Turf’s up at Notre Dame

Past and present Notre Dame administration are celebrating the announcement that an artificial turf field will be installed at the Welland high school in 2022. Pictured clockwise from the bottom left are vice-principal Kelly Majka, vice-principal Luigi Folinazzo, incoming principal Andrew Boon and retiring principal Ken Griepsma.

By Bernie Puchalski - July 5, 2021

Incoming Notre Dame principal Andrew Boon is delighted the Welland high school will join Blessed Trinity in having an artificial turf field built on school property in the spring and summer of 2022.

The Niagara District Catholic School Board recently announced it would spent $3 million to install the fields. Trustees also approved funding in annual budgets moving forward with a goal of ensuring all eight Catholic high schools in the board have turf fields in the future. As of now, only Saint Paul has a turf field.

“My sister tells me that I have luck that I don’t deserve and I feel incredibly grateful to walk in and get to be part of a process that these guys have worked so hard for for so many years. It is incredibly exciting,” Boon said. “I taught here, I went here, my kids go here and all that good stuff that goes along with it. I feel blessed.”

Retiring Notre Dame principal Ken Griepsma, also a Fighting Irish alumnus, is pleased to see the plan come to fruition.

“This is a long time coming. There was initially a plan in Niagara Catholic to do this a little more quickly but we are very, very pleased that we are having a turf field coming to Notre Dame,” he said. “It is going to a boon for our community. We have all kinds of sports played here and we have a very rich tradition.”

The school’s grass surface has been part of that tradition but it’s time to move forward.

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Grad 2021 Recognition Day

Today is Notre Dame Grad 2021 Recognition Day! Congratulations to Matthew Roda and Owen Gallagher, the Valedictorian and Salutatorian, and the first two graduates to be recognized today! And our hearts forever, love thee Notre Dame!!

Martel wins first junior tour event

By Bill Potrecz - June 28, 2021

Michael Martel made a winning debut in the under-19 division on the Niagara Junior Golf Tour.

The 14-year-old Lookout Point member fired a two over par 59 to finish first in the opening event on the 2021 tour at Brock Golf.

It is the 29th year for the tour, which also started last season at Brock.

Martel, the defending under-15 boys champion, edged Noah LeBrasseur of Players Club Ottawa by two strokes and Benjamin Hebert of Lookout Point by three.

“I had a GAO (Golf Association of Ontario) qualifier last Thursday (in Guelph) and I didn’t play too well so it was nice to bounce back and just have iron shots and wedge shots,” he said. “I feel like that helped and I’m more dialled in now and back on my game.

“I wasn’t really nervous. I just went in with the mindset of winning.”

Martel, who just finished his Grade 10 year at Notre Dame, is still eligible to play U15 but moved up to test himself against better competition.

“It didn’t feel any extra pressure or anything,” he said.

Martel didn’t have to face older brother Matt Martel, the defending U19 division winner who was away at a GAO event Monday.

“The only thing I’m worried about is when Matt comes back!” Michael said. “He will be back for the next tournament.”

Michael Martel adjusted his thought process playing a short course.

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Congratulations Sebastian & Emilia!

Congratulation’s to IRISH Class of 2021 students Sebastian Brown and Emilia McKibbon on being selected as Welland-Port Colborne Rotary Medalists for Notre Dame in recognition of their service to others.