After impressive back-to-back victories over Michigan State and Wisconsin, the Irish will travel to Iowa City for the Hawkeye Invitational.
Along with the Irish (4-4), the tournament will feature Denver, Milwaukee and No. 23 Iowa. The tournament will take place over a three-day period and will be the last competition for the Irish before the conclusion of the fall semester.
The Irish will need continued strong performances from team linchpins such as senior Frank Dyer, who helped the Irish in their previous meet against Wisconsin by claiming first in the 50-, 200-, and 500-yard freestyle events, and was part of Notre Dame's first-place winning 200 medley relay team. Junior Zach Stephens, an All-American, placed first in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, the 200 individual medley and was also part of the Irish's winning 200 medley relay team. Senior co-captain Colin Babcock swam a sizzling 45.81 to win the 100-yard freestyle.
The Hawkeyes (1-3), coming off losses to No. 10 Ohio State and No. 22 Purdue on Nov. 8, will look to rely on swimmers such as senior Dustin Rhoads, who hit the NCAA "B" cut time of the season for the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 48.36. Sophomore Roman Trussov, the reigning Big 10 Swimmer of the Week, placed first in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard breaststroke with respective times of 54.35 and 1:59.82. Trussov's 100-breaststroke time also qualified for an NCAA "B" cut.
The Pioneers (1-0) have several racers on their roster who shined during last year's invitational, and who will look to repeat their performances. Senior Kyle Milberg finished the 200-yard backstroke in 1:43.06, breaking both the Denver school record and the pool record. As a freshman last year, sophomore Dylan Bunch swam a school record-breaking 9:18.95 in the 1,000-yard freestyle. The Pioneers placed fourth in the event last season.
The Panthers (2-3) won the Stevens Point Border Battle on Nov. 15-16 for the eighth straight season, defeating Stevens Point and South Dakota. They will rely on workhorse distance swimmers such as sophomore NicHalverson who won the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:12.31, while junior Kenny Stelpflug won the mile-long 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 16:45.50.
The Hawkeye Invitational will begin Friday and continue through Sunday.
