Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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50 JANUARY 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED ND SPORTS BY TODD D. BURLAGE N ot unlike the anticipation and anx- iousness that comes with opening a holiday gift, this fresh start to the Notre Dame indoor track and field season brought similar feelings for first-year Fighting Irish head track coach Matt Sparks. An overhauled coaching staff, an influx of talented freshmen and a re- vamped offseason training regimen were all expected to pay quick divi- dends. But until the wrapping paper is removed, the usual uncertainty and ex- citement that accompanies the opening of any new sports season is amplified. "The season is like putting a puzzle together," Sparks explained. "We just kind of opened the box and laid the pieces out to really see what we have." The gift the team gave to Sparks at the season-opening Blue and Gold In- vitational Nov. 30 in South Bend far exceeded any preseason expectations. Junior Abbey Kapitan grabbed the headlines, setting a Notre Dame school record with a toss of 19.91 meters in the women's weight throw, a quick start to what should be a great season. "It felt really good because it felt like all of the hard work I'd put in during the offseason was actually helping," Kapitan said. "It just got me really ex- cited to see what else I can do." The list of early returns doesn't end there. Irish senior sprinter Kyla Lewis won both the 60-meter and 200-meter events, and Notre Dame junior Maya Sharp took first in the 60-meter hurdles and the long jump. "This was an exciting day for the kids," said Sparks, who is working his first year as the Irish head coach but his fifth season with the program. "Be- cause a lot of them might have been a little unsure of what they were doing during workouts in the fall and how that was going to benefit them come competition time. "I think they were pleasantly sur- prised to see what they were able to do with a new conditioning base." The Blue and Gold Invitational is the last meet of the 2018 calendar year and the launch point to an indoor track and field season that will culminate in late February with the ACC Cham- pionships and ultimately the NCAA Championships in early March. The early season goals, Sparks said, are straightforward. "It's all about building your strength levels and your conditioning," he noted. "We'll fine-tune later." Sparks added that while Kapitan's record throw served as a great launch point to her season, the accomplished thrower better watch her back because sophomore teammate Rachel Tanczos isn't interested in playing bridesmaid to her feats. "The two of them challenge each other every day in practice," Sparks said. "That's what pushed Abbey to break that school record, just knowing that her teammate was there to come and get her if she didn't throw farther. "I think they will go back and forth and build on that record week to week once the season gets going." On the men's side, a trio of freshmen grabbed most of the coach's attention and provided another welcome gift during this holiday season. Colton Crum won the pole vault, Conner Artman won the long jump and Dylan Jacobs took top honors in the 3,000-meter run. Jacobs' time of 8:11.57 stood as one of the best indoor marks in the country early this season. "All of them stepping up and com- peting well in their first time wearing the [ND] monogram," Sparks said. "We're really proud of what they did." The jury is still out on how a solid performance in an early season meet translates into postseason success three months from now. "As the season progresses, we have to get this whole puzzle put together," Sparks said. "The fall was just kind of constructing what the team would look like." ✦ Indoor Track Season Opens With A Welcome Gift Junior Abbey Kapitan set a school record with a toss of 19.91 meters in the weight throw at the season-opening Blue and Gold Invitational Nov. 30 in South Bend. PHOTO COURTESY FIGHTING IRISH MEDIA Irish Roundup HOCKEY (11-5-1 OVERALL, 5-3-0 BIG TEN) No. 5-ranked Notre Dame strung together a seven-game win streak prior to an uncharacteristic 9-1 loss at No. 9 Penn State on Dec. 8. The Irish edged Northern Michigan 2-1 at home Nov. 27, swept Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 5-1 and 3-0, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 and then won the first game of the series versus the Nittany Lions, 5-4, on Dec. 7 before the loss. After the Christmas break, the Irish return to the ice Dec. 31 for a home matchup with Boston College, and then host Michigan in Notre Dame Stadium Jan. 5 for the "Take This Outside" event. MEN'S SOCCER (11-7-3 OVERALL, 4-3-1 ACC) The No. 7 Fighting Irish advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013, when it won the national title, before falling 1-0 to No. 2 seed Indiana Nov. 30. The Irish reached the quarterfinals for the fourth time in program history after a 1-0 overtime victory versus No. 10 seed Virginia in the round of 16 Nov. 25. VOLLEYBALL (16-12 OVERALL, 10-8 ACC) Notre Dame's season came to an end Nov. 21 with a 3-2 loss at Duke. The Irish failed to qualify for postseason play, but a few members of the team have received some honors since the season ended. Senior libero Ryann DeJarld was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and included on the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-East Coast Region team, while freshman outside hitter Charley Niego joined her on the all-region squad. — David McKinney