After splashing in the pool next to former Spartans, the women’s swimming and diving team will head to South Bend, Ind. to compete against Notre Dame this weekend.
During homecoming week, MSU swimming and diving held their 59th annual Alumni meet — a more relaxed and fun way to start the season. The men’s team will reside in East Lansing, while the women travel and compete Friday.
“It’s a really early start for us,” head coach Matt Gianiodis said in earlier interview. “We didn’t have them (Notre Dame) on the schedule last year so I wanted to get them on the schedule because we are so close. We’re really kind of going into the season without a pre-season kind of meet.”
The Spartans usually start their season with their Green and White Meet to kick off the competitive season, but since that meet is not scheduled this year, Notre Dame will be the women’s first taste of competition this season.
“It’s a tough league and we will see how we do,” Gianiodis said.
Gianiodis said the Notre Dame meet has “a really great team,” and will be tough to beat. Senior Emma Reaney of Notre Dame was named to the U.S. National Team the last two years, excelling in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke.
“Our breast stroke on the women’s side is really good,” Gianiodis said. “Diving is probably our biggest strength. We got to replace the best freestyle women we had last year so our freestyle will be challenged. Our other strokes are really solid.”
The MSU and Notre Dame dual-meet will be held at the Rolfs Aquatic Center in Indiana at 5 p.m.
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