NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving team has signed five swimmers to join them next fall. While slightly smaller in size than last year’s signee class, the six signees add depth and fill some holes in amongst the current Irish roster.
Nicholas Milikich (Austin, Texas / Cedar Ridge / Nitro), Jack Montesi (Riverside, Conn. / Greenwich / Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club), Rex Riley (Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep / Lake Erie Silver Dolphins), Aaron Schultz (Richmond, Va. / Deep Run / NOVA of Virginia Aquatics) and Joseph Turk III (North Andover, Mass. / St. John’s Prep / Phoenix Swimming) have each made their official commitments to Notre Dame by submitting National Letters of Intent during the fall early signing period.
“We set out to try and bring in a high quality, slightly smaller in quantity class than we did a year ago,” head coach Matt Tallman states. “A year ago, we recruited 11 guys, only one of which had Olympic Trials qualifying times. This year, we have five guys, with three of them being Olympic Trials qualifiers. We did the job we set out to do, and across the board, we’re still in a position as a program where we just need to fill every spot with the highest and best quality swimmers we can get. We’re highly satisfied with these five guys.”
Here is a summary of all five swimmers:
Nick Milikich, 6-1, 170 lbs. IM/Backstroke (Austin, Texas / Cedar Ridge / Nitro)
Top Times:
– 200 IM, 1:50.18 (2015 American Short Course Championship, SCY)
– 400 IM, 3:59.88 (2015 American Short Course Championship, SCY)
– 100 Back 50.68 (2015 ST TXLA 11 & Over Meet, SCY)
– 200 Back 1:51.93 (2014 American Short Course Championship, SCY)
Awards/Honors/Rankings: Helped club team to state title as a freshman … team finished second at Winter Juniors meet as a junior … named Junior Age Group champion in 200 back and 400 IM as a junior, and finished second in 200 IM … was a finalist at American Short Course Championship meet in the 200 free, 500 free, 200 back, 200 breast, 200 IM and 400 IM events.
Prep & Personal: Swam solely with club team, Nitro Swimming, throughout prep career … as a freshman, qualified to represent South Texas at the Southern Zone Championships in the summer; in the winter, qualified for championship final at Texas state age group meet in the 400 IM and 200 fly … finished third in the 400 IM (4:11.28) and seventh in the 200 fly (2:01.16), helping team clinch state title along the way … as a sophomore, earned a spot in the finals at the summer sectional meet in the 200 back (2:14.66), 200 IM (2:14.53) and 400 IM (4:44.74) … in winter season, qualified for NCSA Juniors in 200 IM (1:54.29) and was a sectionals finalist in 200 IM (1:56.17) and 400 IM (4:06.46) … in his junior campaign, won his Junior Age Group (JAG) title in 200 back (2:11.59) and 400 IM (4:39.81), finishing second in the 200 IM (2:11.35) … qualified at Sectionals for winter Junior meet in the 400 IM (4:37.80), also achieving personal best times in the 200 back (2:10.88), 100 back (1:00.95) and 200 breast (2:32.60) … during the winter season, helped club team to second place title at Winter Juniors meet … swam at Austin Pro Swim Series meet, qualifying for summer Juniors in the 200 IM (2:07.86, LCM) … swam at American Short Course Championship as a finalist in the 200 free (1:42.83), 500 free (4:35.04), 200 back (1:51.93), 200 breast (2:07.13), 200 IM (1:50.18) and 400 IM (3:59.88) … in senior season, was a finalist in the Mission Viejo SMOC meet in the 100 back (59.49), 200 back (2:07.80), 200 IM (2:09.10) and 400 IM (4:35.63) … at summer Juniors meet, placed eighth in 200 IM (2:04.93) and qualified for 2016 Olympic Trials … also swam in finals of the 400 IM (4:30.42) and achieved best times in the 100 back (58.18) and 200 back (2:04.76) … at Summer Nationals meet, achieved best times in 200 free (1:54.82), 400 free (4:03.58) and 100 back (58.12).
Outside the Pool: Serves as treasurer of the French Club and French National Honor Society … is a member of the National Honor Society and Ted-Ed club … named to Honor Roll with Distinction … is a National AP Scholar … named an AP Scholar with distinction … named Scholastic All-American … hails from same area of Texas as current swimmer Trent Jackson … attends and is on track to graduate in June 2016 from Cedar Ridge High School … only son of Mike and Ginny Milikich … has one sister, Hannah … born in Chicago, Illinois before moving to Austin, Texas … intends to major in Biochemistry at the University.
Tallman on Milikich: “He’s certainly an up-and-coming swimmer with great improvements over the past year or so. He qualified for Olympic Trials in the 200 IM this summer, and swims with arguably the best club program in the country in Nitro. He’s out of Austin, Texas, swimming for Tim O’Brien. We expect him to come in and add to the IM group in particular, but he’s also a very good backstroker.”
