Historic Night Lands Irish In First At BIG EAST Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Irish finished a historic opening night at the 2013 BIG
EAST Conference Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships, highlighted by qualifying,
for the first time, not just one but two relays for the NCAA Swimming and Diving
Championships to be held next month. Notre Dame leads all teams following the first
day of action, setting the pace with a team score of 133 points, well ahead of
second-place Pittsburgh (95 points) and third place Connecticut (92).
The Irish closed out the first night of action on a high note, emphatically claiming
the gold medal in the 200 medley relay in an NCAA “A”-cut time of 1:26.33. The
quartet of Bogac Ayhan, Cameron Miller, Frank Dyer, and Zachary Stephens obliterated
the previous team record (1:28.62), which was set only three months ago at the
Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City.
The Irish squad of Dyer, Kevin Hughes, John McGinley and Bill Bass made team history
in the 800 free relay (6:23.40), becoming the first men’s relay to qualify for the
NCAA National Championships, in addition to resetting the school record. The
previous best time was 6:24.11, which was set during last year’s title run when the
league championship was held in Pittsburgh.
Sophomore Nick Nemetz picked up his third All-BIG EAST honor in as many events in
his collegiate career, adding a second place finish in the 1-meter dive (310.05) to
his gold medal sweep of the 1- and 3-meter diving events at last year’s BIG EAST
Championships.
The four-day championship event will continue with Thursday’s preliminary session at
10:00 am (ET). Live coverage will be available at BigEastSwimming.com.

EVENT-BY-EVENT RESULTS
800 Free Relay: Dyer raced out to an early lead for the Irish, posting a lead-off
time of 1:34.17 … Hughes entered the water next for Notre Dame as Louisville slipped
into the lead … McGinley could not make up any ground on the third leg as the Irish
stayed in second place … Bass brought home the relay, cutting into Louisville’s lead
but ultimately falling short, as the Irish recorded a second place finish (6:23.40),
an NCAA “A”-cut which guarantees the squad a berth in the NCAA Championships next
month … the time bested the previous Notre Dame record (6:24.11), set at last year’s
BIG EAST Championship by Dyer, Colin Babcock, McGinley and Kevin Overholt.
1-Meter Dive: Nemetz missed out on defending his crown by just over 6 points,
accruing All-BIG EAST honors with a second place finish (310.05) … Michael Kreft
(300.35), Ted Wagner (299.80), and Ryan Koter (298.10) placed fourth through sixth,
respectively, completing an impressive Irish showing in the event.
200 Medley Relay: Ayhan sprinted out to an early advantage for the team on the
backstroke leg … Miller recorded a sterling breaststroke split of 23.73 to ease the
Irish ahead of the competition … Dyer maintained the lead with a terrific butterfly
split before yielding to anchor-leg swimmer Stephens, who held off a late charge by
Louisville to secure the first victory (1:26.33) for Notre Dame in the meet … the
swim bested the recently-set team record (1:28.62) which was held by Bertie Nel,
Christopher Johnson, Dyer, and Stephens … the swim also was an NCCA “A”-cut time,
which ensures the Irish another spot in the NCAA Championships next month.

THE IRISH THROUGH DAY ONE:
Notre Dame Victories
200 Medley Relay – Bogac Ayhan, Cameron Miller, Frank Dyer, Zachary Stephens – 1:26.33
NCAA A-Cuts
800 Free Relay – Frank Dyer, Kevin Hughes, John McGinley, Bill Bass – 6:23.40
200 Medley Relay – Bogac Ayhan, Cameron Miller, Frank Dyer, Zachary Stephens – 1:26.33
Notre Dame Team Records
800 Free Relay – Frank Dyer, Kevin Hughes, John McGinley, Bill Bass – 6:23.40
200 Medley Relay – Bogac Ayhan, Cameron Miller, Frank Dyer, Zachary Stephens – 1:26.33
All-BIG EAST Honors
800 Free Relay – Frank Dyer, Kevin Hughes, John McGinley, Bill Bass – 6:23.40
1-Meter Dive – Nick Nemetz
200 Medley Relay – Bogac Ayhan, Cameron Miller, Frank Dyer, Zachary Stephens – 1:26.33