Raise Your Voice addresses sexual violence
Keynote panel
By Berhan Hagezom
Saint Mary’s News Editor
Saint Mary’s alumnae and former faculty returned to speak at the 2026 Raise Your Voice Symposium keynote panel. In 2021, College President Katie Conboy established this symposium as a means to address, respond to and develop awareness toward sexual violence occurring within and outside of the tri-campus community.
Redgina Hill, vice president of belonging, opened the event and recognized the Committee for Sexual Violence Prevention, a subcommittee of which organized the symposium. She also thanked Tom and Mary Seeberg with a round of
see “Keynote” on page 3
Exhibit highlights stories of survivors
By Mara Hall Associate News Editor
Editor’s note: This story include mentions of sexual violence. A list of reporting options and on-campus resources can be found on the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross websites.
As part of the Raise your Voice Symposium, Saint Mary’s hosted a “What Were You Wearing?” exhibition on Monday featuring anonymous stories of sexual violence from students, staff and faculty.
Liz Baumann, Saint Mary’s director for harassment education and response and Title XI coordinator, explained that the exhibit represents a national movement originally inspired by Mary Simmerling’s poem, “What I was wearing” and the question of “What were you wearing?” that is asked as a means of victim blaming.
“When we decided to bring Raise Your Voice to our campus in 2022, we wanted a visual exhibit to go with it and the ‘What Were You Wearing?’ exhibit really fit quite nicely in it, so we have kept it ever since,” Baumann said.
She said the hardest part about the exhibit is where to put it. The placement is intended to keep the
location accessible but cause attendees to make an “intentional commitment” before walking in due to the gravity of the content. This year’s exhibit was located in the conference room attached to Stapleton Lounge.
Precautions for the online version, which features illustrations of the outfits alongside the survivor stories, also exist. The top of the page includes a warning of its contents, and Baumann said “it is also a click through on the website. You cannot just come to it.”
Baumann advised people who wish to explore the exhibit to “take it at your own pace. Take breaks as you need to, and recognize when you need to take a step away and do some self-care.”
“It is a little hard to walk through, seeing the diverse clothing being so small to wearing a nightgown,” senior Ivory Muñoz, Saint Mary’s student body president, said.
Senior Kayli Zelinske-Mader, Saint Mary’s student body vice president, noticed how different everyone’s experiences were.
“Yes, some of them are very similar, but each one has very different experiences internally, both
see “Exhibit” on page 3
Memorial service
By Aynslee Dellacca Managing Editor
To kick off the annual 2026 Raise Your Voice Symposium, over 50 people gathered in prayer at the Lizzy Seeberg Memorial Garden next to Reidinger House. Hosted by the Center for Faith, Action and Ministry and the Belles Against Violence Office, the prayer service that was traditionally held to commemorate Seeberg’s experience now aims to encompass the lives and experiences of survivors of sexual violence.
Seeberg, a former student at Saint Mary’s College, received severe pushback and harassment after filing a police report on former Notre Dame football player Prince
see “Service” on page 4
Cavanaugh Hall named Golden Hall of the Year
By Observer News Staff
The Hall Presidents Council of the University of Notre Dame recognized several residence halls and student leaders Monday evening during the annual student leadership awards, highlighting excellence in community building, service and leadership across campus.
Coyle Hall and Duncan Hall were each named Hall of the Year for their commitment to fostering strong traditions and inclusive communities.
“This hall has gone above and beyond the entire year while facing significant challenges. They focused on continuing their strong traditions while intentionally creating new events that highlighted the hall’s unique culture,” senior Megan Klein, Hall Presidents Council co-chair, said in regards to Coyle Hall.
Joseph Tunney, a senior and Hall Presidents’ Council cochair, explained what the hall has been able to build since the past year.
“They have focused on mindfulness, spirituality and
forming men of character. They have built community, brotherhood and a whole lot of respect throughout this year,” Tunney said.
Cavanaugh Hall received the highest distinction, Golden Hall of the Year. This was due in part to their new dorm signature event — Cavchella.
“This year’s Golden Hall of the Year has truly set itself apart the whole year with its energy, enthusiasm and creativity. They completely revamped their signature event, focused heavily on service and collaborated with many organizations and halls,” Klein said.
Junior Joe Balto of Stanford Hall was named Hall President of the Year for his leadership and dedication to his hall.
“They brought unmatched energy to their role, strengthening hall spirit and fostering relationships across campus. One resident shared there is no person in the hall that cares more about our dorm than them. A testament to the pride and unity they’ve
inspired beyond their organizational excellence, this leader has gone above and beyond,” Tunney said before announcing the winner.
Walsh Hall’s “Mr. ND” event was named Event of the Year for its campus-wide impact and charitable contributions. The event brought together participants from nearly every men’s residence hall and drew more than 550 attendees, raising approximately $7,000 for a local nonprofit.
According to Klein, “One participant shared, ‘This was such an incredible event, and it will be an honor to know that all of this is going to a good cause.’ Through thoughtful planning and a commitment to both fun and purpose, this event has grown into a beloved campus tradition, one that unites the Notre Dame community and leaves a lasting impact every year.”
Klein and Tunney emphasized that while award winners were recognized, every residence hall contributes to campus life through leadership, programming and community-building efforts.
Aynslee Dellacca | THE OBSERVER
Title IX officer and director for harassment education and response Liz Baumann offered a reflection for the 2026 Raise Your Voice prayer service at the Lizzy Seeberg Memorial Garden. Over 50 people attended.
is your favorite concert that you have attended?
Claire Pettit freshman Howard Hall “Conan Gray.”
Finnbarr Munley freshman Keenan Hall “Flipturn.”
Vincent Valente freshman Dillon Hall “TV Girl.”
Olivia Young freshman Cavanaugh Hall “Rascal Flatts.”
Maria Stalcup junior Lewis Hall “Lizzie McAlpine.”
Tuesday
Notre Dame baseball vs. Valparaiso
The Fighting Irish take on the Beacons at home. 3:30 p.m. Frank Eck Stadium
Wednesday
Take Back the Night March in solidarity with survivors of sexual assault. 5 p.m. Lake Marion (rain location: Stapleton Lounge)
Thursday
Musical: Once A musician and a immigrant bond through their love of music. 7:30 p.m. DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
Friday
Latin Expressions
The annual cultural showcase by the Latinx Student Alliance. 7 p.m. Washington Hall
Saturday
Concert: Luke Combs
My Kinda Saturday Night Tour live at Notre Dame Stadium. 5:20 p.m. Notre Dame Stadium
PHOTO OF THE DAY | DECLAN LEE
Keynote
Continued from page 1
applause given by the audience for their time.
Tom and Mary Seeberg are the parents of Lizzy Seeberg, a late student of Saint Mary’s College who experienced sexual assault as a freshman. After filing a police report for sexual assault against former Notre Dame football player Prince Shembo, she received severe backlash and harassment for the report. Seeberg committed suicide September 10, 2010, 10 days after filing the report. A memorial garden and plaque was created in her memory and is the sight for annual prayer services in her name.
