Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/296331
ND SPORTS of a second off of that mark in the na- tional championship race (2:04.06) while going head to head with the for- mer record holder — Breeja Larson of Texas A&M. Larson, who won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games, was only a lane away from Reaney but fin- ished a full second behind. Reaney said the ACC victory and see- ing her name as the top seed at the na- tional meet gave her a confidence boost and made her realize that a national title was within her grasp. Reaney has always been a confident swimmer, ac- cording to head coach Brian Barnes, but setting a record helped her lock in on the national title goal. "The confidence has always been there, it just narrowed her focus. She has the skill set," Barnes said. "She knew how to do it. That's what's cool about Emma, the brighter the lights, the better she has been." Barnes said he first thought of a na- tional title as a possibility for Reaney last summer when he saw the way she trained during the break from school. He said her win was a momentum- building moment for the entire pro- gram. Three other Irish swimmers swam the best times of their lives in Minnesota, and the team qualified for more relay events than they have at any previous NCAA Championships meet. "Things like that just go a long way," he said. "It's very important simply because confidence is everything and experience is everything." Confidence and experience are staples of the Irish fencing program, Sophomore Lee Kiefer (right) won her second national title in as many chances in the women's foil compe- tition, defeating teammate Madison Zeiss (left) 13-10 in the final. PHOTO BY JEFF MILLS/WALT MIDDLETON PHOTOGRAPHY.