Jack Montesi, 5-11, 165 lbs. Fly/Back/Free (Riverside, Conn. / Greenwich / Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club)
Top Times
– 100 Fly, 48.98 (2015 CT CIAC Boys Class LL Finals, SCY)
– 200 Fly, 1:49.00 (2014 PV Speedo Tom Dolan Invitational, SCY)
– 100 Back, 48.93 (2015 CT CIAC Boys Class LL Finals, SCY)
– 200 Back, 1:47.26 (2014 PV Speedo Tom Dolan Invitational, SCY)
– 200 Free, 1:39.66 (2014 PV Speedo Tom Dolan Invitational, SCY)
Awards/Honors/Rankings: Three-time All-State in the 100 back and 100 fly, twice an All-American in those events as well as the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay.
Prep & Personal: Prep team thrice won the triple crown of County meets, Class meets and State meets … team boasts three-year, undefeated record heading into senior season … as a freshman, earned All-State accolades in the 100 back and 100 fly … as a sophomore, earned All-State and All-American honors in the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay, in addition to 100 back and 100 fly races … set school record in the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay … as a junior, repeated as All-State and All-American in the 100 back, 100 fly, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay … set school record in the 100 fly … with club team, qualified for 2016 Olympic Trials in 200 fly and swam four Junior Nationals cut-times.
Outside the Pool: Is a member of the National Honors Society, and participates with Greenwich High School’s Habitat for Humanity Club … attends same high school as former Notre Dame offensive lineman John Sullivan, who now plays in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings … on track to graduate from Greenwich High in June of 2016 … hails from a family of swimmers, as father, John, swam at Tufts and mother, Margaret, swam at Florida … grandmother notably swam the lead leg of the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay in the 1948 Olympics, winning a gold medal with the U.S. women’s team … has one brother, William, and one sister, Kelly … intends to enroll in the Mendoza College of Business.
Tallman on Montesi: “We actually started recruiting him as a backstroker, and then this summer he broke out and made Olympic Trials in both butterfly events, so he’s got great times in those four events, the 2 backstroke and 2 butterflies. His IMs are good too, his 200 free is good, he’s very versatile; he’s versatile enough that we’ll be able to move him around and he should play a big factor in our program moving forward.”
Rex Riley, 6-3, 195 lbs. Breast/IM (Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep / Lake Erie Silver Dolphins)
Top Times:
– 100 breast, 55.67 (2014 AT&T Winter National Championship, SCY)
– 200 breast, 2:05.05 (2015 NI – Can/AM Challenge, SCY)
– 200 IM, 1:53.21 (2015 Mark J. Braun Fall Classic, SCY)
– 200 Free, 1:41.51 (2015 Mark J. Braun Fall Classic, SCY)
– 100 Back, 52.52 (2015 NI – Can/AM Challenge, SCY)
Awards/Honors/Rankings: Was a PIAA State medalist as a freshman in the 100 breast … has broken the Pennsylvania District 10 record in the 100 breast every season since freshman year … ranks in top 10 in the nation for USA Swimming Age Group Rankings for 100 breast, and has done so for the last four years … was Eastern Zone Champion in the 100 breast at age 13 with club team, the Millcreek Swim Team.
Prep & Personal: As a freshman, won in District 10 in 100 breast, 200 IM, 200 medley relay and 200 free relay … medaled at the Pennsylvania state meet in the 100 breast … named high school team rookie of the year, and was honored with All-State and All-American accolades … as a sophomore, repeated as District 10 champion in the 100 breast, 200 IM and 200 medley relay, adding a championship in the 400 free relay … also medaled at the Pennsylvania state meet in the 100 breast and 200 medley relay … earned All-State and All-American honors … as a junior, repeated as District 10 champion and medaled at state meet in 100 breast, 200 medley relay and 200 free relay, earning All-State and All-American honors en route … was honored as a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American at start of senior campaign and holds school record in the 100 breast (55.73) … attends same high school as current Irish footballer John Chereson and swimming alumni Tom VanVolkenburg, Frank Krakowski and relatives Doug and Billy Bauman … on track to graduate from Cathedral Prep in June of 2016 … also earned four varsity letters in water polo.
Outside the Pool: Is involved in Cathedral Prep’s student government and is active in campus ministry … youngest child of Keith and Jane Riley … has an older brother, Sam … intends to major in engineering at the University.
Tallman on Riley: “Rex is probably the most untapped of our signees, as a primarily high school swimmer. A breaststroker from northwestern Pennsylvania, we’ve had quite a few Cathedral Prep guys come through the program since I’ve been here, so he’ll add to that list. Thus far this fall he’s dropped quite a bit of time in numerous events as he’s given more of a commitment to the sport and his team, and we’re glad to see that.”