After recognizing survivors in the room, she followed with a prayer. Food service was provided from Aromas Durango and All Over Creations.
The keynote panel began at 12:30 p.m. with Tom Seeberg as the opening keynote speaker. He shared gratitude for the support his family recieved following Lizzy Seeberg’s death.
“We’re very blessed people. And you might think through some of the things we’ve been through, we might we might not say something like that,” he said. “But I will tell you, even in the early days of losing Lizzy and the drama that followed, the blessings started to come in.”
He shared that though the 2015, “The Hunting Ground,” was a developed advocacy piece, he was disappointed that they did not mention the actions and support the Saint Mary’s administration gave following Lizzy Seeberg’s assault.
Tom Seeberg noted that administrative members like former vice president for student affairs Karen Johnson and former Belles Against Violence Office (BAVO) coordinator Connie Adams ‘08 made efforts to not only stick by Lizzy Seeberg in the hospital, but they also came down to Chicago to the family’s home to discuss how the assault was reported and how the administration was made
Continued from page 1
physically and mentally,” she said. Many survivor stories emphasized the pain and time it took for survivors to realize what had happened.
The story connected to a pink t-shirt, sweatshirt and gray sweatpants read, “Everyone seems to think they know what sexual assault does to a person, but in reality they don’t. The countless reminders of it when I look in the mirror and see the scars
aware of it.
He also mentioned the development of the Memorandum of Understanding, when first Adams and Tom Seeberg sat down to talk about the lack of tri-campus support and communication given to Lizzy Seeberg. Progress was only made seven years later with its establishment and requirement of signatures for each tri-campus institution.
“We talked about how awkward it was that a survivor could report an incident across the street, and there was really nothing in that process where there would be a question to say, ‘Do you need help when you come back across the street to Saint Mary’s?’” he stated. “It was like one of those things where … structurally, there’s a sin of omission or sin of commission.”
He shared that in the age of social media, many actions can be shallow, but others can be genuine, including the institutions and the audience that plays a part in representing larger issues.
“But if you act, and you advocate out of love and wanting to make it better, about building something better, it tends to work out better for us moving towards … from what I call from a culture of compliance. And Lord knows higher ed has a lot of needs to be compliant, but moving towards a culture of commitment is where we want to be,”
Tom Seeberg said.
Following a discussion of how universities can improve with conflict of interest police agencies and an increase in mental health resources, the keynote panel began. Founding director of student empowerment Christin Kloski ‘15 moderated the panel with Adams and guest speakers Jackie Zins ‘04, Kayla Gaughan ‘17, Elizabeth Quaye ‘17 and Grace Maher ‘21.
Zins began the conversation, discussing Take Back the Night and how it advocates against sexual violence globally. In bringing this initiative to the College in 2003, she explained how it was built and later grew to become a continuous legacy at Saint Mary’s. In its first year cycle
not only physical, but the ones hidden. Sometimes it’s hard to look at myself in the eyes because I often see the girl I used to be and it scares me to see who he created.”
Muñoz said she lives by a motto from actress Elizabeth Olsen: “No is a full sentence.”
“No is no at the end of the day, and going around the exhibit and reading everybody’s stories, almost everyone said ‘no’ or ‘stop’ and unfortunately, that was not the case,” she said.
In the story connected to the red crop top, black
at Saint Mary’s, it grew from 20 participants to 115.
In an interview with The Observer, Zins, a school psychologist, discussed how important it is to know the legacy of an event such as Take Back the Night and how it plays a role in the daily lives of students.
“It is an event where essentially the importance and the impact are that survivors are heard and believed, and they have a communal people showing up for them,” she said. “And I think that is one of the most important things we can do, I think, as participants in the event, is to show up for other people.”
Adams then talked about her role as the inaugural BAVO coordinator, when the office was launched through a grant provided to the College from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2009.
She discussed further partnerships that were established from there, including her building the BAVO Student Advisory Committee that ensured a place of connection and advocacy for students, alongside bringing GreenDot bystander training to Saint Mary’s and providing an official kickoff event for Take Back the Night.
She recalled one of the most memorable moments of her career, which was when a group of students chanted, “Green Dot,” outside of her office one day after an encounter they stepped in on.
“One of my proudest moments as a staff member was walking into the dining hall one day, and this is during the orientation time, and I had a couple of groups of student leaders that started chanting, ‘Green Dot, Green Dot, Green Dot.’ And I walked over and they had shared an intervention that they had done the night before,” she said. “Someone that was being led away at a party and they had the skills to safely step in and to keep that person safe. I have more of those stories than I can share, but it’s those moments — that’s what this is about.”
In an interview with The Observer, she shared hopes that students and faculty can
leggings and black and white converse, the survivor said that to her boyfriend, “‘no’ did not always mean no. It became something he negotiated, pressured, and wore down.”
Baumann and Shay Jolly Schneider both helped organize the event. Schneider, associate dean of students, also serves on the Committee of Sexual Violence Prevention, alongside the subcommittee responsible for planning Raise Your Voice symposium.
“We ask them to talk about what they were wearing
learn from the symposium how to take a stance and be an advocate against sexual violence.
“Each of us has a role to play in this work, even if we never directly encounter these topics,” she said. “These issues in our personal lives, we have a role to play in how we are generating a stance to prevent and end sexual violence and that is central to what the Raise Your Voice symposium is striving to do.”
Gaughan discussed organizing the Sl*t Walk in 2014, where they used Saint Mary’s mission statement as a guide to form the goal of ending victim blaming. She worked with both the tri-campus and South Bend communities in gathering marchers to create a difference.
“The Sl*t Walk came about because a bunch of us were in some dorm rooms and some other community spaces on campus, and we were frustrated about victim blaming,” she mentioned. “It’s rampant; it is really frustrating, and people were using the word ‘sl*t’ as a way to rationalize or blame others, and I wanted to reclaim it. Now it wasn’t just me, there was a community of us.”
When “The Hunting Ground,” documentary was released in 2015, she and a group of students hosted the first screening of it. About 200 people came to the screening in Opus Hall.
Quaye then presented on the “I’m Someone” project that she launched with five other people in 2015 to protest against sexual violence during a Notre Dame football gameday, for the Study of the U.S. Institute (SUSI) program within the Center For Women’s Intercultural Leadership (CWIL). It was repeated twice more and launched various successive movements following the protest.
White bandanas were worn across the mouth to symbolize the voicelessness that society often perpetuates to survivors.
“We wanted to be intentional and not just streamline the name to be a woman’s issue. We wanted to stand for
when they were sexually assaulted and to tell their story, whatever that means to them,” Baumann said, describing the anonymous Google Form used to collect stories for the exhibit. “Sometimes we get really long narratives, and sometimes just one sentence. That variety is really impactful to see that this is something that takes a lot of different forms and can happen to anyone in any situation.”
After collecting the stories, the clothing is purchased for the physical exhibit, and
bringing awareness to sexual assault on college campuses, because this is where we have an impact,” she said.
