Jan. 31, 2004
East Lansing, Mich. – The Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team won 11 events in defeating both Michigan State and Ohio State in dual-meet action at the Charles McCaffrey Pool on the campus of Michigan State. The Irish defeated the Spartans 160-138, while also handling the Buckeyes 194-105. Notre Dame is now 7-1 on the season, while Ohio State falls to 9-4 and Michigan State is 1-9.
Leading the way for the Irish were double event winners Danielle Hulick, Lisa Garcia, Katie Carroll and Meghan Perry-Eaton. Hulick, a senior, won both the 100 backstroke and the 50 freestyle in times of 57.18 and 23.77, respectively. In the 100 backstroke, Hulick finished a full second ahead of teammate Rebecca Grove, who posted a time of 58.47. Notre Dame’s Kristen Peterson was fourth in the event in 59.48. In the 50 freestyle, Hulick outsprinted Michigan State’s Katrina Kniff, who was second in 23.99.
Garcia took first in the 200 butterfly and the 200 individual medley. In the 200 fly, Garcia finished.33 ahead of Ohio State’s Gulsah Gunenc in 2:04.36. Irish teammates Annie Mantey and Lisa D’Olier were fourth and fifth in the 200 fly with times of 2:07.91 and 2:09.52, respectively.
The 200 IM saw Garcia barely touch out Ohio State’s Deanna Strunk. Garcia’s time of 2:08.01 was .15 seconds faster than Strunk. Notre Dame’s Ann Barton was third in 2:09.58.
Carroll continued her outstanding freshman season with wins in the 100 and 500 freestyle events. Carroll took the 100 in a time of 51.71, well ahead of second-place Tammy Jones of Ohio State, who finished in 52.10. Carroll then blew away the field in the 500 with a BIG EAST automatic qualifying time of 4:58.10. Ohio State’s Stephanie Raezer was second in 5:03.40.
Perry-Eaton continued to dominate this season as she won both the one- and three-meter competitions. Perry-Eaton has lost only one event this season (the one-meter competition at the Michigan Invitational) and has set the school record on the three-meter board (also at the Michigan Invitational). Perry-Eaton won the both boards by over 40 points. Final scores were not available at press time.
Other winner s for the Irish on Friday included freshman Ellen Johnson in the 200 freestyle. Johnson’s time of 1:53.01 was just better than teammate Barton, who was second in 1:53.84. Sophomore Christel Bouvron was fourth in 1:53.97. Barton came back to take first in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:05.67. Hulick was second in 2:06.60, while Johnson was fourth in 2:08.24.
Bouvron was first in the 100 butterfly in 56.53. Mantey was third in 57.85, good enough to qualify for the 2004 BIG EAST Conference meet with an “A” time. Mantey joined junior Katie Eckholt, who also qualified for the conference meet in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.47. Mantey and Eckholt became Notre Dame’s 22nd and 23rd swimmers to qualify for the conference meet, which is scheduled for Feb. 19-21 in Long Island, N.Y.
Notre Dame continues is dual-meet season Saturday with a home meet against No. 16 Michigan at the Rolfs Aquatic Center. Meet time is 4:00 p.m. and admission is free.