Notre Dame swimming and diving was back at the Rolfs Aquatic Center on Friday night, and both squads earned a victory over Big Ten foe Northwestern. The No. 25 men’s team topped the Wildcats, 158.5-141.5, while the women eked out a 151-149 win on their side.
On the women’s side, sophomore Hollie Widdows was a triple winner, touching first in the 100 free (48.76), 100 fly (53.23) and 100 IM (55.07). Widdows’ time in the 100 free now ranks second in school history, and she is one of only two women in program history to break 49.00.
Both Carli Cronk and Grace Courtney earned a pair of wins as well. Cronk won the 200 free (1:46.06) and 200 fly (1:57.27), and the sophomore moved into fifth all-time at Notre Dame in the former and ninth all-time at Notre Dame in the latter. Courtney won the 1-meter (304.13) and 3-meter (357.15).
Finally, freshman Emily Hamill earned her first collegiate victory with a win in the 100 back (53.70). She took second in the 200 back (1:56.87). Fellow rookie Gracie Lanning won the 200 breast (2:12.85), a mark that ranks sixth in program history.
Northwestern won the 200 medley relay with Grey Davis, Teya Nikolova, Ekaterina Nikonova and Lindsay Ervin won in 1:39.16.
Northwestern’s Zoe Nordmann won the 1000 free in 9:45.69 and 500 free (4:46.30). Margaret Papanicholas won the 100 breaststroke (1:01.63). Ervin won the 50 free in 22.49. Gretchen Braun won the 200 back (1:56.78).
Ervin, Nikonova, Audrey Yu and Amy Pan won the 400 free relay in 3:17.15.
On the men’s side, the Irish won nine events with two victories each for sophomores Shane Eckler and Patrick Branon. Eckler won the 50 and 100 free (19.58/43.19), and he now ranks seventh in program history in both events. He topped that 100 free time with a 42.66 lead-off leg in the 400 free relay, going 42.66 and earning the third spot on the list.
Branon won the 200 free (1:36.04) and 500 free (4:21.38). Branon now ranks 10th in program history in the 500 free and posted the fastest time in the event for an Irish swimmer since 2021.
Additionally, Sean Atkinson earned an Irish win in the 1000 free (9:12.66), and Dillon Edge won the 100 fly (47.27) while taking second in the 200 fly (1:45.77).
Notre Dame closed out the meet with a tie for first in the aforementioned 400 free relay, courtesy of Eckler, Min-Gyo Jang, Hvroje Tomic and Edge. Their time was 2:53.18.
In the diving well, Daniel Knapp won the 1-meter (391.13), and Ben Nguyen won the 3-meter (369.53).
Northwestern’s David Gerchik, Joshua Staples, Gal Shlegal and Stuart Seymour won the 200 medley relay (1:26.17). Seymour won the 100 back (45.92).
Staples won the 100 breast (53.09) and 200 breast (1:55.46). Diego Nosack won the 200 fly (1:44.50). Oliver Kos won the 200 back (1:44.08). Chris Leung won the 100 IM (48.47).
