Fall/Winter of The Gates

The Gates thegates@ndapa.org

Volume LIV

2019-2020 Editorial Board

Issue No. 2

Winter 2020

Presenting ND’s 2019-2020 Five Main Get to Know Your 5 Main: Joanie Zozaya, Morgan Devine, Maggie Beck, Allie Lynch, and Grace Bleckley!

Editor-in-Chief: Lauren Gunn Senior Editor: Mary-Katharine Pontarelli Art and Design Editor: Eva Elizabeth Kraus Sports Editor: Meghan O’Meara Staff Writers: Ella Canavan, Avery Cellucci, Madison Frank, Meghan Gallary, Nicole Gunn, Hannah Jackson, Ashley Kelly, Isabela Langley, Charlotte Lignowski, Grace E. McHugh, Alexandra Murray, Olivia Nast, and Rachel Swan (See article on page 3)

Winter Ball Masquerade Party

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Teacher Feature: Yay or Nay

Eva Kraus ’20

Comments

I'm not a fan of stereotypes! • None of these are too hateful, except maybe the scrappy jeans. • So much stuff on your wrists!!!!! • Just be yourself! • I’ve read up on this - I still don’t get it • History repeats itself yet again. • It seems like a stereotype about stereotypes. Just let people be who they are without labels. A lot of hype about nothing, really. Also, check the origins of some of the aspects of VSCO girls to be aware of cultural appropriation. • With the exception of Birkenstocks. Yuck! • I feel like the generation above you (millennials) were dressing like this already and I'm just confused why it's now a "thing." • Too old and disconnected to understand this. So it's just a bunch of people who only buy certain things and then post themselves all looking exactly the same? • Huh? Why? • No idea what this is. • Having fallen prey to the trends of my own youth, I cannot judge...;) • I still don't understand this concept! • I thought this was some sort of insult? No? I laughed when I read that there is suspicion that China is using TikTok to spy on the US. Sounds like fake news to me! • These amuse me. • It promotes dance BUT not during my class!!!!!! • I still don't get it... • A hard no. • I think the idea is fun but there is a time and place. Every free second of your life is not the time. The classroom is not the place. • Too old: don't see the appeal. Having said that, cute ones of pets are acceptable. • Stop. It. You're wasting your youth on this app. • Get off your phones!!!! • Just nope. • Still attempting to understand this one, although my French 1 girls have educated me on it. • Love the idea and how creative people get with it, but the fact that it is orchestrated in China definitely raises red flags (no pun intended) • Just not 24/7!!!! • Kids love them. • I don't get it. I downloaded TikTok so I could understand the obsession, but it just has made me more confused. • There has been evidence and news reports of hacking into accounts. Privacy is very questionable.

They look like great support for your feet, but the whole name brand thing bothers me! The same shoes without the name would be cheaper. • Not a big fan of feet. • Still Birkenstocks • Dislike immensely! • I just don't like Birkenstocks and never have. • C'mon, of course I love Birkenstocks • So. Darn.

Comfy. • Simple, comfortable and good quality. • These are back in style? • They look comfortable. • They're not flip flops!

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Let’s Meet 5 Main!

Question Key: 1. Favorite thing about being on 5 Main 2. Favorite thing about ND / what you'll miss most next year 3. Favorite club, sport, or activity you’re involved in at ND 4. Advice for underclassmen 5. Favorite song 6. Favorite food to get from the cafeteria 7. Favorite Vine 8. Favorite TikTok 9. Favorite lyric in “Lord I Need You”

Continued from cover

Olivia Nast ’20

Joanie Zozaya: President

1. My favorite thing about being a part of 5 Main is that we are able to have a say and prepare for our school's favorite events. We are able to interact with girls from all the grades at the school and be involved in improving our school community.

2. One of my favorite things about ND is the community here. I go to a school where I am not afraid to talk to everyone and I am able to be comfortable around the school because all the students and faculty have such a close bond different from any other school. I'll miss seeing my friends around the halls, talking to my favorite teachers, and the environment at ND. 4. Stop worrying. You spend so much time worrying about classes, social media, what Sage has for lunch that day. I know it is cliché to say but, your time at ND really does fly by, do not waste important moments worrying.

5. “Thank u, next”...need I say more?

