Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kate Sobrero Markgraf '98 (soccer) served as the evening's keynote speaker (photo by Mike Bennett).

Monogram Club Holds 2011 Fall Letter Jacket Ceremony

Oct. 12, 2011

NOTRE DAME, Ind. –

media-icon-photogallery.gifFall Letter Jacket Ceremony Photo Gallery

The Notre Dame Monogram Club awarded letter jackets to 135 first-time monogram winners at the organization’s annual fall letter jacket ceremony Tuesday night in the Joyce Center.

More than 250 individuals, including student-athletes, coaches, parents and administrators, gathered in Club Naimoli to celebrate an important Notre Dame tradition, started by the Monogram Club three years ago.

Although the organization has awarded letter jackets to varsity student-athletes since the Club’s inception in 1898, a formal ceremony was implemented in 2008 to properly honor student-athletes for the competitive accomplishments to which only 8,000 individuals in the history of Notre Dame can stake claim.

“Tonight is very special, as it marks an extraordinary milestone in the lives of these honorees,” Monogram Club executive director Beth Hunter said. “Through perseverance, dedication, and hard work, each of you has earned the right to become a part of the Monogram Club, which is certainly no small feat.”

After her remarks, Hunter introduced University of Notre Dame president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. Jenkins praised the student-athletes for their ability to achieve success on and off the field, often under a high level of scrutiny and attention.

“I know and I see how hard each of you work,” Jenkins said. “You’re our most visible students, and the way you act and the way you carry yourself makes me proud and reflects so much about this University. You are ambassadors of Notre Dame in a very special way.”

While the letter jacket symbolizes athletic accomplishments and academic success while at Notre Dame, it also serves as a reminder of the tenacity and effort it takes for student-athletes to achieve in the professional world once their time at the University has come to an end.

The importance of this memento was stressed by keynote speaker Kate Sobrero Markgraf (’98), a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2004, 2008) and a member of the 1995 Notre Dame women’s soccer national championship team. Markgraf provided color commentary for ESPN during the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.

“Notre Dame student-athletes know that to build a foundation to be successful in life and to develop a great reservoir of resilience, you must be challenged academically, athletically, socially and spiritually,” Markgraf said. “You can become anything, and your experiences at this University will help you in every aspect of your life.”

Athletics director Jack Swarbrick (’76) took the stage after Markgraf to reflect on what the monogram itself symbolizes -how it’s interlocking letters convey the strong, symbiotic relationships with coaches, family, friends and teachers that help Irish student-athletes better reach their academic and competitive goals.

“Every one of those people is represented in a stitch of your monogram,” Swarbrick said. “I want to make sure that every time you put on and wear the monogram, you remember all the people who helped you achieve it, and you thank them with your performance and the way you represent that jacket.”

At the conclusion of the formal program of speakers, Hunter welcomed faculty athletic representative Patricia Bellia to the podium, who invited the student-athletes up to the stage by sport. During the presentation of each group, coaches and administrators joined the athletes, along with Swarbrick and Monogram Club president Dick Nussbaum (’74 & ’77, baseball) to celebrate the accomplishment.

Senior lacrosse student-athlete Jake Brems closed the ceremony by representing his fellow student-athletes with remarks about how shared values and experiences connect Monogram winners and bring the legacy of Notre Dame to life.

“The spirit of the Fighting Irish manifests itself in everything we do – in our academics, our volunteer work and in competition,” Brems said. “It is the pride in being a part of this community that places the group above the individual and integrity above winning. It is through the work that we do and the sacrifices we make toward a common goal that we find success as Notre Dame student-athletes.”

