Men’s golf

Season summary: The team played in the Hall of Fame tournament at Rock Hollow Golf Course, finishing sixth out of 21 teams. Junior Ryan Ford shot a 73 in windy conditions to win the individual championship in a field of 105 golfers. On May 6, the Irish shot a team score of 290 to win their seventh straight City championship. Ford again won the individual championship with a 68 and Will McGinley, Jake Cerar and Nick Bremer were all in the Top10 and were named all-City.

Upcoming matches: On May 15 the team will play at the Angola Invitational at Glendarin Golf course at 1 p.m. On May 22, the team competes at the Players Club at 10 a.m. in a preview of our regional. Senior Day is scheduled for June 1 when the team hosts North Central and Park Tudor in an 18-hole match at Maple Creek Country Club.

Sectional: The opening round of the State tournament will be played on June 4 at 8:30 a.m. at Maple Creek Country Club. Head Coach Mr. Pat Fagan wrote in an email, “We should do well in the Sectional and qualify for the Regional if we play up to our potential. 

From Coach Fagan: “While we lost four seniors from last year’s team that would have been one of the best in the state, this year’s team has gotten better each week and is really fun to coach. They care about each other and how each individual is doing and that will only make them better as the state tournament approaches. We truly think that this group will be peaking at the right time.”

Women’s lacrosse

Season highlights: Coach Ms. Mary Ann White said, “Our team as a whole has really clicked and is working well together, especially as a defensive unit, in our transitions and on attack. Our goalie, Katie Shin, has made incredible saves the last few games, keeping scores low and keeping us in games. Our defense leader, Ellie Schnur, is doing a great job with communicating and motivating. Our attack and midfield leaders are Ella Maher and Adison Webster, working to move the ball, fighting for ground balls and turnovers, assist and score. These are all leaders but all members of the team are working hard and together to be successful as a group.

Sectional: The team opens Sectional play in the first round on May 13 at Bishop Chatard at 6 p.m. against Brebeuf Jesuit. The second round of the Sectional is set for May 17. The State tournament will take place June 4 and June 5.

From Coach White: “We have a very close Sectional – we have lost to the two top seeds by just one in regular season — so we are excited to face those teams again. In order to do well, we need to continue our work on ball movement and push the speed of the game as well as limit fouls in the critical scoring area. We have challenging ourselves all season and now is where we give our final push and best efforts.

“I am proud of how much this team has improved and developed in terms of technical skill and confidence this year. They have faced tough opponents and shown immense growth since the beginning of the season. I am even more proud of team culture we have developed and strengthened this season.

“My athletes have shown mental toughness by working hard to improve during season, teamwork by working together and building each other up, and selflessness and kindness to each other and their coaches. These qualities and skills are just as important if not more than the physical ones, and this team has been so special to me.

Softball

Season highlights: The eight seniors on the team were honored during Senior Night on April 30 at Brunette Park. Ava Amos (.483) and Corinne Melloh (.443) lead the team in batting averages and Lia Burnell does so in home runs (seven) and RBIs (19). Meghan McCarthy is closed behind with five home rounds and 16 RBIs. Assistant Coach Mrs. Linda Bamrick noted the defensive play of Anna Kafka at second base and freshman pitcher Jade Slone, who has struck out 83 in 70 innings.

Key upcoming games: The Irish will play their Teacher Appreciation Night game on May 13 against Ben Davis at 5:30 p.m. at Brunette Park. On May 14, the team will host Zionsville at 5:30 on CYO/Youth Night.

Sectional: The team will host We will host the Sectional at Brunette Park and open tournament play against Beech Grove at 5:30 p.m. on May 26.

From Coach Bamrick: “We are anxiously looking forward to hosting the 2021 Sectional. We have shown steady improvement on the defensive end, but will need to do a better job of advancing base runners when they are in scoring position. We also need to improve our two-strike hitting in order to put the ball in play. If we can put pressure on our opponent’s defense, then we will have success. We have played a very competitive schedule against the state’s toughest teams and feel like this has prepared us to compete in the win or go home pressure situation we will face in tournament play. 

“As a coaching staff, we are so proud of our seniors and the leadership they have provided throughout the season. We struggled early in identifying our roles, but are making positive strides in all facets of the game, esp. defensively.

Men’s lacrosse

Season highlights: As of May 5, the team is currently 5-1 in Indiana and ranked third in Class 2A (large school).

Key upcoming game: The team is at home on May 14 against Carmel.

Tournament: Playoffs start May 29. According to Head Coach Mr. Andy Gruber, the team should be well positioned for the State semifinals on June 2

From Coach Gruber: “The boys have been playing well and improving on a game by game basis.” 

Men’s track and field

Season highlights: Michael Page ran a 22.97 in the 200 meters, the sixth best time in school history, and Charlie Schenck cleared 12’0” in pole vault, the seventh best mark ever for an Irish pole vaulter.

Sectional: The team will compete in the Sectional at Lawrence Central on May 20.

From Head Coach Mr. John O’Hara ’02: “We look forward to moving multiple athletes to (Regional). We have seen great improvement for all athletes, and the best is yet to come.”

Women’s track and field

Season highlights: The team finished first in the recent Bear Invite at Shelbyville. Several individuals are highly ranked in the state at this point in the season, including Reese Sanders, second in the 400 meters; Alexis Parchman, sixth in the long jump (17’11.5”), seventh in the 200 meters (25.64) and eighth in the 100 meters (12.18). The 4 x 400 relay team has the state’s best time at 4.03.7.

Sectional: The first leg of qualifying for the State meet is on May 18, when the team competes in the Sectional at Lawrence Central.

From Head Coach Mr. John O’Hara ’02: “The girls are poised to make a run at a City title (and has) numerous state caliber athletes that will make some noise in the tournament.”

Baseball

Season highlights: The team’s record is 11-3-2 as of May 7. The Irish were ranked eighth in the state in the most recent Class 4A poll. 

Key upcoming games: The team travels to Sellersburg on May 15 to play a doubleheader against Silver Creek. The Irish hit the road again on May 19 (at Bishop Chatard and on May 20 at Lawrence North. The team plays in the Carmel Invitational on May 22 at Hartman Field.

Sectional: Head Coach Mr. Ed Freije ’99 wrote in an email that the team will have to compete well, play together, pitch and defend well and have quality at bats offensively. The team drew Crispus Attucks in the Sectional’s opening game at Ben Davis, with dates and times of that game and the rest of the Sectional to be determined.

Men’s volleyball

Season highlights: The team reached semifinals in the Metro Tournament

Key upcoming matches: The team will play in the State Finals May 21 and May 22 at Southport. The draw for the tournament will take place on May 15.

From Head Coach Mr. Tyler McClure: “We are very optimistic heading into post season play. The guys have been working hard to peak the final two weeks of the year. We will need to control the net and limit opponents runs to reach our ultimate goal. The guys have been working hard to get a little better every day and end the season as state champions

Women’s tennis

Season highlights: Head Coach Mr. Mark Noe noted the outstanding play so far this season of singles players Izzie Carillo, Tess Wojtalik and Sara Wojtalik and doubles player Grace Foster.

Key upcoming matches: The team travels to Westfield on May 13.

From Coach Noe: “The squad will be the slight favorite for the Sectional. They will have to defeat some tough competition, (including) North Central and Chatard. Weather has played a role on missing or postponing three or four matches up to this point. Currently, the Lady Irish are ranked in 16th in the polls and have played some great tennis up to now. We are seeing a lot of improvement out of the members of the varsity, JV and freshman squads. There is a lot of potential and hard work happening right now.”