Maher was the last keynote speaker, discussing the impact that the class of 2021 had at Saint Mary’s following the publication of Zahm’s derogatory culture towards smicks in 2021.
She shared that though this came at no surprise, it established the need for the campus to come together during the troubling time.
“Campus truly never felt closer together. Students from the class of 2021 and leadership positions took to social media and to The Observer to share statements of support for our fellow students,” she shared. “They organized events, went with college leadership, all in an effort to create lasting change.”
In an interview with The Observer, she explained the Raise Your Voice Symposium was an act by the administration to demonstrate a prioritization of the student population’s wellbeing. She reflected on what the first Raise Your Voice Symposium looked like.
“So the original Raise Your Voice actually was a week long, and there were several events that happened. There were lectures, workshops, research panels, and the entire week was geared around education and sort of raising awareness for our community and the broader community,” she said. “Because more often than not, there are a lot of people who don’t understand everything that constitutes sexual violence, and so many people have experienced it and not even realized it themselves.”
Following a moderated Q&A, closing remarks were given by Adriana Petty ‘01, the director of multicultural and international student services, and Shay Jolly Schneider ‘05, associate dean of students. Senior Kayli Zelinske-Mader then closed the event with her poem, “Oh, to be a woman.”
Contact Berhan Hagezom at bhagezom01@saintmarys.edu
Saint Mary’s student artists illustrate the outfits for the online exhibit. Jolly Schneider helps Baumann shop, put together outfits, set up and tear down the exhibits.
“We do all the things so it is really something I get to see from start to finish which is very emotional, but it just brings me joy every year that we are given permission to hold new stories in the ways that we need to,” Schneider said.
Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu
Holy half names winners, offers sports research
By Mara Hall Associate News Editor
Despite some technical difficulties in its planning phase, and a 37-degree Fahrenheit temperature at the horn, the Holy Half kicked off 7:50 a.m. Saturday without any major setbacks.
Racers could choose between two heats: one for an average mile time faster than eight minutes, and the other heat for slower averages.
Runners were initially informed that the slower heat would begin 10 minutes after the first, but only five minutes later, the signal rang for heat two to begin.
Water stations and resources for the runners were spread throughout the route. Outside of Keenan and Stanford Halls, a group of students blasted pop music. Farther along the route, the Notre Dame Bagpipe band serenaded runners.
A station near the Grotto included a medical team, and additional medical personnel were available in a curtained-off section of Stepan Center. Other members of the medical team circulated the route on bicycles and the South Bend Fire Department was on site at Stepan Center.
Girls on the Run Michiana, one of the beneficiaries of the Holy Half, provided an inflatable finish line arch. The arch faced some gravitational challenges, but with frequent readjusting from volunteers, it survived until the end of the race.
Einstein Bagels, bananas, protein shakes, water, and medals
Service
Continued from page 1
Shembo for sexual assault. On Sept. 10, 2010, Seeberg died by suicide, a week and a half after the report. This year, Tom and Mary Seeberg, Lizzy’s parents, were in attendance. Tom Seeberg also gave the introduction to the keynote panel for the symposium.
“Pretty much every year since Lizzy’s death, we’ve done some sort of prayer service, typically closer to her date of death. But then when we started doing Raise Your Voice, it felt like a really natural space to also honor her there,” Liz Baumann said. Baumann is a Title IX officer and director for harassment education and response.
The Raise Your Voice Symposium, established in 2021 by College President Katie Conboy, quickly evolved to include highlighting Lizzy Seeberg’s experience as part of their range of programming. Baumann mentioned that the prayer service has consistently been the opening event in order to orient the community toward a mindset of reflection and faith.
“I think it’s really important that we bring our community together to center ourselves on why we are doing this work. Why are we hosting something like a sexual violence prevention
welcomed runners at the finish line.
Aaliah Magee took first in the 10k with a chip time of 34:31.2, followed up by Thomas Swartz with a chip time of 40:33.5.
Cade Czarnecki won the men’s half-marathon with a chip time of 1:16:30.3, followed by Brady Ballou with a time of 1:16:37.0 and Jack Whitman with a time of 1:17:05.5.
For the women, Olivia Dietzel won with a chip time of 1:16:57.5, followed by Colleen Lucey with a time of 1:25:12.5 and Lexi Allen with a time of 1:25:54.1. Dietzel was previously the overall winner for women in 2024 as well.
symposium? … Why do we do the work that we do? Where have we come from? What needs to be done? I think the prayer service is such a nice centering of that,” Baumann said.
The prayer service commenced with an opening prayer, led by CFAM community engagement intern Caitlin Price, followed by a Scripture reading from BAVO student advisory committee member Ally Krause and a reflection offered by Baumann. Afterward, Price and Krause led those in attendance through a universal prayer of petitions and recitation of Psalm 9.
“It’s such an honor to be here and to be a channel to project Lizzy’s story to people who want to hear, pray and honor her legacy and then also the legacy of others who have experienced sexual violence and sexual assault. It’s more common than I think our world gives attention to,” Price said.
Krause, who is also involved in the planning for the Take Back the Night prayer service on Thursday, said she finds fulfillment in preparing and offering spaces of healing through prayer for tri-campus students.
“Doing this, prayerful, meditative work … is a really good way to recenter yourself back and like actually creating change. Because we’re allowed to be angry; we’re allowed to be
The community showed out with a variety of creative signs. Several signs read, “On a scale of 1-10, you’re a… 13.1.”
Others took jabs at recent politics writing, “You run better than the government,” and “Due to inflation, you’ll be running 16.7 miles.”
Thomas Kerber, a junior in Keenan Hall who ran the half-marathon, said, “The run went well. It was a good course, just two loops through. Could have been marked a little bit better. I was near the front group and some of us were getting a little bit lost, but it was a lot of fun.”
Jim Mumaw, a South Bend local who ran the 10k for Girls on
loud about it; we’re allowed to call for change in our communities, in the country, in the world, loudly. But we’re also allowed to take time for ourselves, to heal internally,” Krause said.
Erin Taylor, the liturgist and musical director for CFAM, aided assistant director for justice and solidarity Sarah Neitz in organizing the prayer service. She said that centering the symposium and “your voice” in faith, prayer and solidarity with those who have experienced sexual violence is an important step for healing and prevention.
“There can sometimes be stigma around faith communities ... that is an extra barrier for those that might have had those experiences to come forward. So I think saying that we can talk about it in a faith-centered environment, that we can ask God to put a stop to these things … that’s a thing that we should pray for, and that also praying for the consolation of anyone that has experienced that and in solidarity with those that are experiencing that,” Taylor said. Baumann’s sentiments paralleled Taylor’s when asked about the importance of approaching sexual violence through a lens of prayer. Survivors of sexual violence often struggle with their relationship with faith and spirituality, according to Baumann, but she believes that faith can also become a central
early as 6 a.m.
A total of 1635 bibs were passed out.
Cecilia Pino, co-president of the Holy Half Marathon, declined to comment on whether people had gotten off the waitlist, which was once over 800 people long.
Those who attended between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday had the chance to receive an individual sports biomechanical assessment from Notre Dame Sports Biomechanics Research Group.