7. "What did y'all get for number 12? I got 18. I got 9.5. I got Abraham Lincoln, for some reason I don't-"

Morgan Devine: Vice-President 1. My favorite thing about being on 5 Main is the time I spend with the other four girls. We have such a fun time together. I also love planning events and promoting all the different parts of ND. 2. My favorite part of ND is Denim Day. I am absolutely in love with everything bizarre about Denim Day. Best “holiday” of the year. I will miss weird traditions like that next year along with all of my teachers, friends, and red sisters.

4. Don’t waste a second.

6. BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAP 7. “It’s […] bats, I love Halloween.”

Maggie Beck: Secretary 1. Being a model for the school!

4. Branch out and take advantage of everything offered to you.

5. “Golden” - Harry Styles 6. Fiesta Friday 8. No specific favorite. I’m just there for the humor.

Allie Lynch: Treasurer 1. Getting to plan events - the brainstorming, shopping trips, and pulling the event off in the end is definitely a great feeling :) 2. My favorite part of ND is how unreal and awesome the school is - what other school has a day like Spirit Day, gets bed bugs, gets off because of snow, freaks out about Fiesta Friday, etc.?

3. Basketball!

4. Don't wish your time away at ND. Don't hope for the privileges as an upperclassmen or wish it was summer on a cold winter day. Enjoy Spirit Day and running around school with your friends in the snow. Enjoy all the small moments, even if they seem like they don't matter!

9. “And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You. Jesus, you're my hope and stay.”

Grace Bleckley: Athletics and Activities President

1. My favorite thing about being on 5 Main is being able to plan new events/activities for the school so we can make the most out of the school year.

2. I literally can’t pick a favorite thing about ND; she’s perfect. I think I’ll miss my friends the most since we will go from seeing each other multiple times each day to being spread across the country.

3. NOCCER!!! (by a long-shot) 7. Ms. Keisha 8. I do not partake in any “TikToking” activities.

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Australia is on Fire Australia has been dealing with bushfires since September, and it is only getting worse. As of January 6th, over 2,000 homes have perished and approximately two dozen lives have been overtaken by the flames. Nearly one billion animals have died in the fires thus far with no end in sight. Tens of millions of dollars have been donated to the cause and awareness is spreading all over the world. The Australian government has committed at least $1.4 billion USD to the fires, according to Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia.

The fires have devastated many regions of the continent, burning more than 6.3 million hectares of bush, forests, and farms. New South Wales has been affected the most as it has experienced the burning of almost 5 million hectares of land. These fires are substantially larger than the California and Amazon wildfires that have burned in the past few years. Meteorologists have warned that hotter and drier temperatures in the future will contribute to the severity of the situation, but hopefully, a solution is found in the coming weeks.

Television Takeover: The Walt Disney Company Releases Disney+ Starting in 2019, many began to wonder why the entertainment corporation announced that Netflix will be 100% Disney-free by the New Year, but just before Thanksgiving, the question was answered. This past fall, The Walt Disney Company publicly released a new streaming service, consisting of more than 500 movies and 7,500 television shows, made by several of the most popular Disney-owned networks. Disney Plus became available for purchase at midnight on November 12, 2019, and just 24 hours later, 10 million people worldwide already had registered accounts.

Thousands of features from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and of course Disney were launched, making the monthly subscription an ideal present for the holidays!

Titles such as The Mandalorian, High School Musical the Musical: the Series, and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody are among the list of most-watched so far, as more fan-favorites and throwbacks are continually being added!

Meghan Gallary ’21

The College Admissions Scandal and Olivia Jade’s Role In the spring of 2019, many individuals, including famous actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, were involved in a college admissions scandal involving bribery and other illegal activities ensuring their children’s admission to prestigious colleges.

Grace E. McHugh ’20

Both Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin are involved in different situations within the same scandal - Huffman allegedly spent 15k to fake a standardized test score for her daughter, while Loughlin allegedly spent 500k to get both of her daughters admitted into the University of Southern California. Loughlin’s two daughters, social media influencers Olivia and Bella Giannulli, were “recruited” to USC to row on the crew team; 4 (continued on page 5)

(continued from page 4) however, the two girls do not have any prior crew training and did not actively row.

Huffman announced she would plead guilty to one count against her. Loughlin was indicted on a count of conspiracy to commit fraud and a count of money laundering.

