SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Peterson Family Head Coach Chris Lindauer has named nine captains ahead of the 2023-24 season, four women and five men.
Sarah Bender (Glen Allen, VA)
Bender is a breaststroker and IMer, and she is majoring in political science and statistics. The senior has been an ACC qualifier in each of her three seasons in South Bend and has been a consistent finalist. She ranks eighth in program history in the 200 breast (2:13.55) and most recently finished 21st in that event and 23rd in the 400 IM at ACCs.
Megan Deuel (Pittsford, NY)
A senior studying pre-professional science, Deuel has been a staple in the butterfly group since her arrival in South Bend. A 2021 NCAA qualifier and team Rookie of the Year, Deuel was a B finalist in the 200 fly at ACCs last February. She ranks in the top 10 in program history in three events: 100 fly (eighth — 53.06), 200 fly (fourth — 1:56.17) and 200 back (ninth — 1:56.17).
Allison Kopac (Ashburn, VA)
Kopac, who hails from outside of Washington, D.C., has been a constant dual meet scorer since she was a freshman. A distance specialist, the senior most recently took 24th in the 500 free (4:54.71) at last year’s ACCs. She is a double major in the Mendoza College of Business (accountancy and economics).
Mary Cate Pruitt (South Bend, IN)
The lone junior on the women’s side, Pruitt made her mark on last year’s squad and earned the team’s Most Improved Award. A distance freestyler, the local product ranks fifth in school history in the 500 free (4:44.79) and 1000 free (9:51.26) plus eighth in the 1650 free (16:25.60) and ninth in the 400 IM (4:16.29). Pruitt is a finance major with a minor in business technology.
Tyler Christianson (Easton, MD)
Christianson was the program’s 2021 male Rookie of the Year, and he never looked back. He ranks in the top 10 in program history in four events, with his best current finish being second in the 200 breaststroke (1:52.90). Christianson was a 2020 Olympian, participating for Panama. He also competed for the country this summer at the 2023 World Championships.
Sean Faikish (Lansdale, PA)
A 2023 NCAA qualifier, Faikish also ranks in the top five in three events in Irish history. He is fifth in both the 200 breast (1:55.56) and 400 IM (3:46.19), and he ranks fourth in 200 IM (1:44.59). Faikish scored points in those three events at ACCs, and he earned three Olympic Trials cuts this summer.
Chris Guiliano (Douglassville, PA)
Guiliano is a rising star in USA Swimming and was named to the 2023-24 U.S. National Team earlier this month. After competing at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships this summer, Guiliano has been named a captain as a junior. He holds eight school records, including five in individual events. Guiliano’s best times in the freestyle events last year were 18.88 in the 50, 41.48 in the 100 and 1:32.08 in the 200.
Liam Smith (Philadelphia, PA)
Like Faikish and Guiliano, Smith is also a member of the Philly crew. A senior freestyler, he finished in the top 24 in all three of his events at ACCs: 200, 500 and 1650 free. He was a B finalist in the 500 (4:24.62). Smith was a recipient of the team’s 2023 Hipp Beeler Award, which is named in honor of Colleen Hipp and Meghan Beeler and given to student-athletes who give their all in the pool and unite the team with their leadership skills.
Luke Uttley (Winter Park, FL)
Uttley did not see action last year, but he made NCAAs in 2022 and is poised for a great final season with the Irish. He is a sprint freestyle specialist majoring in marketing and a fan favorite among his teammates.