Craig Goehler, a teaching professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering and director of the predominantly undergraduate-led Sports Biomechanics Research group, spoke with the Observer about the assessments.
the Run, said, “It is a great way to see campus. You get to run out by the lakes, and then you get to go to the quads and the finish with the sun hitting Hesburgh Library and Touchdown Jesus, you are almost to the finish line, so it is a great way to end on a beautiful day.”
He later noted that he “took a minor detour,” thereby extending his route, but said this was fun because he got to see a little more of campus.
Leading up to the race, runners were able to pick up bibs, shirts, safety pins, candy and stickers at check-in from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. Alternatively, runners could pick up their packet Saturday morning ahead of the race, beginning as
component to healing.
“It’s so important to recognize that that relationship [with faith] can be complicated for a bit, but that faith can also be a big part of healing. And we want people on our campus, especially survivors, to feel welcomed by faith and supported by faith, and I think the prayer service is a great example of that,” Baumann said.
Neitz felt especially touched at the sight of the large gathering for the service and believes that such a show of solidarity is
The group uses a motion capture suit to provide feedback on bilateral symmetry and joint torque, Goehler said. However, in their on-demand clinic, they are able to do “motor preference analysis” to look at neurological preference and predisposition within the body. Goehler explained that this is similar to how people have a preference for being right-handed or left-handed.
“We are not coaching anybody,” he said. “We are not training to telling them what to do. We are just giving them more information, so they have a better understanding of what they are doing and then they can go out and figure out what they need to do.”
Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu
important for the Saint Mary’s community.
“This is something that touches all of our lives as women and then providing experiences like this, where we’re able to come together in prayer before God to ask for an end to sexual violence. I think prayer is important and effective, and if we believe that, it’s really important for us to show up for things like this,” Neitz said.
Contact Aynslee Dellacca at adellacca01@saintmarys.edu
DECLAN LEE | The Observer
Holy Half runners race across God Quad in front of the dome. Aaliah Magee secured first place in the 10k, and Cade Czarnecki and Olivia Dietzel won the half-marathon on the men’s and women’s side respectively.
Trump wants to give the Church orders
Amid an ongoing unpopular war and skyrocketing gas prices, the former president nonetheless finds time to criticize the leadership of the Catholic Church and portray himself as Christ. In an online temper tantrum that should concern all Catholics of faith, Trump wrote that the first American pope is “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” before complaining that he does not want a pope who criticizes the President of the United States. Setting aside the irony for a moment, the exchange not only reflects a misunderstanding of Catholic theology but also highlights traps Catholics can fall into when participating in civic life. It is clear from Trump’s statements that he lacks a fundamental understanding of the role of the pope. As the successor of St. Peter and shepherd of the Church, the pope’s mission is not to develop foreign policy platforms or prescribe domestic criminal justice policy. Neither Pope Leo nor Pope Francis has done so. What they have done, however, is insist that the Church cannot be indifferent in the face of evil. The Beatitudes teach that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, along with the peacemakers, are blessed. Pope Leo’s appeals to world leaders are grounded in Catholic Social Teaching,
which affirms the preferential option for the poor and calls for solidarity. It is a reminder that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, and that what happens to the least among us concerns us all.
I could write at length about everything Trump misunderstands about the Catholic Church in this latest outburst.
(For one, popes are not selected from a list like a dinner menu. And while Trump’s fragile ego may suggest otherwise, the Holy Spirit does not guide the Church toward a pope simply to punish him.) But a more important lesson of humility is left for us: the Church itself.
This moment should remind Catholics of our call to place humanity above idolatrous partisan loyalty and to resist the temptation to treat political leaders as prophets or political movements as religions. When politics becomes sacred, our moral vision becomes distorted.
This is not to suggest that Catholics should disengage from politics or retreat into apathy. In fact, the opposite is true. Catholicism calls us to love our neighbors and to speak out against injustice. It calls us to follow Christ’s example by extending grace to those on the margins of society — immigrants, workers, caregivers, those struggling with
addiction and all of us in need of mercy.
I myself am a proud Catholic Democrat, but I know that Catholics across the political spectrum can find grounding in Church teaching, which demands more than partisan loyalty. Even as College Republicans fan the flames and defend MAGA over the Church by dismissing the Vatican as acting like a “hippie NGO,” we are reminded that Catholic Social Teaching is not meant to serve as a political prop. It asks us instead to
examine our consciences, to challenge injustice even when it is politically inconvenient, and to support policies that uphold the inherent dignity of every human person.
This week, Catholics celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday, a reminder that the doors of mercy are always open and that even the gravest sins can be forgiven through Christ’s love. We are also called to pray for God’s mercy upon our nation. May all of us, including our leaders, receive that mercy and be moved toward good works.
So the next time headlines emerge about the Pentagon lambasting a cardinal for promoting peace or political leaders reacting defensively when challenged, take a breath. Choose mercy. And then fulfill your Catholic calling to participate in civic life in a way that defends the dignity of the human person.
Alex Young Former president of the Notre Dame College Democrats Class of 2026 April 13
Creativity will grasp our generation
By Redmond Bernhold Opinion Editor emeritus
Over the last year, I’ve witnessed my friends becoming proactively offline and creative. Some are running. Others picking up physical books. Another friend painting oils on canvas. Someone else writing on Substack. Scrapbooking. The list continues.
I’ve found myself indulging in some of these activities, and I think part of the reason is facing my future as a postgrad unc biochemistry major. Another part of me thinks that we have been too consumed by technology; we are craving the exact opposite. In short, the AI dial turned so far that we are emerging in a creative renaissance that is long overdue.
In my year or so since deleting TikTok and a few months largely off Instagram, I’ve turned to Substack as my only social media, if it even is a social media. Among the long essays, performative tryhards and semi-inspirational quotes, I’ve of course seen aesthetic pictures of everyone trying to be imperfect: paint splattered
on clothes, a burnt cookie, broken glass, stains, etc.
Romanticizing everything is a disease of its own. (Sorry not everything was meant to be on your Instagram story.) However, the choice of posting something to show human control, and imperfection, is a distinction. The paint, cookie and glass are symbolic because it’s humans existing as humans.
When we see these posts, we force ourselves to see those imperfections, which usually captures my attention more than the perfect sunset on someone else’s post. I know this is the case for my friends.
When these accidents or imperfections present themselves every day, we can recognize them and appreciate their beauty more. In this way, being online helps us be offline. Perhaps the more we embrace technology, even with cliche AI slop, the more we think, feel and create.
The other day while walking by a sunny LaFun, one of my best friends, Grace, and I were talking, likely about a Substack post, when some breaking news notification alarmed our
advantage of technology mak ing way for more free time. Just not now; we’re in the Easter to finals marathon.
At Notre Dame, it’s hard to miss AI populating computers in Hes or LaFun, an indication of the AI dial being cranked. If my theory holds true, then not just the sunny weather will be our motivation to lollygag.
Of course, there’s a fine line.
ited in our liberal arts require ments. AI shouldn’t be the first line of defense in a humanities class unless to see how cloud computing flops.