Huffman was sentenced to 14 days in prison, but only served 11, and was released on October 25th, 2019. As for Lori Loughlin, she and her husband Mossimo Giannulli pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, and their case is still active.

Olivia Jade, Loughlin’s younger daughter, has been rarely seen in public or on social media since the news broke last March. Her career and online presence was thriving just before the scandal surfaced, with almost 2 million YouTube subscribers and a makeup collaboration with Sephora. Sephora and many other brands have cut ties with Giannulli since the scandal broke.

The day her mother was taken into custody by the FBI, Olivia was seen on a yacht owned by the chairman of the USC Board of Trustees. She had also mentioned in a YouTube video that she did not care about her college education and was most looking forward to “partying” and “game days.” She additionally missed her first week of college classes to go to Fiji with a group of YouTubers. She is not the most admirable student and joked with her younger audience that she “literally never” went to high school.

Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of ND Middle School’s successful production, Frozen, Jr! The cast performed two sold-out shows on February 21 and 22 and both evenings were full of laughter, magic, and fun. From the scenery to the songs, the Disney tale truly came to life on stage.

Amazing job to the ND Theatre Department and everyone who worked both on stage and behind the scenes.

Charlotte Lignowski Class of ‘22

Editor’s Note: These accounts date back to October 2019. Since then, various updates have occurred in Loughlin’s case and new statements are being released weekly.

Grace E. McHugh ’20

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2019 Ring Mass

How to Set Goals for the New Year

On the morning of December 13, 2019, the Junior Class of 2021 received their Notre Dame class rings. An event long awaited by many, the mass took place in Cuvilly Gym and was a moment that members of the junior class will remember forever as they now proudly wear their class rings. Not only did the mass mark an important milestone, it also featured many blessings and wise words from Monsignor John Jagodzinski as well as beautiful music performed by juniors Shannon Clark, Hannah Jackson, Ava MacLaughlin, Johanna Murphy, and Jeannia Telfort. Following the ceremony, attendees gathered on the mansion patio for refreshments and photographs. This special day shared by students, their families, faculty, staff, and alums unifies the Notre Dame community and signifies the eternal ND sisterhood.

Ella Canavan ’21

Happy 2020! It is a New Year which means it is time to set new goals. Setting goals can be hard.

We set goals that are too difficult to reach and we give up trying in only a short matter of time.

Here are 3 simple steps to help you make the best goals for you for the New Year!

Step 1: Make a List of Your Goals Write down several general ideas of areas in which you would like to improve upon during the year (not just what your friend or anyone else wants to prioritize).

For example, be more kind to siblings, drink more water, or spend less time on phones.

One of my own specific examples is improving upon my volleyball skills!

Step 2: Be Specific and Keep Track of Your Progress After you make a list, it is time to get more specific. If you are not specific about your goals, they will be harder to reach. Additionally, keep track of your progress! This can be done by taking pictures or even writing in a journal.

For example, if one’s goal is to be more kind to people, choose a specific way to monitor your kindness by giving a compliment to someone each day. Keep track in a journal of what you said to who and soon enough you can look back upon the kindness you spread in 2020!

For me, instead of improving upon my general volleyball skills, I plan to focus on one specific skill as I would like to improve my jump serve. I plan to write down what exercises I did in each practice that helped me improve my serve!

Step 3: Reach Your Goals After you make your specific goals, put them somewhere you can see them. Hang it up in your bedroom, make it your screensaver, etc. Seeing your goals each day will help remind you to reach them!

Which ND Teacher Are You? Take this mock Buzzfeed quiz to find out if you’re more like Mr. Verdi, Mrs. Burke, Mr. Norton, Mr. Deke, or Sra. G. Make sure to keep track of how many As, Bs, Cs, Ds, and Es you get so that when you finish the quiz you are able to find out which teacher you are. Good luck!

Print the quiz here!

If you follow these 3 simple steps, you will be able to make reachable and impactful goals for the New Year! Best of luck!

Rachel Swan ’23

6 Alex Murray ’20, Olivia Nast ’20

A Winning Robotics Season I am so proud of the achievements of this year's wonderful Robotics team! The girls competed in three FIRST Tech Challenge qualifiers this season: the South Central Pennsylvania Qualifier, the Conestoga Qualifier, and the Lehigh Valley Qualifier. At the Lehigh Valley Qualifier, the team had an amazing day! They won the Connect Award for their outreach activities, along with the 2nd place Collins Aerospace Innovate Award. They took home the 3rd place Design Award for their robot design, and were awarded the 2nd place Inspire Award, which is the overall award for the entire competition. This qualified them for the Pennsylvania State Championship. The team performed extremely well at States and made me so proud: they won two of their matches, holding the high score for a match for much of the event.