Joseph Turk III, 5-11, 153 lbs. Back/IM/Fly (North Andover, Mass. / St. John’s Prep / Phoenix Swimming)
Top Times:
100 back, 49.97 (2014 Winter Juniors, SCY)
200 back, 1:47.16 (2014 NE GS New England Senior, SCY)
200 IM, 1:50.50 (2015 NE MIAA Boys Div. 1, SCY)
400 IM, 3:54.57 (2014 NE GS New England Senior, SCY)
100 Fly, 51.01 (2014 NE GS New England Senior, SCY)
200 Fly, 1:50.74 (2014 NE GS New England Senior, SCY)
Awards/Honors/Rankings: Club team won the 2014 New England Winter Senior Championships five years after club’s inception … individually, has been named New England Outstanding Swimmer multiple times … ranks in top 100 all-time in 200 back and 400 IM in the 16-year-old age group … selected to attend the Eastern Zone Select Camp … finished 12th in the 200 back at 2014 Winter Junior Nationals … finalist at Mesa, Arizona, and Minneapolis, Minnesota Grand Prix meets … qualified for summer junior national and winter national meets.
Prep & Personal: Won state championship freshman and sophomore seasons … as a freshman, medaled in the 100 back and 500 free at state meet … state title winner in the 200 medley relay swimming the fly leg and 400 free relay … named Boston Globe and Boston Herald All Scholastic team … as a sophomore, earned All American consideration in 200 medley relay, 200 IM and 100 back … won state title in 200 medley relay and 100 back; finished runner-up in 200 IM … set school records in 200 IM and 100 back …again named to Boston Globe and Boston Herald All Scholastic team … earned All American honors in 200 medley relay, 100 back and 200 IM … state champion in 200 medley relay, 100 back and 200 IM … set division I state championship meet record in 100 back … also set records in Catholic Conference and North Sectional meet in 100 back and 200 IM … named to Boston Globe and Boston Herald All Scholastic team … named captain of prep team senior year.
Outside the Pool: Member of the national honor society and Spanish national honor society … is a St. Francis Xavier scholar … was an Eagles Wings Freshman Orientation leader … is a National Commended Scholar and AP Scholar with honor … won the Yale University Book Award … won the excellence in achievement award twice in English and once in social studies … hails from same area of Massachusetts as former Irish men’s basketball star Patrick Connaughton … won four varsity letters in swimming and water polo … on track to graduate from St. John’s prep in May of 2016 … eldest child of Joseph and Amy Lynn Turk … has one brother, Josh, and two sisters, Samantha and Mary Kate … father Joe swam for Wabash college, placing second in Division III NCAA Championships in the 100 and 200 fly … father also was an NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship recipient … intends to major in economics at the University.
Tallman on Turk: “Joe is another swimmer out of the New England area, and he’s another backstroke/IM-er that we’re looking forward to working with and doing big things with once he gets here.”
Aaron Schultz, 6’0”, 170 lbs. Fly/Back/Free/IM (Richmond, Va. / Deep Run / NOVA of Virginia Aquatics)
Top Times:
– 100 Fly, 49.63 (2015 FL NCSA Spring Championships, SCY)
– 200 Fly, 1:46.46 (2015 FL NCSA Spring Championships, SCY)
– 100 Back, 50.85 (2014 PV Speedo Tom Dolan Invitational, SCY)
– 200 Back, 1:47.15 (2015 FL NCSA Spring Championships, SCY)
– 200 Free, 1:38.92 (2015 FL NCSA Spring Championships, SCY)
– 500 Free, 4:31.80 (2014 PV Speedo Tom Dolan Invitational, SCY)
– 200 IM, 1:49.46 (2014 PV Speedo Tom Dolan Invitational, SCY)
– 400 IM, 3:54.48 (2015 FL NCSA Spring Championships, SCY)
Awards/Honors/Rankings: Qualified for 2016 Olympic Trials in the 200m fly … holds national age group record in 15-18 year old 800m free relay … owns two individual and 12 relay club records through NOVA of Virginia Aquatics … set county record as a sophomore in 200 IM, and as a junior in the 100 fly and 200 IM.
Prep & Personal: Swam with both club team and prep team throughout high school career. Earned two varsity letters with Deep Run Swim Club … began swimming at the age of seven … twice named the NOVA Coaches Award recipient … twice earned Scholastic All-American accolades.
Outside the Pool: Earned Academic All-American honors in 2014 and 2015 … won the AP Scholar Award in 2015 … takes lessons at the Richmond School of Rock under guitarist Jake Nielsen … eldest child of Mark and Kim Schultz … has one sister, Christine … intends to major in Engineering at the University.
Tallman on Schultz: “Aaron is from NOVA Aquatics in Virginia, another well-known club team, out of the Richmond, Virginia area. Aaron’s got Olympic Trials cuts as well. He’s very versatile, IMs, butterflies, freestyles, he’s going to come in and help us, and we’ll try to figure out where he’ll be swimming once he gets here.”
* – All times listed are from usaswimming.org swims database, and are current as of Nov. 25, 2015.
Swimming news courtesy of Notre Dame Swimming & Diving.