We inherently crave the human essence: to see shades of every hue, to connect, to become. With the hopes of the AI bubble not bursting anytime soon, we can anticipate that time spent on technology is
more meaningful and intended than it was in the past few years and certainly during the pan demic. Technology itself is not the issue, but rather the intent and control we allow it to own.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Write to Redmond Bernhold at rbernho2@nd.edu
DIONE PAHILAN | The Observer
DIONE PAHILAN | The Observer
J.P. Cooney works to bring change to Congress
At the end of March, the Notre Dame College Democrats chapter took part in a gratifying educational trip to Washington, D.C., to see democracy in action. Twenty of the club’s dedicated members met with public service leaders, including former ambassador and Notre Dame alumnus Mark Toner, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, current DNC Vice Chair Artie Blanco, Senate Majority PAC President J.B. Poersch and former federal prosecutor and current congressional candidate J.P. Cooney. J.P. Cooney was an especially remarkable speaker — not just because of his senior role in special prosecutor Jack Smith’s investigation of President Donald Trump — but because of his history as a leader of the Notre Dame College Democrats.
As president of the Notre Dame College Democrats, Cooney fought for students’ rights, particularly LGBTQ+ rights. GLND/SMC (Gays and Lesbians at Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College) was an unofficial campus organization in the ’80s and ’90s. The University refused to recognize this organization, because recognition would, in the opinion of then-vice president of student affairs, David Tyson, C.S.C., be “an implicit sanction for a homosexual lifestyle.” However, in the years following this statement, under the helm of Cooney, the Notre Dame College Democrats petitioned multiple student government groups to support student rights after the University denied the Notre Dame College Democrats’ request to approve a demonstration for National Coming Out Day. In 2012, these efforts were finally successful, and the University approved the creation of a formally recognized LGBTQ+ student organization, demonstrating the power of on-campus organizing. With a collective effort, students successfully influenced the University administration.
Beyond his work on behalf of students’ rights, Cooney was known for reaching across the aisle and looking past party affiliation. When he led the Notre Dame College Democrats, the club held events alongside the Notre Dame College Republicans, including a forum aimed at getting students involved in political campaigns, no matter their ideology. Cooney also had a column in The Observer, where he wrote about our fractured political system and called on our political leaders to fulfill their constitutional obligations, foreshadowing his future anti-corruption work in politics and government. In an October 1997 edition of the Observer, Cooney
lamented our nation’s unscrupulous campaign finance system. He criticized Republicans and Democrats alike for pointing fingers rather than passing campaign finance reform, saying “Republicans [point] at abusive Democrat fundraising practices and Democrats [point] at elitist Republicans unwilling to reform.” He characterized their behavior as “classic Washington power-politics at work.” Current Notre Dame students should draw inspiration from this history of on-campus civic engagement. Rather than getting caught up in games of partisan politics or tuning out entirely from politics, students should work to
find common ground and find ways to engage in politics that are not overtly partisan, as Cooney has.
Cooney brought his penchant for taking on corruption and leading with virtue to the Department of Justice. When asked about Cooney’s professional career, his colleagues stated that Cooney never showed partisanship in his work. He helped prosecute leading figures from both parties, such as Trump and Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, albeit unsuccessfully. As these prosecutions demonstrate, Cooney is a virtuous leader whose morals transcend party lines. This Notre Dame alumnus proves
that perhaps one day our political leaders will once again lead with integrity, which is a meaningful source of hope for many at Notre Dame.
Cooney has the chance to actualize his dreams of reforming the American political system. Cooney is running in Virginia’s proposed seventh congressional district on a platform of anti-corruption, bipartisanship and democratic reform. Depending on a handful of elections in Virginia, Cooney could be the next Notre Dame alumnus to roam the halls of Congress.
Cooney’s career serves as a guide and a point of pride for Notre Dame
students. As we watch his rise in politics, we can see a principled leader who was shaped by the political influences of Notre Dame. Notre Dame has a unique political climate for a top university, and students have a special opportunity to learn how to work with one another, even with different ideologies. Cooney’s righteousness and bipartisanship serve as an inspiring model for our polarized politics and demonstrates the value of a Notre Dame education.
Alex Funk Co-vice president of the Notre Dame College Democrats Class of 2028
‘Ya Gotta Regatta’
Coyle Hall hosted their 25th annual Regatta on Saturday, April 11.
Photography by Ella Martin
‘Pizza Movie’ is a hilarious trip through dorm chaos
By Marguerite C.J Marley Scene Copy Editor
Without even seeing any trailers, I knew that “Pizza Movie” was going to be a movie I sought out. Its premise of two high college students trying to make their way down to the lobby of their dorm to pick up their pizza seemed really interesting, especially with the production company behind it, American High (probably better known for its short-form content). It’s an independent production company that specializes in coming-of-age movies, with most of its films distributed by Hulu. However, “Pizza Movie” is its most high-profile project to date.
The film is very much in the vein of “Dazed and Confused” and the “Harold and Kumar” series, but with a modern Zoomer twist, blending stoner humor with rapid-fire jokes. Its energetic style and visual gags help comedy fans and streaming viewers appreciate its fast-paced, joke-heavy approach, especially those who enjoy absurdist humor.
The film does a lot with its seemingly simple premise, taking full advantage of the zaniness of a college dormitory. Our protagonist frequently
gets sidetracked into several adventures, such as the classic dorm party and weird indie bands. Personally, I’ve never seen too many people hanging out in the hallways of my dorm, but maybe that’s just me. The movie even makes you feel for the robot that brought them their pizza (I would protect Snackatron with my own life), though he’ll never have my heart the way
Notre Dame’s own Grubhub robots do.
Standout performances include Caleb Harron as a (31-years-young) resident assistant named Sidney and Gaten Matarazzo as Jack, one of the protagonists who doesn’t think he’s getting enough out of the college experience. I thought I wouldn’t be able to see him outside of Dustin from “Stranger
Things,” but he delivers such a great performance and has excellent comedic timing that I didn’t think about Dustin once during the film. Another performance I found incredible was Jake Martin as the main antagonist and head RA Blake, who gets to perform a hilarious spoof of the opening of “Inglourious Basterds” with pitch-perfect acting. When Blake finally takes some of the
drugs he’s been after our protagonist for, he ends up seeing the true nature of the universe and gets sent all the way to the writers’ room, a type of fourth-wall joke I will never get tired of seeing.
The editing in this film was also incredible, adding to many of the gags and making the jokes hit that much harder. Where the editing really shines is in the tripping sequences. These sequences felt — for lack of a better word — very trippy, using jarring editing and uncanny music to make you feel exactly what the characters are feeling while they’re feeling the effects of the drugs. Especially the second trip, where their heads exploded repeatedly whenever they swore. An extended sequence in which one of our protagonists swaps brains with his pet butterfly, voiced by Daniel Radcliffe, kept making me chuckle.
While not Shakespeare, the film knows what it is and does it very well. “Pizza Movie” is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+. It’s best enjoyed in your dorm with your friends and, if possible, while eating some fresh slices of pizza.
