By Bernie Puchalski: BP Sports Niagara - January 27, 2022
Johnny Augustine’s day with the Grey Cup included a must-stop at Notre Dame.
The 2021 CFL champion with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was at the Welland high school Thursday morning to share the historic trophy with former coaches, teachers and members of the Notre Dame senior football team.
“I have been looking forward to this moment for a very long time because I remember when Chris Van Zeyl did it. I remember how special that was and I wanted to do it as well,” the 28-year-old running back said.
Augustine described the Notre Dame visit as humbling.
“I wanted to do it in 2019 and then the pandemic hit,” he said. “Even though the world is upside down, I still wanted to take advantage of this opportunity.”
The 5-foot-9, 200-pounder felt it was important to do so.
“They helped me out in every way that I could have imagined because I came from Florida when I was 17,” he said. “They welcomed me with open arms and I am very close with (senior head coach Tim) Bisci. It is not just about football. It is about the community and how they guided me.”
That early guidance has stayed with Augustine forever.
“No one can ever take that away and when I knew I was getting the cup, my priority was coming back here.”
He has many fond memories of Notre Dame.
“My first year was a great experience, going from playing football in the States and then coming here. I played with some great guys and I will never forget that experience and the camaraderie. There are a lot of memories I am forgetting but that first year was amazing.”
Bisci has great memories of Augustine’s time with the Irish.
“He was the hardest-working kid that we ever had, without a doubt. It was getting to the point where the kid was getting up at 5 0’clock in the morning, riding his bike to go to the YMCA to work out. Then he would come to school and he would be eating all day and working out. Then he would go home and run. That was his day and it got to the point where his dad called me up and wanted to know what he was doing. His dad was concerned because he was never home but that what he was doing. He had nothing to worry about because he was a great kid.”
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All Niagara Catholic schools and sites are closed for today (Jan. 17) due to inclement weather. If you must travel, please stay safe.
By Bernie Puchalski - January 5, 2022
In the span of less than a year, Anna Smrek went from being a spectator to the MVP of the NCAA Division 1 women’s volleyball championship.
“If I look back to January, it definitely wasn’t something that I could have predicted for myself,” the 18-year-old Welland Notre Dame graduate said. “I mainly went there to jumpstart my training because I wasn’t eligible to compete.”
The 6-foot-9 player headed to the University of Wisconsin in January 2021 but wasn’t eligible to play in the 2020 fall season which had been moved to the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic
“Not being eligible to play was a little bit different but it helped me with my transition a little bit more because I could focus on developing and getting to know my team instead of having competition on my plate right away,” said the former Niagara Rapids and Defensa Volleyball Club travel player.
Smrek had a front row seat as Wisconsin made it to the NCAA Final Four in the spring of 2021 and lost in the semifinals. The squad resumed summer training in July followed by the preseason in August. University of Wisconsin photo
“At that time, I wasn’t starting and I wasn’t for a good bit of the season,” Smrek said.
When middle Danielle Hart tore her SCL at practice, Smrek took Hart’s position for a few games before she too suffered a knee injury. Although it wasn’t as serious as Hart’s, it kept her out of the lineup and she was replaced in the middle by another player on the Wisconsin roster.
It was then that Smrek was moved to right side.
“I took that on at practice and all of a sudden I was thrown into games at that position,” she said. “Over time, it started to become my position and my spot on the court.”
She shared the position with teammate Jade Demps.
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By Bernie Puchalski - December 9, 2021
Like all high school boys basketball teams in Niagara, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish senior squad is a work in progress.
“It has been two years since we played and practices are one thing and games are another. They are completely different,” said Notre Dame’s Lucas Ponting, after scoring 22 points Thursday to lead his team to a 78-28 road victory over the Lakeshore Catholic Gators in Niagara Catholic Athletic Association play.
The 6-foot-4 forward loves being back playing with his Irish teammates.
“They are your classmates and your friends,” he said. “It was definitely difficult not playing last year. School is not the same without sports.”
The 17-year-old Pelham Panthers travel player has high expectations for Notre Dame this season.
“I definitely think we can go to OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championship) because we are a really good team. We are big, we have people who can shoot and people who can drive. We have people on our team who can do everything.”
The Grade 12 student wants to continue working on his game this season.
“I have to keep getting stronger and working on everything, dribbling and shooting.”
Notre Dame head coach Mark Gallagher is happy to have Ponting on his roster.
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