Texas triumph
NDC sets eight program records at National Championship

SAN ANTONIO – The Notre Dame Women's Swimming and Diving team closed out their second season over the weekend (Feb. 28-Mar. 1) at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Swimming and Diving National Championships. The Falcons finished in 11th place out of 22 teams with 77 points. Notre Dame finished the weekend with eight new program records to wrap up the 2007-08 season.

Day one of the competition saw three records fall for the Falcons. The 200 Yard Medley Relay of Maggie Lusnia (So/North Olmsted, OH), Kelly O'Connor (So/Peoria, AZ), Maria Buenano (So/Guyaquil, Ecuador) and Caley Miller (Fr/Fremont, OH) set a new program record of 1:58.23 which was good enough for an 11th place finish in the event.

Buenano set the first of three individual records for the weekend beginning with the 500 Yard Freestyle. The sophomore standout finished in 23rd place with a time of 5:33.15.

Closing out the first day in style, the 800 Yard Freestyle Relay team of Buenano, Emily Perkins (So/Cincinnati, OH), Miller and Shannan Fitzgerald (So/Hewitt, NJ) finished just outside the top ten again with a time of 8:33.00. Their 11th place finish also sets a new program record.

In the second day of competition, two more records fell for Notre Dame.In the 100 Yard Butterfly, Buenano finished 17th with her second program record of the meet with a time of 1:01.85.

The 400 Yard Medley Relay kept the record breaking alive with a third top time in the relay events. Perkins, O'Connor, Buenano and Fitzgerald earned tenth place with a time of 4:16.78.

Headed into the third and final day of competition, NDC sat in twelfth place. Miller lead the day off with a new record in the 100 Yard Freestyle (57.22).

Buenano and Fitzgerald's performances in the 200 Yard Butterfly not only set personal bests but also a new program record and eventually the points to secure the 11th place overall finish. Buenano notched her third program record of the weekend with a time of 2:14.96. Fitzgerald clocked in at 2:16.85 for an 11th place and career best time.

The Falcons closed out their stellar weekend with a 12th place finish in the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay. O'Connor, Buenano, Miller and Fitzgerald clocked in at 3:51.19 in Finals. Their preliminary time of 3:51.13 is a new program record.

"Overall, I am pleased with how this meet panned out," said Head Coach Mike Gallagher, "We set a ton of new program records and these swimmers really pushed themselves."

The NAIA National Championships close out Notre Dame's sophomore season.  The Falcons jumped two spots in overall performance to an 11th place finish up from 13th in last year. In 2008 NDC improved their dual meet record to 5-9 from 3-5 in 2007. When the Falcons next hit the water, it will be as a combined Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving squad.  NDC announced in November that Men's Swimming will be added for the 2008-09 season.

NOTES FROM THE NEST....

BROKEN RECORD: This season, 15 new records were set by the Falcons. Of those 15, eight were set at the NAIA Swimming and Diving National Championships. "The number of records set this season shows the progression this team is making in such a short time," said Gallagher, "I am very proud of the way this team has trained and focused to set the tone of the program for seasons to come."

MEDALS OF HONOR:The 2007-08 season was lead by Maria Buenano who finished her rookie season with 28 medals (18 Gold, seven Silver, three Bronze). Emily Perkins leads the Falcons in career medals with 43 (17 Gold, 14 Silver, 13 Bronze).

REPEAT OFFENDERS: Of the existing records, Kelly O'Connor and Buenano lead the program with number of records held. As individuals each has their name in the book three times. O'Connor holds records in the 50 Yard Freestyle (26.00) , 50 Yard Breaststroke (34.44) and 100 Yard Breaststroke (1:12.70). Buenano leads the way in the 100 Yard Butterfly (1:01.85) and 200 Yard Butterfly (2:15.75) and the 500 Yard Freestyle (5:33.15). Both O'Connor and Buenano are listed on four different record-holding Falcon relay teams for a total of seven records apiece.