S.R. Smith provides the University of Notre Dame's swim team with new starting blocks

Seen from the balcony, the eight NDs adorning the swim team’s new starting blocks add a spark of pride to the pool and brings the fight song to the mind in Notre Dame fans. Close up, the NDs inspire the Irish to swim faster and they remind opponents just who they’re up against.

The first time S.R. Smith’s new Legacy II sidemount starting blocks, custom designed for the University of Notre Dame’s swim team, were used in a collegiate meet in early October, the Irish smashed relay records in eight events, nabbing wins in 10 of 13 relays for both the men’s and women’s teams.

“Our relay take-offs were pretty good,” said Tim Welsh, head coach for the men’s team, who had eagerly anticipated seeing the new blocks in action during the 41st annual Dennis Stark relay meet, which the Irish hosted for seven other teams.

He added, “We expect to see even better times by the end of the season with these blocks.”

“The large platform allows for a kind of running start,” Welsh said, of the huge 24-inch by 32-inch surface.

And the swimmers agree. “You have more room to step back and get some momentum,” said team leader and senior Patrick O’Berry. “They’re big. They give you more room for your stance and to stretch for a half second before the start.”

Since that meet, the NCAA Division 1 team has jumped from number 19 to number 18 in the rankings after besting some of the nation’s toughest competition from the new blocks.

Coach Welsh and the swimmers also love the new surface S.R. Smith used on these blocks. “It’s rougher than others,” Welsh said.

O’Berry and his teammate, Jamie Lutkus, both said they are much more sure-footed on the blocks because of the revolutionary surface for graphics and great grip. And they appreciated the chance to test it before the team purchased the blocks.

Welsh said that the testing allowed the team to “feel confident that the swimmers would have the best grip possible.”

“These blocks are the first of their kind,” said men’s Assistant Coach Matt Tallman. “S.R. Smith made them for us. They were made to fit our pool.”

Welsh also praised about the sidemount style. “Our bulkheads are narrow,” he said, “So now there’s a lot more room for swimmers. I really like this idea.”

The large 8-inch by 12-inch sidemount step itself also ensures stability.

Not only do the new blocks improve performance, but they also complete the look the coaches were aiming for.

“We’ve been trying bit by bit to improve the pool area aesthetically,” said Tallman. “These blocks really add to that goal. They make the pool look sharp.”

S.R. Smith included a few special touches just for the Irish: the traditional interlocking, navy blue ND logo on the ivory-colored platform, navy-blue, powder-coated base with and a shamrock on the gusset beside the lane number.

“We love the logo,” said Welsh. “You can’t have too many ND logos or shamrocks around here. And with the shamrocks, we have a very good-looking presence when other teams visit.”

And it doesn’t hurt to have opponents staring down at that big ND, Welsh joked. “Maybe it will intimidate them just a little.”

Welsh and the team know that opinion matters in collegiate sports, especially when hosting other teams or when recruiting the nation’s top swimmers. “It’s great to have people impressed by them,” said breaststroke swimmer Lutkus.

“Everything that upgrades the pool enhances our reputation as a team,” Welsh said. “People like to go to meets at attractive pools.”

And Welsh himself was impressed with even the details S.R. Smith included on the blocks, such as the powder-coated base that won’t rust and the new versatile backstroke bar––now standard on all new S.R. Smith starting blocks––which gives swimmers two options for a grip: horizontal or vertical.

“The new handles can accommodate more athletes comfortably,” Welsh said. “They’re a wonderful functional improvement for us.”

The blocks do just what they were designed to do: add beauty and team spirit to a pool, with the added benefit of confident performance. Notre Dame is one team that prefers not to leave the luck of the Irish to chance.