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Thursday, March 28, 2024
The Observer

Irish drop meet to Louisville

Notre Dame returned to the water Friday night, posting four first-place finishes and eight runner-up slots before ultimately falling 186-114 to No. 7 Louisville on the road at the Ralph Wright Natatorium in Louisville, Ky.

The loss came on the heels of a 150-150 tie in a dual meet against Northwestern last week.

Irish senior captain Frank Dyer continued his winning ways for the Irish (4-5-1), securing a victory in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 49.03. Dyer, who is also an All-American, brought a set of third-place finishes to Notre Dame’s effort in the 100- and 50-yard freestyle events with times of 46.45 and 20.03, respectively.

Junior Brennan Jacobsen swims against Wisconsin on Nov. 16. Jacobsen placed third in the 1,000-yard freestyle against Louisville.
Junior Brennan Jacobsen swims against Wisconsin on Nov. 16. Jacobsen placed third in the 1,000-yard freestyle against Louisville.
Touching the wall just behind Dyer in the 100-yard butterfly was teammate and fellow All-American junior John Williamson. He finished less than a quarter of a second behind Dyer with a 49.14 in the event. Williamson also secured the first Irish win of the night with a 1:47.62 in the 200-yard butterfly. The time earned him an NCAA B-cut.

Irish juniors Nick Nemetz and Zach Stephens took home the third and fourth gold medal finishes for Notre Dame on Friday. Nemetz set the standard on the diving boards, finishing with 349.35 points for the Irish in the 3-meter dive. Stephens, another Irish All-American took home the final first place finish in the dual meet in the 100-yard individual medley, with a time of 1:49.26. Stephens also garnered second place honors in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, with times of 55.35 and 1:59.08, respectively. His breaststroke performances also secured Stephens NCAA B-cut distinctions.

For the relays, sophomore Bogac Ayhan, junior Cameron Miller, Stephens, and Dyer took second place in the opening event of the evening, the 200-yard medley relay. The team swam a time of 1:29.18.

Next up, the Irish will return to the Rolfs Aquatic Center for a meet for the first time since Nov. 16. Notre Dame hosts the Shamrock Invitational on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.