2000-2001 may have been the best year ever for Notre Dame athletics in terms of across-the-board success. In the month of April, Fighting Irish teams went a combined 66-8.
Below are the highest national rankings achieved by this year’s varsity teams at any point during the season:
1 — Women’s basketball* (national champion; senior center Ruth Riley was consensus national Player of the Year)
1 — Women’s soccer*
1 — Men’s fencing*
1 — Baseball*
(senior pitcher Aaron Heilman, 15-0, first four-time All-American for ND, 18th selection in baseball’s amateur draft)
2 — Men’s lacrosse*
(five All-Americans)
5 — Women’s fencing
5 — Women’s tennis
(Michelle Dasso, ND’s first four-time All-American, lost in the semis of the NCAA singles tournament, best finish ever for an Irish player.)
9 — Softball*
(four All-Americans)
10 — Football
10 — Men’s basketball
10 — Men’s tennis
14 — Rowing*
15 — Women’s swimming
18 — Men’s cross country
(ninth at NCAA championships, two All-Americans)
18 — Women’s lacrosse*
19 — Volleyball
Club sports teams:
1— Men’s gymnastics
(National Association Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs national champion, second time in four years)
3 — Women’s water polo
8 — Women’s gymnastics
25 — Men’s volleyball
*highest ranking ever for the program
Note: More than one poll exists in several sports. These were highest rankings achieved in any of them.
Links
Varsity sports