Tag: Notre Dame swimming

Former Notre Dame swimming coach sues for gender discrimination

A former swimming coach is suing over how she was treated after informing the university of her pregnancy.

Notre Dame is the subject of a federal lawsuit filed by a former swimming coach. April Jensen, once an associate coach with the program, is suing for gender and pregnancy discrimination along with retaliation. She will look to collect damages and equitable relief.

Jensen said that in May 2019, she informed her supervisor of her pregnancy, then returned to her post that fall visibly pregnant. She alleges that she then was subject to one injustice, discrimination and humiliation after another, both before and after she went on maternity leave. Eventually, she was informed over a Zoom call with her supervisor and the assistant athletic director that her contract was being terminated. The suit says that she was let go over the previous years and not her coaching or relationships with student-athletes.

When WBND-LD, South Bend’s ABC affiliate, reached out to Notre Dame for a response, the university said, “Because this is pending litigation, we have no comment.”

Notre Dame Women’s Swimming Victorious at Shamrock Invitational

The Notre Dame women’s swimming team followed the men by winning their portion of the Shamrock Invitational, 260-109, over Akron.

The Notre Dame women’s swimming team followed the men by winning their portion of the Shamrock Invitational, 260-109, over Akron. The highlight was a program record set by Kelly Straub. In the 1-meter, she scored a 340.35 over her six dives. The previous record was set in 2012.

The Irish also got key performances from Bayley Stewart, who clocked in at 1 minute, 53.46 seconds in the 200-meter backstroke, and Coleen Gillilan, who had a 1:55.37 in the 200 butterfly. Both of those times were pool records, bringing the total number of pool records set by both the men’s and women’s teams during the Shamrock Invitational to seven.

In the morning session, Gillilan won the 100 breaststroke in 1:01.40 and joined the team of Carly Quast, Cailey Grunhard and Ellie Jew to win the 200 medley relay in 1:39.27. Luciana Thomas took the 400 individual medley in 4:13.25, Stewart won the 100 backstroke in 53.35, and Kallie Chelsvig clocked in a 1:49.49 to win the 200 freestyle.

For the afternoon session, Madeline LaPorte won the 1,650 freestyle in 16:25.48. The final win came from the 400 free relay team of Gillilan, Quast, Rachel Wittmer and Skyler Fore (3:19.51).

Notre Dame Men Earn Senior Day Win in Shamrock Invitational

After getting off to such a strong start against Missouri State in the Shamrock Invitational on Thursday, Friday merely was a curtain call.

After getting off to such a strong start against Missouri State in the Shamrock Invitational on Thursday, Friday merely was a curtain call. As it also was Senior Day, the day began with a ceremony to honor those who are moving on. Then, the Irish won in every category to earn a 268-86 victory.

Austin Flaute was the winner in both the 1-meter (350.18) and 3-meter (379.43) diving events. On the swimming side, the Irish increased their NCAA B-Cuts for the meet to nine. Winners were Jack Hoagland in the 1,650-meter freestyle (14 minutes, 59.49 seconds), Jack Fitzpatrick in the 200 backstroke (1:45.09), Cason Wilburn in the 100 freestyle (43.60), Tyler Christianson in the 200 breaststroke (1:55.49) and Max Miranda in the 200 butterfly (1:46.99).

The women began their portion of the meet Friday against Akron, and they hold an 84-26 lead after six events. It began with a win in the 200 freestyle relay (1:30.78) by the team of Coleen Gillian, Cailey Grunhard, Rachel Wittmer and Carly Quast. Skylar Fore joined Gillian, Quast and Grunhard to win the 400 medley relay in 3:35.90. Individual winners were Gillian in the 200 individual medley (1:57.46), Grunhard in the 50 freestyle (23.23) and Luciana Thomas in the 500 freestyle (4:46.48).

Swimmer Michael Flynn Commits to Notre Dame for 2022-23

Notre Dame’s men’s swimming and diving team now has four commits for the class of 2026.

Notre Dame’s men’s swimming and diving team now has four commits for the class of 2026. This became official after Michael Flynn of Brookfield, Illinois, made the following announcement:

“I am extremely humbled to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Notre Dame. I would like to thank all my coaches, teammates, friends, and family who have helped me get to where I am today. Go Irish ☘️”

Flynn, who swims for Fenwick and Lyons Aquatics, has joined the group of junior commits that already featured Jack Anderson, Tate Bacon and Dillon Edge. He specializes in freestyle events as evidenced by his third-place finish in the 500-meter freestyle (4 minutes, 29.06 seconds) and ninth-place finish in the 200 (1:40.63) at the Illinois state meet. He also competes in the breaststroke and individual medley.

Flynn will be a freshman at Notre Dame at the same time current Irish swimmer Liam Hutchinson is a senior. Like Flynn, Hutchinson hails from Fenwick and also specializes in the freestyle and individual medley. He placed third in the 500 freestyle four times in 2019-20.

Winter Juniors Finalist Bryce Ortanes Selects Notre Dame

Notre Dame continues to receive verbal commitments for its Class of 2025.

Notre Dame continues to receive verbal commitments for its Class of 2025. The latest swimmer to pledge his services to the Irish is Bryce Ortanes, a senior at Cherry Creek High School in the Denver area. Ortanes made the following Instagram post in announcing his decision:

Ortanes is at his best when it comes to the backstroke. That’s a relief to an Irish team that just graduated Jack Montesi, its best swimmer in that event last season. However, backstrokers Joe Hunt and Kaden Smesko will join Notre Dame this season.

In 2019, Ortenas was on a Cherry Creek team that won a state championship. He was on the relay teams that won both the 200-meter medley and 400 freestyle. Individually, he was fourth in the 50 freestyle (21.11 seconds) and eighth in the 100 backstroke (51.15).

Ortenas does his club swimming with the Aquawolves Swim Team, which he represented in the 2019 Speedo Winter Junior Championships. There, he set personal bests in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 100 and 200 backstrokes.

The Irish landed a real winner here, and he should make an impact quickly upon arriving in South Bend.