Contact Marguerite Marley at mmarley01@saintmarys.edu
‘The Boys’ delivers the bloody goods in final season
By Matt Norton Scene Writer
Amazon’s superhero sat ire “The Boys” began its final season with a two-ep isode premiere full of nonstop action, and fans have finally been able to push the hype train leading up to the long-awaited series finale out of the station.
For those of you who ha ven’t been keeping up with “The Boys,” the off-beat show roughly adapted from the comic series of the same name, is a mix between the ever-popular riffs on Marvel and DC movies and the “an ti-Superman” genre adopted by media like “Invincible” and “Brightburn.” Basically, it’s an imagining of a world where Marvel Studios con jured their characters into re ality through super steroids, and all of them turned out evil.
Season 5 opens with the natural culmination of this trope, the most powerful Supe, Homelander, ruling America by proxy under his fascist regime, having instituted concentration camps to house/execute his many political opponents. “The Boys” has always been heavy on political satire, which some critics found to be a
little overbearing in the previous season. To me, the premise this season is so far detached from reality that the plotline is closer to traditional action-fantasy than satire. However, there are some funny moments regarding AI misinformation and influencer culture that keep the show in the realm of satire.
Plotwise, we open with many of the titular Boys
in Homelander’s “Freedom Camps,” plotting an exit a la “The Great Escape.” More importantly is the shadow of the Supe-killing virus developed by William Butcher looming over both the renegade Supes and Homelander’s cronies. The stakes actually feel high, as opposed to previous seasons where the Boys’ unlikely survival after survival when encountering dangerous Supes got to the point of
feeling like a major plot hole. For longtime viewers, you’ll know the show is frequently praised/detracted for its major bloodshed and irreverent comedy, which they deliver plenty of in these initial two episodes. The return of Soldier Boy made many fans happy, including myself, but the usage of Jensen Ackles feels too scant considering how much life he brings to every scene he’s in.
I won’t put any major spoilers in this review, but I am sure that fans of the show have already watched the first episode, where we see the conclusion of a beloved character’s redemption arc (RIP). Other notable happenings within the limited time frame of two episodes were the introduction of the revamped Teenage Kix group of Supes, basically a super-powered content house. This was probably the best piece of satire so far this season, poking fun at the reach of influencers into every facet of our lives with no actual qualifications.
Overall, “The Boys” season 5 premiere opens up a lot of very interesting plotlines: will Homelander find V1, the fountain of youth of super drugs? What is going on with Black Noir? Is Butcher still dying? And most importantly, will the show fully deviate from the comics in its final arc, or keep some faithful remnants? Each Wednesday for the next six weeks will slowly give us our answers, and I encourage you to give this final season a watch if you are at all invested in the show.
Contact Matt Norton at mnorton3@nd.edu
MEG HAMMOND | The Observer
DIONE PAHILAN | The Observer
Burton transfers to Indiana, Certa to Clemson
By Henry Lytle Associate Sports Editor
Junior guard Markus
Burton and sophomore guard Cole Certa have officially announced their departures via the transfer portal to new schools following Notre Dame’s 13-18 season. On Sunday, Certa officially announced he will be playing for Clemson, and Burton followed suit Monday, transferring to Indiana to play for the Hoosiers. Although expected, the news is devastating for fans who hoped to retain the Indiana players, despite the concerning reports of Notre Dame’s limited basketball NIL budget.
In his 10 games this season, Burton led the Irish in scoring with 18.5 points alongside 2.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals. Burton suffered an ankle injury during an 87-85 win over TCU on Dec. 5 and missed the remainder of the season, leaving coach Micah Shrewsberry’s offense in disarray without its leading scorer and most potent threat. As a sophomore, Burton led the ACC in scoring with 21.3 points and was named Second Team All-ACC for his efforts leading the Blue and Gold. He scored a career-high 43 points in a quadruple-overtime matchup against Cal last March, also setting freshman scoring records throughout his rich three-year career.
Burton, a Mishawaka native in Shrewsberry’s first recruiting class, will be severely
missed by the Irish, who have already seen Jalen Haralson, Sir Mohammed, Garrett Sundra and Ryder Frost enter the portal. Losing Burton’s impact on the floor tanked Notre Dame’s chances of making the
NCAA tournament after his season-ending injury. The Irish will be forced to rebuild a backcourt ravaged by the transfer portal around junior guards Braeden Shrewsberry and Logan Imes — the only players
in the position group to stay.
The Irish also saw Certa vault up to 12.8 points, shooting 36.7% on 3-pointers throughout the season. The four-star recruit in the class of 2024 previously averaged 2.5 points
on eight minutes per game before his drastic improvement in his sophomore campaign. Certa became a lethal 3-point threat, scoring 34 points on five 3-pointers against Virginia and 37 on seven 3-pointers against Georgia Tech. His offensive abilities were the catalyst for his conversion into a featured part of the Irish offense alongside Haralson and Shrewsberry as the Irish were forced to adjust the offensive system. Certa’s sharpshooting also became extremely valuable for Notre Dame from the free-throw line as he led the nation in free-throw percentage throughout a majority of the season, though he eventually fell to 89.2%.
Micah Shrewsberry will be forced to retool a devastated roster and fanbase after the transfer portal woes. Fortyone percent of eligible Division I college basketball players entered the portal, and Notre Dame was no exception this offseason, losing its key contributors at each position. Whether or not Notre Dame will be able to rebuild is a question for the rest of the offseason and Notre Dame’s limited basketball NIL fund. Shrewsberry is tasked with a difficult situation and will look to salvage a 2026-27 season that seems bleak with the departure of Notre Dame’s stars.
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Sophomore guard Cole Certa handles the ball versus a Blue Devil defender during Notre Dame’s 100-56 defeat against Duke Feb. 24 at Purcell Pavilion. Certa blossomed for the Irish following Markus Burton’s season-ending injury and finished the season averaging 12.8 points per contest.
KEIRA JONES | The Observer
Irish junior guard Markus Burton eyes the ball during Notre Dame’s 76-71 win over Missouri Dec. 2 at Purcell Pavilion. Burton, who had paced the squad with 18.5 points and 3.7 assists per game, suffered an injury in the following matchup against TCU in his final game in an Irish uniform.
With ace, Irish end regular season on high note
By Jacek Kawczynski Associate Sports Editor
Following multiple tough weeks on the road, the Notre Dame men’s tennis team returned to South Bend for a rematch against ACC rival Louisville. The Irish opened the match with their feet on the gas pedal, flying past the Cardinals in a 4-0 victory. The win was extra special for Sebastian Dominko, Noah Becker and Perry Gregg, three graduating players celebrated for Senior Day.