They also won the Promote Award, which is given to the team that best represents FIRST Robotics in a video they create. As always, special thanks to Daniella Jose ’17, our team’s alumna mentor, for all her support and assistance.

Deb Gleeson, Faculty Team members: Eva Kraus ’20, Directing Captain Sofia Quagliariello ’20, Building Captain Sofia Oliva ’20, Programming Co-Captain Kaleigh Ianieri ’20, Programming Co-Captain Brigitte Lubker ’20, CAD Captain Emmeline Lignowski ’20 Stefanie Bonini ’21 Karissa Edmundowicz ’21 Kyrah Potter ’21 Julia Szela ’21 Jeannia Telfort ’21 Madison Roselli ’22

Sherry, our robot, star of the 2019-2020 season!

Critics Corner: Frozen 2 Review Frozen 2 was highly anticipated by many since the film’s announcement in 2015. The original film, Frozen, was a huge Disney success and fans couldn’t wait for the story to continue!

The sequel, although in continuation with the previous plot, has its own story and conflicts.

The movie showcases how much the characters have matured and how their relationships have strengthened over time. Specifically, Anna and Kristoff’s romantic relationship develops towards their engagement to be married by the end of the film, while Elsa finds her true passion and where she is meant to be. Another notable aspect of the movie is how the audience discovers more about Elsa and Anna’s parents and the kingdom of Arendelle, Elsa and Anna’s home!

The movie presents elements of mystery, adventure, comedy, and, of course, love included in its plot. Frozen 2 reaches new depth in regards to the side characters, the setting, and the magic. I would rate this movie 4 out of 5 stars because although I believe it to foster the same spirit and light-hearted joy of the first film, it doesn’t quite live up to the anticipation and legacy of the original film and its music. However, it is still a must-see for all!

Nicole Gunn ’22

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CHRISTMAS AT ND The holidays are universally perceived as a time for communal celebration, strengthened relationships, and joy. The usual dreary work and school day is renewed by the lights and songs of a bright time for giving. These elements of Christmastime are quite visible within our own Notre Dame community! For example, hallways and classrooms are embellished with bright and magical Christmas decorations and when Advent Angels are revealed right before break, the Cuvilly gym is filled with nothing but joy and gratitude for one another. From these small details of festive wreaths on the doors of the Mansion to our most favorite events and traditions such as Advent Angels, our school ensures that all students, faculty, staff, and visitors feel the sisterhood of Notre Dame shining within the spirit of the season!

All students are taught to anticipate the season as a cheerful time for gathering and giving thanks. Although there may be unnecessary snow days, each and every day is special and enjoyable. The Christmas assembly right before break radiates the rejoicing energy of the season with songs and dancing for all to enjoy. Along with the festivities and celebrations, the religious spirituality of the season is also highly valued and cherished within the ND community. In addition to Community Prayer discussions of the importance of Advent and celebrating Jesus’ birth, students are given the opportunity and encouraged to attend mass in the mansion chapel.

Christmas is not only a season at ND, but yet another reason to gather and appreciate how fortunate we are to have such a united school community.

Laurel House Christmas Collection Avery Cellucci ’22

Ceramic Students’ Christmas Charity Auction This year, Mrs. Rupertus’s Intro to Ceramics classes had another successful Christmas Charity Auction. Students created plates, bowls, and platters that would be auctioned off on Notre Dame’s Facebook page to benefit Women of Hope. The event raised $1,392! Before the girls crafted their pieces, Ms. Gal discussed Women of Hope, its mission, and whom they are helping, in order for the girls to envision the impact their art was going to make. This auction was a great chance for students to be able to create artwork and make their mark by positively impacting the community around us!

Eva Kraus ’20

During the last few weeks of school in 2019, Student Council organized the annual Christmas Collection. This past year’s Christmas Collection donations went to the Laurel House in Norristown, PA, which is an organization that provides invaluable assistance to victims of domestic abuse. The items collected this year focused on children’s clothing items such as socks and pajamas, which greatly assisted the families in need.

