Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p>\n
NOTRE DAME, Indiana, October 2. The University of Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving team opens its 2014-15 season with a dual meet against Michigan State at 5 p.m. Friday at Rolfs Aquatic Center.<\/p>\n
It was an off season for change for the Irish, as they enter the competition led by interim head coach Tim Welsh, who stepped in for former head coach Brian Barnes Sept. 3.<\/p>\n
Welsh, who last coached the Irish women during the first 10 years (1985-1995) of his original stint at Notre Dame (1985-2014), noted that his athletes have trained extraordinarily well during the offseason and are thrilled to begin competition. The veteran coach also has a specific set of expectations for his team.<\/p>\n
“What we’ve talked about is competing well and being tough competitors,” Welsh says. “We want to be focused, we want to be disciplined, we want to be intense in our races and we want to be great competitors.”<\/p>\n
Welsh also explains that Friday’s meet will serve as an indicator of where his squad needs improvement.<\/p>\n
“At the end of the day, we’re going to draw a line under it and say, ‘here’s where we are,'” Welsh says. “What do we need to do to get better?”<\/p>\n
Senior Emma Reaney leads the charge for the Irish after a 2013-14 season saw the Lawrence, Kansas native earn three top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships, highlighted by a national championship in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:04.06). She also claimed third in the 100-yard breaststroke (57.79) and seventh in the 200-yard IM (1:56.15) to garner All-America honors in all three events.<\/p>\n
In addition to Reaney, senior Bridget Casey, the school record holder in the 200-yard fly (1:56.52), is back along with four other NCAA qualifiers \u2013 seniors Courtney Whyte and Susanne Bessire and sophomores Katie Miller and Catherine Mulquin.<\/p>\n
On the boards, senior Allison Casareto and juniors Emma Gaboury and Lindsey Streepey all competed at the NCAA Zone C meet and boast seven years of collegiate diving experience between them.<\/p>\n
The Irish also welcome in five freshmen \u2013 Mary Hinton, Molly Treble, Alyssa Storino, Annie Crea and Sherri McIntee \u2013 that should compliment the returnees nicely.<\/p>\n
Friday’s meet marks the beginning of a journey back to the NCAA Championships – the team placed into a tie for 16th a season ago – for the Irish.<\/p>\n
Welsh certainly didn’t downplay the significance of his team coming together as one against the Spartans and head coach Matt Gianiodis.<\/p>\n
“They’re looking forward to a chance to be a unified group with a common mission,” Welsh says. “They want to take steps as a team.”<\/p>\n
Notre Dame last swam against Michigan State in 2011-12, as the Irish bested the Spartans, 218-82, Jan. 21, 2012 by winning all 16 events.<\/p>\n
Admission to the meet is free. Fans that can\u2019t make the meet can follow along through live stats. A link is available on UND.com. Meet Mobile will also be up and running for fans to follow during the meet.<\/p>\n