Irish split opening weekend with Badgers

MADISON, Wisc. — The Irish men started the season with a big win, topping what will likely be a ranked Wisconsin team on Friday night, 163-137. Irish depth certainly helped bolster Notre Dame, but a few key performers stepped up in a big way to give the group a win in enemy territory.

Chris Guiliano, the 2023 ACC champion in the 200 freestyle, continued his winning ways with a victory in the 200 freestyle (1:37.50). He took second in the 100 (44.36).

Along those same lines, 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year Tommy Janton won the 100 backstroke (46.74) and 200 backstroke (1:45.14). The Irish actually went 1-2-3 in the 100 and 200, with Marcus Gentry (47.46) and Kaden Smesko (48.62) taking second and third, respectively, in the 100. Tanner Filion (1:45.42) and Gentry (1:46.44) took second and third in the 200. 

Louisville graduate transfer Abdelrahman El-Araby notched two individual event wins in the 50 (19.74) and 100 freestyle (44.18). He also contributed to both Irish relays, the 200 medley and 400 freestyle, which won a pair of gold medals as well. Janton, Sean Faikish, Cason Wilburn and El-Araby made up the medley, while Guiliano, El-Araby, Filion and Wilburn were the four on the freestyle relay.

Missouri graduate transfer Carlo Lopez Hernandez made a nice first appearance for the Irish on Friday, finishing second in both the 1-meter (326.48) and 3-meter (340.20) springboard events. 

On the women’s side, the Irish fell 213-87 to a stacked Wisconsin team featuring Olympian Phoebe Bacon. The senior won the 100 backstroke and 200 IM, but Irish junior Madelyn Christman notched a win in the 200 backstroke (1:58.74). Christman also took fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:51.35). Her sister, Meghan, finished third in the 50 freestyle (23.70) in her first individual collegiate event. 

Diver Calie Brady was the highlight on the women’s side, winning both the 1-meter (278.63) and 3-meter (293.33). Sophomore Grace Courtney took second in both events (271.65 and 269.55).

Up next, Notre Dame hosts Purdue at the Rolfs Aquatics Center on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.