We are so grateful for everyone’s generosity towards such an important cause this past holiday season!

Isabella Langley ’21

Mother-Daughter Christmas Luncheon On Saturday, December 7th, the Springfield Country Club hosted Notre Dame students and their mothers for a luncheon and a pleasant afternoon filled with many

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Notre Dame’s Annual Winter Concert

activities designed to get the holiday season started. A variety of items from different small businesses were for sale and the annual auction with raffle tickets took place. Some of the most memorable prizes up for auction were a “money tree” holding approximately $300, tickets to a Harry Styles concert, and a “Senior Basket” filled with an array of ND items. Lunch and dessert were served as mothers and daughters mingled with other ND families. The Mother-Daughter Luncheon is a valued tradition at Notre Dame and a wonderful way to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

Hannah Jackson ’21

On Thursday, December 12, Notre Dame’s Women’s Chorale, Upper School Instrumental Ensemble, Nightingales, Middle School Women’s Chorale, Middle School Ensemble, 7th Grade chorus classes, and 6th Grade chorus classes performed in the annual ND Christmas Concert.

The collection of songs performed included traditional carols such as “Joy to the World” and “Carol of the Bells,” as well as some popular holiday favorites like “Believe” and “Somewhere in My Memory” from the film Home Alone. As always, there was a sparkling singalong finale that incorporated all students and brought the evening to a magical close. This was a sure way to get into the Christmas spirit!

Middle School Christmas Movie Night On December 6, 2019, Middle School students attended a Christmas movie party held in the Connelly Center dance studio. At the party, students were able to enjoy a classic holiday fanfavorite, Home Alone, as they ate snacks, pizza, and other yummy treats. In addition, students were able to partake in other fun activities such as raffles and a fashion show! Students were even allowed to wear their pajamas and bring blankets and pillows to be comfortable while watching the movie. This movie party was a great opportunity for Notre Dame girls to create stronger bonds with each other as ND sisters while also getting in the holiday spirit! At the event, students created special memories and strengthened relationships and life-long friendships with one another. This is one of the many holiday festivities that takes place at ND and creates a friendly, enjoyable, and festive environment for all of the Middle School students to enjoy!

Eva Kraus ’20

Advent Angels 2019 Advent Angels is one of the most cherished holiday traditions at Notre Dame. It is a time filled with excitement, anticipation, and joy. This year, the Advent Angel theme was GIFTS. Each day, students and faculty were encouraged to follow the specific topic of the day (Greetings, Interests, Fun Facts, Tradition, and Story) in order for their Advent Child to learn a little bit about them each day. Advent Angels is the perfect send-off to break and a great way for everyone at ND to create new friendships.

2019 Advent Angels is one for the books!

Hannah Jackson ’21

Ashley Kelly ’26

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A Day in the Life of MK Pontarelli December 20, 2019: The Last Day of Advent Angels 7:30 AM: Wake up and put on my red and green clothes! I check to make sure I have everything for my Advent Angel note and gift for Julia O’Neill.

I grab my stuff and leave for school.

8:00 AM: Arrive at school. I go to the lounge and check to make sure Julia is not around, which she’s not! I drop my note off in her locker and leave a few extra Reese’s cups taped on the inside. Then, I go and check my Kardashian and Real Housewives covered locker to see what I got from my AA! 8:15 AM: I go to class! Today is a “D” day, so I go to AP HUG, AP Physics, and English before lunch. I spend my time making “Elf Yourself” videos and watching Pride and Prejudice.

12 (ish) PM: Lunch time! I walk down to hear Justin Bieber’s “Drummer Boy” blasting through the cafeteria. I eat my lunch and go to dance with my friends. The DJ played all the typical Christmas hits: “Mistletoe,” “Feliz Navidad,” and “Last Christmas.” After lunch ends, I go up to my last classes before the AA assembly!

2:00 PM: The AA assembly starts with some opening remarks from Dr. Dwyer. Next, the Middle School and Upper School Dance Companies give amazing performances, and everyone loved it! The last event before the big AA reveal is the fashion show. The girls with the most festive outfits get up on stage and show off some dance moves. Caragh Brown and Maggie O’Neill stole the show and won the Upper School fashion show. Now, the moment everyone has been waiting for! I go and surprise Julia (who had no idea that it was me) with her AA gift! She was so surprised! Next thing I know, Maddie Schultz reveals herself as my AA. I had a feeling that it might’ve been her, but I was still shocked! This year of Advent Angels was so exciting and fun; it is always a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit and spread kindness to others!

