Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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42 NOV. 28, 2016 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED ND SPORTS BY DAVID MCKINNEY H e didn't even realize it until he got out of the pool. Justin Plashcka, a junior swimmer at Notre Dame, knew he had swam fast in the 100-meter butterfly race at the FINA World Swimming Champi- onships Dec. 7 in Windsor, Ontario, but he didn't know exactly how fast. Come to find out, Plaschka had broken the Jamaican record for the 100-meter butterfly by more than four seconds, finishing with a time of 52.31 seconds. Plaschka said once he exited the pool and was told he was the new record holder, he was ecstatic. "I was just really proud to find out I had been able to break the record," Plaschka said. "It's kind of hard to describe. I was so proud. My chest filled with joy and I had a big smile on my face. "I had that smile on my face for the rest of the day and the rest of the week." Plaschka said breaking that record was a long time in the making. "It was one of the accomplish- ments I've been trying to get for so long," Plaschka said. "I was so happy to finally be able to do it." The success Plaschka has seen in the pool didn't come overnight. The Notre Dame swimmer said he's been working nonstop all year to achieve his goals. "Just the constant work that I've been putting in," Plaschka said. "We started training in August, so we've been going for almost four months now." Of course, he's had some help. "My coaches here at school are my primary coaches," Plaschka said. "They're so devoted to trying to make us better week after week and meet after meet." Breaking the record is no doubt a milestone for Plaschka, but hope- fully, the junior said, more success and bigger things wait ahead. "My ultimate goal has always been to get to the Olympics," Plaschka said. "I was about two tenths of a sec- ond off of that this past summer, so that's definitely my ultimate goal." In order to do that, Plaschka said he simply has to continue to do what he's been doing all year. "I just have to stay as committed as possible," Plashcka said. "There's re- ally no times for breaks. I have to be willing to give up my time and lots of other things in order to be able to compete." ✦ Irish Roundup HOCKEY (9-6-2, 5-3-1 HOCKEY EAST) On Dec. 10, the No. 13 Irish handed No. 3 Boston College its first loss of the season on the strength of a three-goal second period. The Irish fell behind 2-0 in the first period, but netted three unanswered goals to close out the game and take home the victory. Leading 3-2 with less than a minute to play, Irish junior goalie Cal Petersen made his 15th save of the game to secure the victory for Notre Dame. The Irish had a three-week break until hosting Alaska for a two-game series Dec. 31-Jan. 1. MEN'S SOCCER (12-7-2, 3-3-2 ACC) The No. 13 Irish were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the third round with a 3-1 loss to fourth-seeded Louisville Nov. 27. Notre Dame finished the season 12-7-2 overall with a 3-3-2 mark in league play. At one point ranked No. 1 in the country, the Irish finished the regular season with four straight losses and a tie. VOLLEYBALL (22-10, 13-7 ACC) The Irish closed out the regular season with a 3-0 win over Boston College Nov. 23 and a 3-1 victory over Syracuse Nov. 25. Though it did not qualify for postseason play, Notre Dame did have four players named to the All-ACC teams: juniors Sam Fry and Caroline Holt plus sophomore Ryann DeJarld were all named to the second team. First-year player Jemma Yeadon was named to the league's All-Freshman squad. — David McKinney Plaschka's time of 52.31 seconds in the 100-meter butterfly at the FINA World Swimming Championships Dec. 7 set a new record for Jamaica, where he holds dual citizenship (along with the USA) and his mother was born. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS Breaking Jamaican Records A Proud Moment For Notre Dame Junior Swimmer Justin Plaschka