Notre Dame Men, Women Top Michigan State, Iowa in Long Course Duals

MEET FACTS

• Complete results
• Hosted by Michigan State University
• Friday, September 30, 2016
• 50 meters
• Dual meet format (double-dual)

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men and women started off their competitive season yesterday by dominating a pair of Big Ten teams, cruising to victories over the host Michigan State Spartans (W: 169-54, M: 159-62) and the Iowa Hawkeyes (W: 154-69, M: 151-72).  Both the Hawkeye men (130-87) and women (147-76) topped Michigan State.  Competing in the Spartans’ outdoor long course pool, the Irish touched first in 20 of 24 swimming events, including more than a half-dozen 1-2 finishes.

On the women’s side, the Irish put together a pair of balanced 400 medley relays to start things off with a tight 1-2 finish, with Lauren Heller splitting 58.55 on the end for the ‘A’ team to surpass the ‘B’ squad, 4:22.38 to 4:22.60.  Freshman Abbie Dolan was a triple-winner on the day, leading 1-2 finishes in both the 200 freestyle (2:06.64, followed by senior Alice Treuth in 2:08.49) and 100 freestyle (58.39, just in front of teammate Catherine Mulquin in 59.13), and also opening the winning 400 freestyle relay.  Treuth would later win the 200 backstroke in 2:19.11.

The Hawkeye women won a pair of events, with junior Tereysa Lehnertz touching first in the 200 fly with a win in 2:19.54, and Jacinda Thomas winning the 1m springboard.

In the men’s meet, four different Notre Dame swimmers notched at least two wins.  Tabahn Afrik led the way as the only men’s triple-winner, and he did it swimming nothing but 100 freestyles.  After anchoring the 400 medley in 52.45, Afrik came back to win the individual 100 by over a full second in 52.73.  The sophomore freestyler then bettered that time leading off the winning 400 freestyle relay (52.60) to close things out.

Afrik’s three teammates on the 400 medley relay all won their respective 200’s of stroke.  Backstroker Robby Whitacre claimed a tight four-swimmer battle in the 200 backstroke (2:11.54), senior Trent Jackson used some early speed to run away with the 200 breaststroke (2:28.05), and sophomore Matt Grauslys held off Iowa’s Michael Tenney for the win in the 200 butterfly (2:08.04 to 2:08.90).

Irish Junior Richard Mannix was also a double winner, leveraging strong front-halves to claim the 400 (4:13.17) and 800 freestyles (8:47.37).

Michigan State freshman Scott Piper was the lone Spartan champion, touching first in the 200 IM in 2:12.98.  Iowa’s only male win on the afternoon came in 1-meter diving from Brandis Heffner.

Notre Dame will be competing again this week when they host the annual Dennis Stark Relays.  Iowa and Michigan State are keeping things internal; the Hawkeyes have their intersquad meet next weekend, and the Spartans will host their alumni meet in two weeks.