Sarah Bender 2022-23 Swimming and Diving Roster

HONORS AND AWARDS

• 2023-24 team captain
• 2024 Rockne Scholar-Athlete Award
• 2024 All-ACC Academic Team
• Ranks eighth in program history in 200 breast (2:13.35)
• 2023 All-ACC Academic Team

AS A SENIOR (2023-24)

• Finished 22nd in the 100 breast (1:02.33) and 20th in the 200 breast (2:14.19) at the 2024 ACC Championships. Also swam the 400 IM (4:20.27)
• At the Tim Welsh Classic, came in fifth in 200 breast (2:15.26), ninth in 100 breast (1:03.83) and competed in the 200 IM (2:03.59). Also swam the 400 medley relay, 200 medley relay, and 400 free relay.
• Against Princeton and Navy, Bender finished fifth in four individual events: 100 breast (1:02.98), 200 breast (2:15.58), 200 IM (2:04.22) and 400 IM (season-best 4:20.73). Was also a member of the 200 medley relay that took fourth
• Posted two season-bests at the Ohio State Fall Invitational — finished fifth in the 200 breast (2:12.80) and 20th in the 200 IM (2:03.24). The 200 breast time is the fastest Bender has posted at Notre Dame and moves her into fifth all-time in program history. Also achieved U.S. Open cuts in the 100 (1:12.06) and 200 breast (2:33.71)
• Placed fourth in the 200 breast (2:21.31) and sixth in the 200 IM (2:06.52) against Louisville
• Swam three events in the tri-meet against Pitt and Penn State — 200 breast (2:15.90, placed second), 200 IM (2:04.25, placed eighth) and 400 IM (4:23.56, placed sixth)
• Against Purdue, took fourth in the 200 IM (2:07.68) and fifth in the 200 breaststroke (2:22.15)
• Finished fourth in the 200 IM (2:06.84), sixth in the 200 breast (2:21.63) and eighth in the 200 free (1:55.98) in the opener against Wisconsin

AS A JUNIOR (2022-23)

• Finished 21st in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.79), 23rd in the 400 IM (4:18.30) and participated in the 200 IM (2:02.51) at ACCs
• Took second in the 200 breast (2:20.86) in a tri-meet against Pittsburgh and Penn State
• Finished ninth overall in the 200 breast (2:13.91) at the Ohio State Invitational
• Finished third in the 200 breaststroke (2:13.92) against Navy and Princeton

AS A SOPHOMORE (2021-22)

• Competed in the 200 breaststroke, 200 IM (2:02.47) and 400 IM (4:21.08) at the 2022 ACC Championships.
• Qualified for the B finals of the 200 breaststroke and finished 14th overall with a time of 2:13.54. In the prelims, she swam the eighth-fastest time in program history with a 2:13.35.
• Placed second in the 400 IM (4:19.96), fourth in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.90) and sixth in the 200 IM (2:02.45) at the Tim Welsh Classic.
• Swam in the 200 breaststroke finals (2:15.58) and 100 breaststroke finals (1:03.79) at the Ohio State Invitational.
• Won the 200 breaststroke (2:19.28) and finished fifth in the 200 IM (2:06.49) in the dual meet against Purdue.
• Placed third in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.39), sixth in the 200 IM (2:07.90) and sixth in the 400 IM (4:30.73) in the season-opening meet against Pittsburgh and Cleveland State.

AS A FRESHMAN (2020-21)

• Placed third in the 400-yard IM (4:19.08). Placed third in the 200-yard IM (2:02.81). Placed first in the 200-yard Backstroke (2:14.53) in the virtual meet vs. West Virginia (Nov. 6-7, 2020).
• Placed second in the 200-yard Medley Relay with Bayley Stewart, Megan Deuel, and Peyton D’Emanuele (1:41.82). Placed second in the 100-yard Breaststroke (1:04.19). Placed first in the 200-yard Breaststroke (2:17.45). Placed first in the 200-yard IM (2:04.22) in the dual meet win vs. Cincinnati (Dec. 4, 2020).
• Placed fifth in the 200-yard IM (2:02.63). Placed fourth in the 400-yard IM (4:21.80). Placed tenth in the 100-yard Breaststroke (1:04.80). Placed fourth in the 200-yard Breaststroke (2:16.12) in the win over No. RV Akron in the Shamrock Invitational (Jan. 21-23, 2021).
• Placed fourth in the 200-yard Backstroke (2:02.52). Participated in the 100-yard Backstroke (56.59) in the dual meet win over West Virginia (Jan. 29-30, 2021).
• Placed twenty-third in the 400-yard IM (4:20.47). Placed twenty-fourth in the 200-yard Breaststroke (2:15.79) in Notre Dame’s fifth-place finish at the ACC Championships (Feb. 17-20, 2021).

PREP AND PERSONAL

• Swam for Nova of Virginia Aquatics
• VHSL All-State in the 100 and 200 freestyle as a junior
• USA Swimming Scholastic All-American as a sophomore and junior
• School record-holder in the 100 Free and 200 IM
• Received several academic awards in high school, including Math award (11th), National French Exam Bronze Medal (9th and 11th), Art award (9th), National AP Scholar (11th), National Merit Semifinalist, Scholastic Art and Writing Silver Key winner (9th)
• School record holder in the 100 Free, 200 IM, 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay and 400†Free Relay, team runner-up at VHSL 5A States in 2018
• Club honors: 9x USA Swimming Junior Nationals Finalist, 12x NCSA Finalist, 4x Virginia Swimming State Champion in the 200 breaststroke (3x LCM, 1x SCY), state record holder in the 400 Medley and 400 Free relays LCM, NCSA Runner-Up in the 800 Free relay (2019), NCSA women’s team runner-up in 2017, 2x USA Swimming Scholastic All-America
• Member of Rebelettes 2020 Service Club at Freeman HS from 2016-20 (all-girls service group completing outreach projects during the school year), member of French club at Freeman HS from 2016-20 (completes language-based activities and community events), member of Beta Club (in-school tutoring honors society), French NHS (language tutoring), Mu Alpha Theta (math tutoring honors society), and National Honors society from 2019-20, volunteer at Richmond Marathon (2016, 2017), and Richmond Country Club Dunk for Hunger Food Drive (2017, 2018, 2019 summers)
• Daughter of Jeff and Amy; has two brothers, Matt and Zach
• Majoring in political science and statistics