By Josh Lipka
The University of Louisville’s swimming and diving swept the Big East championship with 22 overall wins snapping Notre Dame’s 14-year reign as Big East Champions. This win for the women’s Cardinal side put an end to Notre Dame’s 14 year run, the longest conference championship streak of any NCAA sport. The women lead the spread to a score of 820.5 to 655 over runner-up Notre Dame. The men’s team defended their championship title from last year’s Big East Tournament toppling Notre Dame to a score of 917 to 713.5
Louisville head coach Arthur Albiero was named Big East Coach of the Year for his third consecutive year.
Cardinal swimmers of note: For the Men’s Junior Riley Martin defended his title in the 1650-free style with a time of 15:16.70 and junior Shane Lichtenberg finished second with a time of 15:24.20. In the 100-free style junior Brendon Andrews came on top in first place with a time of 43.5 and teammate freshman Joao De Lucca touched second with a time of 45.11. In the final, junior Carlos Almeida finished first with a time of 1:54.98. In the 200-fly, junior Raine Thompson placed second with a time of 1:58.47.
For the women Cardinals, sophomore Eszter Povazsay finished second in the 200 back stroke. Junior Aileen Cole placed second in the 100-free style. Freshman Breann McDowell won the consols with a time of 50.41 while junior Lacey Bobo placed second with a score of 51.58. In the 400-free style relay, the Cardinal team of four that consisted of Cole, McDowell, freshman Krissie Brandenburg, and sophomore Grite Apanaviciute placed second with a time of 3:19.91.
In the men’s 400-free style relay, Andrews, De Lucca, freshman Albert Lloyd, and freshman Alex Burtch split a time 2:54.04 which set a Big East record.
