Editor’s note: The coaches of the men’s cross-country, men’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams did not reply to several email requests for information, so coverage of their teams is not included. 

 Football

Season highlights: According to Head Coach Mr. Bill Peebles ’88, “We had a good Week 1 performance at Westfield, with a 56-20 win against a very good 6A opponent.” The next week, the team would make another trip to Hamilton County, defeating the defending Class 6A State champion Carmel 44-28, with senior quarterback Nathan McCahill being named the Irish player of the game for his performance, which included the offense racking up 300 yards in the first half alone. The team is ranked at the top of the Class 5A state poll, with New Palestine in the second-place position in the weekly ratings.

The Covid effect: Peebles said most of the effects have to do with practice organization and logistics. “Fortunately, it has not impacted participation in a significant way. We pray that our players continue to follow all the protocols and stay safe,” Peebles wrote in an email. The head coach said that as of Sept. 1, 20 percent of the football team has opted for online instruction, staying at home during the day and then arriving on campus for practices after school each day, with several also on campus each day for zero period weight lifting. 

Key upcoming games: The Irish, after beating Penn 52-7 on Sept. 4, make the short trip down Kessler to take on Bishop Chatard on Sept. 11. Peebles’ team then plays its next two games at Arlington, against Cincinnati St. Xavier on Sept. 18 and Cincinnati LaSalle on Sept. 25.

Team goals: Peebles said, “Our goal is to get better daily. Our players have been working hard to accomplish that goal. We hope to continue to improve and be ready for the playoff run. Our motto is ‘What’s Important Now!’ What is important today is working hard to prepare to be your best.”

 Women’s golf

Season highlights: Coach Eric Bruns wrote in an email, “(Our) best match as a team was played at South Grove against Ben Davis and Park Tudor. We shot 172 as a team for the nine holes.  This is a good sign, due to the fact that South Grove is the course that hosts the City championship. The best individual performances were early in the season, with senior Katie Shin, (who) placed third as an individual at both the Lafayette Jeff and Guerin Catholic Invites.”

The Covid effect: Bruns said, “Luckily, we haven’t missed any matches as a team, but we have had a few members of the team that were affected. Due to the nature of golf being naturally socially distant, Covid has not affected us too badly.” The coach added that all members of the women’s golf team are attending classes on campus and none had chosen to stay at home for online instruction.

Upcoming key matches: The team hosts Bishop Chatard on Sept. 8 at 4 p.m. at Maple Grove. The team plays in the City championship at the South Grove course on Sept. 11, with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. The Irish host the Sectional on Sept. 21 at Maple Grove.

 Goals: Brun said, “We are still improving as a team. We have won some matches, but we have not yet played our best golf as a team. If we can get all five in the varsity line-up to play to their full potential we will be a tough team to beat at City and Sectional. We placed second in the City championship last year, and we would like to at least match that performance. We are looking to also advance out of our Sectional to Regional for the 17th consecutive year.

 Women’s cross-country

The team began its season with a win at the Seymour Invitational, with senior Reese Sanders finishing first in her first-ever cross-country race.

Covid-19 effect: Head Coach Ms. Allie Griffith said, “We have had to adjust training by using running and stretching pods that are between six and eight girls.” Griffith said that only about 5 percent of the members of the team are staying home for online instruction.

Upcoming key meets: Griffith cited the All-Catholic meet, which is scheduled for Sept. 12 at Guerin Catholic in Noblesville.

Team goals: “We have set more team accountability expectations and consistent training plans for practices,” Griffith said. “We hope to compete with some of the top teams in the area at these larger meets coming up. We have come so far the last month in terms of our senior leadership, team unity and consistent training and effort. From our top runners to our new runners, the entire program has committed to getting better each day at practice.”

Men’s tennis

 The team, as of Sept. 3, is 5-1 and has wins over rivals such as Brebeuf Jesuit and Park Tudor. According to Head Coach Mr. Mark Noe, “We are seeing improvement every match. Some people are stepping up and producing some nice results.”

 Covid-19 effect: “We are being very cautious and careful about our team’s well-being. All involved are proactive about safe and clean environments. This takes a lot of people to make this work, (including) parents, players, coaching staff and administration,” Noe wrote in an email. He noted that, as far as he knew, no member of the men’s tennis program has opted to stay home for online instruction.

 Upcoming key matches: The team takes on Bishop Chatard on Sept. 8, plays Roncalli on Sept. 10 and challenges North Central on Sept. 14, with all matches being played at their opponents’ schools. 

 Team goals: “Our goals are simple: work on our areas that need refinements in practice, take it to the next match and learn,” Noe said. “We are taking this one match and one day at a time. We would like to play tough against the Top 10 teams and make some noise at Sectional and City. This team has a lot of unity and heart. We are so pleased and eager to continue the season in a safe and prepared manner. The coaching staff can attest to the hard work and hours the boys are putting in for themselves and the team.”

Women’s soccer

Head Coach Mr. Marc Behringer ’84 reports that 11 seniors are leading what he calls a talented team against a challenging schedule. 

 Covid-19 effect: The team has been missing players due to Covid-19 and has yet to have all 22 varsity players available for a match. Behringer wrote in an email, “We are looking forward to that changing this week.” The head coach noted that not a single player from the women’s soccer program has chosen online instruction over in-person classes.

 Key upcoming games: The Irish take on Brebeuf Jesuit on Sept. 9 at Lawrence Park, with the JV team getting underway at 5:30 and the varsity at 7. The squads play Zionsville at the ZYSA Complex on Sept. 12 at 5 and 7, following by hosting Westfield at Lawrence Park on Sept. 14 at 5:30 and 7 p.m. The Irish make the trip to Hamilton County on Sept. 23, playing at Guerin Catholic at 5 and 7 p.m.

Team goals: Behringer said, “The team is working hard and preparing to defend their City championship and to win their Sectional. (We want to) stay healthy, become family, show integrity in all we do, and excel as a team so that we may reach our potential. The girls’ soccer team is full of players that represent our school extremely well. They are fantastic students that play soccer with passion and grit. This team has the potential to achieve all of their goals and continue the programs history of success on and off the field.”