3:00 PM: I say goodbye to all of my friends before leaving school for Christmas break until January 7th! See you soon, ND! Mary-Katharine Pontarelli ’20

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Christmas Movie Reviews The new streaming platform Disney+ released an original movie to help its viewers get into the 2019 Christmas spirit. The movie Noelle tells the story of Noelle, the daughter of Kris Kringle also known as Santa Claus. Noelle goes on a journey to find her brother after he runs away from the North Pole due to the pressure of following in his father’s footsteps and becoming Santa. She finds herself in Phoenix, Arizona in search of her brother, where she learns that a girl too can fill Santa’s shoes.

The movie is light-hearted and a perfect family-friendly movie for holiday seasons to come!

Anna Kendrick, who plays Noelle, gives a fun and inspiring performance that is worth watching. However, Noelle does showcase several Christmas movie clichés, specifically many parallels to the movie Elf, that can detract from the film’s originality. Although it may not become a household staple like various classic holiday movies, Noelle is a fun and joy-filled escape that the whole family can enjoy!

One of the new holiday movies added this year to Netflix was The Knight Before Christmas.

It tells the story of a medieval knight who is sent into the future to achieve his destiny where he meets high school teacher Brooke, played by Vanessa Hudgens. Brooke goes out of her way to help the strange knight after hitting him with her car, and they both have a chance at the kind of love they thought they would never find. There are many plot holes, but the crazy and imaginative concept of the movie works for this film if one is willing to overlook certain aspects. Overall as a Christmas movie it is perfect for anyone who is looking for a lighthearted, rom-com style film. In the end, The Knight Before Christmas, although a heartwarming love story, has a quite predictable plot, and is not any better or any worse than past Netflix original holiday films.

Madison Frank ’22

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Winter Sports Recap Swimming A Record Breaking Season The ND swim team had another record breaking season. With four 2019 All American swimmers, M. Abruzzo, A. Kolessar, M. Kolessar, and N. Stuart as well as the leadership of senior captains, L. Moul, K. Olszewski, and M. O'Neill, the team secured a 3-2 Inter-Ac record and beat Germantown Academy for the first time in school history. They finished out a stellar season by placing 3rd at their biggest meet of the year, the Eastern Championships. Great work to everyone on the team and special congratulations to Mia Abruzzo and Madison Kolessar who qualified for the Olympic Trials this summer!

Indoor Track!

Indoor track had an amazing showing at the Delaware County Championship Meet on January 29. Senior Lindsey Smith placed third in the mile and the 4x8 relay of M. Brady, K. Calvert, L. Smith, and C. Stevenson was just four seconds short of qualifying for States. K. Calvert and L. Smith’s stellar running qualified them for the elite Meet of Champs at Lehigh University.

Meghan O’Meara ’20

Young Players Step Up and Basketball Makes Another Playoff Run As “Nasketball” will soon be losing four key senior players to graduation, the basketball team was looking for younger players to step up. This call was answered by sophomores Julia Dever, Meave McErlane, and freshman Katie Halligan who all have contributed immensely, both offensively and defensively, to help the Irish secure a 19-7 regular season record. Senior Allie Lynch, who will continue her basketball career at the University of Scranton, has consistently been a vital player and leading scorer in games against school rivals, earning her the honor of Mainline Athlete of the Week. The team’s seniors, Mikayla Dever, Riley Gillin, Allie Lynch, and Nora Livingood, were also honored by Markward Basketball Club for their successful high school basketball careers. The season ended with a tough 9-point loss to Penn Charter in the semifinals of the PAISAA Tournament.

Cold Weather Can’t Stop Paddle Notre Dame’s paddle tennis club team has once again been a very popular activity this winter as the girls comprised both Varsity and JV teams.

Paddle tennis is best described as a mix of both tennis and ping pong. Players use rackets resembling that of ping pong paddles while playing on a much smaller version of a traditional tennis court. The girls have played through the cold weather and have had some outstanding matches against Conestoga High School, Episcopal Academy, Great Valley High School, and Radnor High School.

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