No. 21 ranked Notre Dame took an early lead in doubles, with the senior Dominko and Gregg, a graduate, defeating Louisville juniors Hamza El
Amine and Walid Ahouda 6-2. Dominko and Gregg were paired up towards the tail-end of the regular season, going 5-2 overall, including a huge 6-3 win over Stanford’s Jagger Leach and Samir Banerjee. The No. 57 ranked sophomore pair of Luis Llorens Saracho and Peter Nad sealed the doubles point for Notre Dame, beating sophomore Matei Onofrei and senior Pedro Cressoni 6-3. Senior Noah Becker and freshman Nicholas Patrick held a 5-3 lead for the Irish before their match was abandoned.
No. 18 Dominko kicked off singles play, racing away to a 6-3, 6-0 win against Ahouda. Llorens Saracho followed suit, defeating freshman Jerald Carroll 6-4,
6-1. No. 74 Gregg completed the Notre Dame sweep with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Onofrei.
The straightforward win was a perfect end to the regular season, especially after consecutive losses in last weekend’s Virginia road trip. The Irish finished the season 20-6 overall, including a 9-4 record in conference play. This is a massive improvement from last spring, when the team went 14-15 overall, and a miserable 1-12 in ACC matchups. More significantly, Notre Dame’s strong results secured a direct advancement to the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament, as it earned the No. 3 seed.
The 2026 ACC Tournament will run from April 14-19 in Cary, N.C. Getting over the hill
in the country’s best conference will be no easy task, but Notre Dame has proven capable of hanging with anyone.
No. 3 Virginia will be the team to beat this year, having accrued a 20-3 record on the season.
This included a 4-1 thrashing of Notre Dame on April 3. Right on their heels is No. 7 Wake Forest, who finished the season 25-3, and actually defeated Virginia 4-2. Notre Dame and Stanford will round out the top four, with the Cardinal boasting a 15-7 record, including a massive 4-3 upset against Wake Forest on April 3.
The Irish will have to rely on their deep doubles lineup to secure the precious team doubles point, which is often the
difference-maker in postseason matches. While Dominko battles it out against the heavyweights of college tennis, the rest of the singles lineup will likely have to pull a few upsets to win it all. Thankfully, the players have excelled at doing just that this year, especially Gregg, who notably defeated Illinois’ No. 12 ranked Kenta Miyoshi 6-4, 7-5 in Fwebruary. This week promises to be an exciting one for Notre Dame tennis fans, who will get to see the players lay it all on the line for an ACC trophy, as well as a spot at the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship.
Contact Jacek Kawczynski at jkawczyn@nd.edu
Belles bounce back with wins against Manchester
By Claire Watson Associate Sports Editor
After battling a losing streak of four, the Belles traveled to North Manchester, Indiana to face off against Manchester in a non-conference game. The Belles took two, winning the first game 3-1 and the second game 12-4.
Game 1
In the first game, sophomore pitcher and outfielder Ashlyn Yeo started in the circle for the Belles. Yeo threw four innings, allowing only one run off four hits. Senior pitcher and captain Sam Mikitka came into relief and finished the game, allowing three hits while striking out one batter. Yeo took the win, moving her record to 4-5 on the season.
Offensively, the game started off quiet from both teams. Neither team was able to make it around the bases in the first three innings. Fast forward to the top of the fourth, and the Belles found their offensive power. Sophomore outfielder and middle fielder Gia Schiavone knocked the ball to the left side for a single, and following her was freshman infielder Maggie Voliva, who bunted to reach first base and advance Schiavone. Sophomore catcher and first baseman Arianna Vazquez was up next and reached first on an error from the Manchester pitcher, allowing Schiavone to make it home and put the Belles ahead 1-0. Sophomore middle fielder Hunter St. Peter reached first to allow Voliva to score and put the Belles ahead 2-0. Manchester added on a run for themselves in the bottom of the fifth inning to bring the score within one, but freshman outfielder Isabelle
Hochmuth drove the ball over the centerfield fence, adding her third home run of the year at the top of the sixth. With neither team scoring in the sixth or seventh inning, Saint Mary’s took a 3-1 win.
Game 2
In game two, the Belles came out strong and stayed strong, moving to 11-15 on the year, while Manchester fell to 11-10.
The mound saw three Belles. Kicking off the game was junior pitcher Sammy Schrader, who pitched half an inning
while allowing three runs off five hits. Sophomore pitcher Aubrey Zachery came in relief in her third appearance with the Belles. Zachery pitched four innings, allowing one run off three hits and striking out three batters. Sophomore outfielder Mary Gamble rounded out the game, facing the final two Manchester batters for her first collegiate pitching appearance. Zachery took the game win, moving her record to 1-2 on the season.
The Belles started the first inning strong with three
singles, one from junior catcher and outfielder Allie Moss to load the bases, one from second baseman and outfielder Talia Jorgensen and one from Schiavone. A single from Hochmuth allowed Moss to make it home and put the Belles up 1-0. Manchester came back in the latter half of the inning, putting up three runs of their own to take a 3-1 lead. After a scoreless second inning, the Belles added on two more runs to retake the 4-3 lead. The top of the fourth inning was the game-changer,
as the Belles put up six runs. These six runs, plus three more in the top of the fifth inning, gave the Belles a 12-3 lead due to the run rule. After two wins against Olivet on Saturday, winning game one 8-0 and game two 11-1, the Belles now are 13-15 on the season. They face Trine on Wednesday in a double header. Game one is set for 3 p.m., with the second to follow at 5 p.m.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson01@saintmarys.edu
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Sophomore middle infielder Hunter St. Peter swings at the ball during Saint Mary’s doubleheader against Olivet on Saturday, April 11, at the Purcell Athletics Fields. The Belles, now sporting a 13-15 overall record, routed the Comets in both matchups of the home series with 8-0 and 11-1 victories.
Irish ready for the ACC tournament
By Chris Dailey Sports Writer
Twenty-six games later, the time has arrived.
The No. 21 Notre Dame men’s tennis team has reached postseason play. The Irish are set to travel to UNC’s campus for the 2026 ACC Tournament. After posting a blistering 20-6 overall record and 9-4 mark in conference play, the Blue and Gold hold the No. 3 seed heading into the tournament.
Just above them sit No. 7 Wake Forest and No. 3 Virginia, which shared the ACC regular season crown. Alongside fourth seed No. 17 Stanford, the top No. 4 seeds have earned double byes into the quarterfinals.
The 12 seeds following the cream of the crop will be NC State, Clemson, SMU, Miami, Duke, California, North Carolina, Louisville, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Boston College.
Notre Dame will open tournament play Friday against the winner of SMU and Cal/Georgia Tech. From there, the Irish will look to continue their quest for
their first conference championship since 2012-13 — the final season of the Bobby Bayliss era.
The Irish certainly have the means of doing so. Three-time All-American senior Sebastian Dominko was named the ACC Player of the Year a season ago. This year, he’s taken his game to new heights, consistently faring well against the NCAA’s top competition. Hoping to cap off his legendary career in style, Dominko will look to finish his time in the ACC on a high note.
Dominko’s doubles partner, graduate student Perry Gregg, has been no less terrific. A transfer from Holy Cross College, where he won the 2023 NAIA Individual Championship, Gregg has stepped up consistently for the Irish. In the absence of Dominko during the Davis Cup in early February, Gregg moved into the No. 1 singles spot for Notre Dame and rose to the occasion.
