Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2018 55 offensive line coach Harry Hiestand returning to the Chicago Bears after producing more draft picks in the top three rounds than any other college offensive line coach during his tenure were punches to the gut. Promoted as their replacements were linebacker coach Clark Lea and offensive analyst Jeff Quinn, who had been head coach Brian Kelly's right- hand man for 20 years before Kelly took the head coaching position at Top Female Athletes 1. Arike Ogunbowale & Teammates (Basketball) The junior's scoring average of 20.8 points per game broke the 21-year single-season record of 20.4 held by Katryna Gaither — but this is more about basketball immortality. Her legendary horn-beating, game-winning shots against No. 1 UConn and No. 2 Mississippi State, both in the Final Four, may well be deemed the most memorable back-to-back events in the NCAA Tournament, men's or women's, 50 or even 100 years from now. 2t. Francesca Russo, Sabrina Massialas & Amanda Sirico (Fencing) This is just as much a "lifetime achievement" recognition for the gradu- ated senior Russo, who won sabre national titles in 2015 and 2017 plus tied for third in the event on this year's national championship team. Joining her as first-team All-Americans were juniors Massialas and Sirico, who placed second and tied for third in the foil and epee, respectively. 5t. Jessica Harris & Anna Rohrer (Track) In addition to winning her third ACC crown, the senior Harris earned first-team All-America honors in the 1,500 meters (4:37.22) at the NCAA Indoor Championships and second-team All-America notice at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Injured in the fall, the junior Rohrer returned to first-team All-American form by placing 10th in the 10,000 meters (32:26.24) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Rookie Of The Year: Softball pitcher Alexis Holloway was the first Notre Dame freshman named to the top regional team since 2001, finishing 20-13 with a 2.55 ERA for the 34-23 Irish during her 45 appearances (36 starts and 22 complete games), highlighted by a no-hitter at North Carolina State. — Lou Somogyi Top Male Athletes Each of this quintet was the best in the na- tion at his particular position or discipline, so to rank this Nos. 1-5 is subjective. Any could just as easily be No. 1. What we based it on heaviest is whose impact helped his team the most: 1. Cale Morris (Hockey) In athletics the two most potentially dominant figures are a baseball pitcher and hockey goalie. The sophomore Morris played only one game as a freshman behind Mike Richter Award finalist Cal Petersen, who left early for the NHL — and this year Morris came out of nowhere to win the Richter Award as the nation's top goaltender. His 27 wins and 1,202 saves led the na- tion, and his .944 save percentage tied for the best in the country. Also the Big Ten Player of the Year (eight times the league's player of the week), his consis- tent excellence helped lead Notre Dame to a school-record 16-game winning streak, Big Ten regular-season and league tournament championships, and an NCAA runner-up fin- ish to Minnesota Duluth. 2t. Quenton Nelson & Mike McGlinchey (Football) This duo is inexorably linked after helping the Irish win the Joe Moore Award as the nation's premier offensive line and then becoming the first O-line tandem from the same school to be taken among the first 10 selections of the NFL Draft since 1991. Left guard Nelson was named the 29th unanimous All-American in the school's football annals, while left tackle McGlinchey received consensus honors. 4. Nick Itkin (Fencing) The freshman won an individual national championship in the foil event while de- livering a "masterpiece" performance in the finals, per head coach Gia Kvaratskhelia. Junior foil Axel Kiefer and sophomore epee Ariel Simmons also were first-team All-Americans. 5. John Sexton (Lacrosse) Like Nelson in football, the senior long-stick defensive midfielder was a unanimous first-team All-American — and won the William C. Schmeisser Award as the na- tion's top defenseman. He had a team- high 60 ground balls and 19 caused turn- overs while helping the Irish capture the ACC Championship. Co-Rookie Of The Year: In addition to Itkin, freshman Zach Yeadon had the best-ever placement by an Irish men's swimmer at the NCAA Championships, fourth in the 1,650-meter free- style. The first-team All-American set school records in the 500-meter freestyle (4:12.74), 1,000-meter freestyle (8.56.16) and 1,650-meter freestyle (14:34.60). — Lou Somogyi Cale Morris won the Mike Richter Award — given to the top goaltender in the country — after leading the nation in victories (27) and saves made (1,202) while helping Notre Dame reach the NCAA championship game. PHOTO COURTESY FIGHTING IRISH DIGITAL MEDIA Helping the Fighting Irish win their 10th fencing national championship since 1977 were first-team All-Americans Francesca Russo (front row, far left), Amanda Sirico (under trophy) and Sabrina Massialas (front row, far right). PHOTO COURTESY FIGHTING IRISH DIGITAL MEDIA