Fall 2011 Letter Jacket Recipients

Name Hometown Name Hometown
Baseball Rowing
Sean Fitzgerald McLean, Va. Paige Aiello Rochester Hills, Mich.
Eric Jagielo Downers Grove, Ill. Teresa Blumenstein Westmont, N.J.
Trey Mancini Winter Haven, Fla. Stephanie Boggs Lumberton, N.J.
Dan Slania Tucson, Ariz. Molly Bruggeman Dayton, Ohio
Kiersten DeHaven Tampa, Fla.
Men’s Basketball Christina Dines Buffalo, N.Y.
Eric Atkins Columbia, Md. Courtney Gaberino Pewaukee, Wis.
Alex Dragicevich Northbrook, Ill. Kelsey Haddad Berwyn, Pa.
Jerian Grant Bowie, Md. Olivia Kacsits Rockford, Mich.
Alyce Kanabrocki Chicago, Ill.
Women’s Basketball Elizabeth Linnemanstons Meqoun, Wis.
Natalie Achonwa Guelph, Ontario Sarah McShane South Bend, Ind.
Ariel Braker Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. Abby Meyers Dayton, Ohio
Mary Forr Altoona, Pa. Kelsey Murphy Winthrop, Maine
Teresa Rubinger Arlington, Va.
Men’s Fencing
Alexander Coccia Columbus, Ohio Softball
Ariel DeSmet Troutdale, Ore. Chloe Saganowich Treasure Island, Fla.
Kevin Hassett Beaverton, Ore. Lauren Stuhr Huntington Beach, Calif.
Nickolas Kubik San Antonio, Texas Monica Torres Winter Springs, Fla.
Christopher Pinkowski Simi Valley, Calif. Laura Winter San Diego, Calif.
Michael Rossi White Plains, N.Y.
John Plunkett Wyckoff, N.J. Men’s Swim & Dive
Colin Babcock Covington, La.
Women’s Fencing Joshua Choi Folsom, Calif.
Rachel Beck Tuscon, Ariz. Frank Dyer Loudonville, N.Y.
Adriana Camacho Puebla, Mexico James Moore
Lian Osier Battle Ground, Wash. Bertie Nel Tzaneen, South Africa
Patrick Sullivan Franklin, Mass.
Men’s Golf
Paul McNamara III Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. Women’s Swim & Dive
Niall Platt Santa Barbara, Calif. Sarah Dotzel York, Pa.
Kimmie Lisiak Danville, Calif.
Women’s Golf Mikelle Masciantonio Emmaus, Pa.
Kristina Nhim Cypress, Calif. Christen McDonough Charlotte, N.C.
Kelly Ryan Hinsdale, Ill.
Hockey Lauren Stauder Carmel, Ind.
Jared Beers Mishawaka, Ind.
Sam Calabrese Park Ridge, Ill. Men’s Tennis
Jeff Costello Milwaukee, Wis. Greg Andrews Richland, Mich.
David Gerths Ankeny, Iowa Ryan Bandy Cincinnati, Ohio
Stephen Johns Wampum, Pa. Matt Dooley New Braunfels, Texas
Anders Lee Edina, Minn. Bryan Kelly North Oaks, Minn.
Kevin Lind Homer Glen, Ill. Billy Pecor Scottsdale, Ariz.
Bryan Rust Novi, Mich.
Steven Summerhays Anchorage, Alaska Women’s Tennis
Shayne Taker Surrey, British Columbia Nancy Joyce
T.J. Tynan Orland Park, Ill. Jennifer Kellner Smithtown, N.Y.
Michael Voran Livonia, Mich. JoHanna Manningham Mishawaka, Ind.
Julie Sabacinski Plantation, Fla.
Men’s Lacrosse
Tyler Andersen Wayne, Pa. Men’s Track
Tim Bemer Strafford, Pa. Alex Bavis Fort Wayne, Ind.
Jake Brems Kensington, Md. Jarrod Buchanon South Bend, Ind.
Tyler Brenneman East Hampton, N.Y. Brendan Dougherty Sioux City, Iowa
Tom Connor Greenwich, Conn. Patrick Feeney Indianapolis, Ind.
Pat Cotter Olney, Md. Andrew Kolbeck
Devon Dobson New Milford, Conn. Mitchell Lorenz Brainerd, Minn.
Westy Hopkins Newtown, Pa. Thomas Noel
John Kemp Potomac, Md. Doug Onuscheck Raleigh, N.C.
Tyler Kimball Phoenix, Md. Logan Renwick Butler, Pa.
Billy Maloney Bethesda, Md.
Liam O’Connor Haverford, Pa. Women’s Track
Edison Parzanese Edgartown, Mass. Mason Bashaw Houston, Texas
Dan Schmitt Palatine, Ill. Michelle Brown Shamong, N.J.
Kelly Burke Cranford, N.J.
Women’s Lacrosse Madelina Casanova Simi Valley, Calif.
Kaitlyn Brosco Shoreham, N.Y. Amanda Chamblee South Bend, Ind.
McKenzie Brown Greenwood Village, Colo. Vivien Devaney San Luis Obipso, Calif.
Jaimie Morrison Yorktown Heights, N.Y. McKinzie Schulz Naperville, Ill.
Molly Shawhan Fulton, Md. Susanna Sullivan Falls Church, Va.
Margaret Smith Westminster, Md. Aijah Urssery Inglewood, Calif.
Michelle Tremblay Tonka Bay, Minn. Jaclyn Winkel Reno, Nev.
Megan Yanik Plymouth, Mich.
Student Managers
Brendan Andrew Madison, Conn.
Joseph Baroz Staten Island, N.Y.
Elizabeth Bramanti Houston, Texas
Matthew Brown Fresh Meadows, N.Y.
Christopher Cornejo San Antonio, Texas
Justin Cullen Storm Lake, Iowa
Lucy Eckard Orinda, Calif.
Nathan Feldpausch St. John’s, Mich.
Christopher Iverson Dubuque, Iowa
Jennifer Kline Middeltown, N.J.
Claire Kueny Richboro, Pa.
Rebecca Modlin Niles, Mich.
Daniel Moore St. Louis, Mo.
Jessica Orlando Springfield, Ill.
Sean Osier Windor, Ga.
Ashlynd Romkema Clarkston, Mich.
Nicholas Schappler Bedford, N.H.
William Scott Tinley Park, Ill.
Nicholas Sigmund Crystal Lake, Ill.
Kelli Zeese South Bend, Ind.