Dominko and Gregg anchor a talented lineup, with sophomores Peter Nad, Giuseppe Cerasuolo and Luis Llorens Saracho; and junior Kyran Magimay rounding out the rotation behind them.
In doubles, the comeback of junior Chase Thompson from injury has also provided the Irish with added depth for the postseason, while senior Noah Becker and freshman Nicholas Patrick create a crafty tandem.
That lineup seeks to deliver head coach Ryan Sachire’s first ACC Tournament Championship. Sachire, who took over for Bayliss in 2013, has led Notre Dame to 12 NCAA Championship appearances. But the ACC crown has long eluded the Notre Dame program. This year, however, it feels like the moment may finally be at hand.
But it won’t come easy. It never does in the ACC.
Wake Forest earned a well-deserved No. 1 seed. The Demon Deacons have posted a near-perfect year, sitting at 12-1 in the conference. In mid-March, they swept the Irish convincingly. Star senior DK Suresh Ekambaram, a first-team All-ACC selection a year ago, took the first set in his unfinished singles match against Dominko 6-4.
Virginia has also posted a 12-1 conference record. The Cavaliers
have been nothing short of excellent all season, picking up big wins over Stanford and battling hard against No. 2 Ohio State. Although it finds itself at the No. 5 seed, NC State additionally poses an interesting challenge for Notre Dame. Following their loss to Wake Forest, the Irish fell to the Wolfpack 4-3 before bouncing back against Stanford and Cal.
Regardless of the challenges that lie ahead, Sachire and his team are ready to roll. With Dominko playing his best tennis at the right time and the emergence of Gregg, Notre Dame has the pieces to make the run. It’s now up to them to turn some heads and get the job done.
Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu
DECLAN
Senior Sebastian Dominko serves during Notre Dame’s 4-2 victory over Stanford March 20. Dominko is a key cog for the Irish this postseason.
Irish overcome No. 1 Tar Heels in 10-5 victory
By Nikki Stachurski Associate Sports Editor
The No. 2 Irish hosted the No. 1 Tar Heels Saturday in a sold-out conference matchup, where after a slow start, the Irish held strong and won 10-5.
Fans packed the bleachers and fields alike to witness the action between the top-two teams in the nation and their battle for first.
The adrenaline and intensity of the game seemed to take hold of both teams in blue as the first quarter began. The Irish were held back in the first, the Tar Heels leaving the home team scoreless.
North Carolina star attackman Dominic Pietramala was the first to find the back of the net with just under 9 minutes remaining in the first, capitalizing on a Notre Dame holding penalty by junior defenseman Shawn Lyght. In the final two minutes of the first, Brevin Wilson beat Irish senior goaltender Thomas Ricciardelli to put the Tar Heels up by two as the first quarter ended.
In the second, the Irish reversed course and scored 4 straight goals on Tar Heels goaltender Josh Marcus.
Less than a minute in, sophomore attackman Luke Miller
scored first for the home team with an unassisted goal. He was joined just over a minute later by junior attackman Brock Behrman, with an assist by graduate attackman Josh Yago. Halfway through the second, graduate midfielder Will Angrick scored off a set-up play from Will Maheras to establish the first Irish lead of the game.
56 seconds later, true freshman attackman Teddy Lally connected off a pass from Yago and scored, putting the Irish up 4-2. Despite the defensive efforts from the Irish, they could not keep the visiting team scoreless in the second quarter and allowed a goal from North Carolina star Owen Duffy, ending the period 4-3 with a Notre Dame lead.
Coming back onto the field after the first half, the Tar Heels needed to reestablish their strategy to keep the game within reach. They were not prepared for the offensive dominance the Irish put on display in the second and were counting on halftime to diminish the fire lit under Notre Dame.
Twelve seconds into the third, Parker Hoffman scored for North Carolina, tying the game. The sold-out crowd in attendance was already anticipating an entertaining match,
but at this point in the game, fans of both teams perched anxiously on the edge of their seats.
After a penalty from a North Carolina player, who crosschecked Miller in the neck, Irish graduate midfielder Jalen Seymour scored off a pass from Yago to reclaim the Irish lead. On even strength a little over two minutes later, sophomore midfielder Matt Jeffery, assisted by Behrman, scored and put the Irish up 6-4.
As the third period clock dwindled down, North Carolina became more aggressive on defense. Their brutal style of play yielded the Tar Heels another artistic goal by Luke Macaluso. In the final two minutes of the third, Miller snuck past the North Carolina defenders and nailed a shot into the left side of the net, doing the work himself and ending the quarter with a 7-5 lead for the Irish.
In the fourth and final quarter, the Irish seemed more comfortable and determined to finish the game on their terms. Notre Dame held North Carolina back, preventing them from scoring as Lally scored two goals, finishing his hat trick. Miller was not far behind him, scoring a third unassisted goal to earn a hat trick
himself. The Irish won with a final score of 10-5, the doubled score by the home team even sweeter with over 5,000 fans in attendance.
After the game, head coach Kevin Corrigan said, “You know, when I came out here thirty years ago, there was hardly any lacrosse whatsoever. You were lucky if you could find a stick in the state of Indiana. And now, for those guys to be here, flying in to play at Arlotta Stadium, for us to have that kind of a crowd, that kind of a game against a great North Carolina team. [It’s] just great stuff. Great, great, great for our sport.”
Notre Dame’s team had a strong performance from multiple players. Yago, the Air Force transfer, had 3 assists, and Tally and Miller each tallied a hat trick. Throughout the course of the game, goaltender Thomas Ricciardelli course-corrected and earned 15 saves. Named to the 2025 All ACC-Team, Ricciardelli was vital in keeping Notre Dame grounded in the game and maintaining possession at any given opportunity.
Ricciardelli did not hesitate to compliment the team surrounding him after the game.
“I mean, you look at the stat sheet and see my stats, but my stats aren’t just about me. They’re about the guys that were able to cause that,” he said.
Ricciardelli also demonstrated a tendency to go after loose groundballs, a move that can make or break a game as intense as the one against North Carolina.
“I would consider myself, you know, pretty confident in those situations,” he said after the game. “But if I see the ball, I’m gonna go get it. You know, it’s just another guy to have on in the clearing game.”
Notre Dame’s performance against North Carolina is a testament to the strong team Notre Dame has established since winning national titles in 2023 and 2024. With two games left in the season, the Irish have a chance to prove they belong at the top once again.
The Irish will travel to face No. 13 Duke on Saturday in Durham, N.C. The conference match begins at noon at Freeman Field, Koskinen Stadium, and will be streamed on ACC Network.
Contact Nikki Stachurski at mstachu2@nd.edu
Irish sophomore attacker Luke Miller drives and protects the ball from Tar Heel defenseman Chase Cellucci during No. 2 Notre Dame’s 10-5 victory over No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday, April 11, at Arlotta Stadium. Both Miller and freshman attacker Teddy Lally tallied hat tricks in the dominant win that propelled the Irish to the top of the collegiate rankings.