Sean Faikish, Cason Wilburn and Chris Guiliano went 1:23.35 to break the existing mark of 1:23.76, which was set in 2022. Wilburn and Guiliano were members of that relay team as well. The 800 freestyle relay of Guiliano, Jack Hoagland, Wilburn and Alec DeLong smashed the existing record set earlier this year at ACCs (6:16.29). Guiliano’s 1:32.08 lead-off leg broke his own school record in the 200 freestyle.
Hoagland scored the first individual points of the meet by taking 10th place in the 500 freestyle on Thursday. His time of 4:12.49 was a season-best and around 2 seconds off of the school record.
Notre Dame’s sole diver, Daniel Knapp, competed in the men’s 1-meter on Day 2 as well. He finished 23rd, the third-highest finish for a freshman at the meet.
“Daniel did a solid job,” head diving coach Mark Bradshaw said. “He was consistent, and he didn’t really miss anything. It’s a very tough event, and I think it was a great learning experience for him moving forward. He had a fantastic freshman year, and I think we are going to hear a lot more from Daniel in the next three years.”
On Friday, Hoagland finished 12th in the 400 IM with a time of 3:40.82. He holds the school record, a 3:40.73 set in 2020. Guiliano won the consolation heat in the 200 freestyle (1:32.31). Janton got in on the action on Friday night, lowering his own school record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 45.43. He finished 14th overall.
On the final day, Hoagland earned Notre Dame’s highest finish of the meet. The senior took fifth in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 14:38.64. Guiliano and Janton closed down the individual events for the Irish. Janton became the first Notre Dame swimmer to break 1:40 in the 200 backstroke, as he took 10th with a time of 1:39.45. He broke the barrier during prelims as well (1:39.83). Guiliano broke his own school record in prelims in the 100 freestyle in the morning (41.48), and he took 10th place with a 41.64 at night.
The 400 freestyle relay composed of Guiliano, Wilburn, DeLong and Thacher Scannell ended Notre Dame’s time in Minneapolis, finishing 18th and just off the school record the same group set at ACCs a month back.
At the end of the meet, the following swimmers earned All-American status of some sort in individual events:
Hoagland: 500 & 1650 freestyle, 400 IM
Guiliano: 100 & 200 freestyle
Janton: 100 & 200 backstroke