SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame swimming and diving was back at the Rolfs Aquatic Center on Friday night, and both squads earned a victory over Big Ten foe Northwestern. The No. 25 men’s team topped the Wildcats, 158.5-141.5, while the women eked out a 151-149 win on their side. Both Northwestern and Notre Dame received votes in the October 2025 College Swimming & Diving Association Women’s Top 25. In total, Notre Dame won 18 events on the day.
On the women’s side, sophomore Hollie Widdows was a triple winner, touching first in the 100 free (48.76), 100 fly (53.23) and 100 IM (55.07). Widdows’ time in the 100 free now ranks second in school history, and she is one of only two women in program history to break 49.00.
Both Carli Cronk and Grace Courtney earned a pair of wins as well. Cronk won the 200 free (1:46.06) and 200 fly (1:57.27), and the sophomore moved into fifth all-time at Notre Dame in the former and ninth all-time at Notre Dame in the latter. Courtney won the 1-meter (304.13) and 3-meter (357.15). She is undefeated on the season, having won both events in Notre Dame’s meet against Michigan and Wisconsin on Oct. 10.
Finally, freshman Emily Hamill earned her first collegiate victory with a win in the 100 back (53.70). She took second in the 200 back (1:56.87). Fellow rookie Gracie Lanning won the 200 breast (2:12.85), a mark that ranks sixth in program history.
On the men’s side, the Irish won nine events with two victories each for sophomores Shane Eckler and Patrick Branon. Eckler won the 50 and 100 free (19.58/43.19), and he now ranks seventh in program history in both events. He topped that 100 free time with a 42.66 lead-off leg in the 400 free relay, going 42.66 and earning the third spot on the list.
Branon won the 200 free (1:36.04) and 500 free (4:21.38). Branon now ranks 10th in program history in the 500 free and posted the fastest time in the event for an Irish swimmer since 2021.
Additionally, Sean Atkinson earned an Irish win in the 1000 free (9:12.66), and Dillon Edge won the 100 fly (47.27) while taking second in the 200 fly (1:45.77).
Notre Dame closed out the meet with a tie for first in the aforementioned 400 free relay, courtesy of Eckler, Min-Gyo Jang, Hvroje Tomic and Edge. Their time was 2:53.18.
In the diving well, Daniel Knapp won the 1-meter (391.13), and Ben Nguyen won the 3-meter (369.53). The divers won the same events against Michigan and Wisconsin.
Up next, Notre Dame heads to Louisville for the team’s first away meet of the year. The Nov. 7 clash will start at 6 p.m.