By Gabe Holowka | February 2, 2022

On Tuesday, the Aqua Dons visited St. Viator's pool with one intention, to demolish them. Let's just say the Dons did exactly what they intended to do. The Aqua Dons led by captain Evan Wachula went out there and won every race except one. Even though they lost that one race I saw some great teamwork and great leadership by the team. After that race, one of the Dons had their head down with discouragement. I caught a glimpse of Captain Wachula walking over and telling him everything was going to be just fine. He was teaching him what he could have done differently to possibly help him out. That right there showed me how this team has grown a great relationship with one another. It showed that they are there to support each other at all times. It’s always a great sight to see the relationship and brotherhood a team like these Aqua Dons have. After the final relay race where the Dons swam a 3:54:34, I had a chance to talk with Captain Wachula who currently holds 3 records in the entire school's history. I first asked him how he thought the team was doing so far. He responded by saying that they have “greatly improved over the years.” Saying how they are looking to dominate Conference and Sectionals. He also said that the younger Dons show a lot of “dedication and time into improving their game,”

which is a great thing to hear. When asked about the future of this team, Captain Wachula said they are “going to be really good.” Very exciting to hear a captain of a team saying this about his teammates. I am very excited to see where this team goes in the future. With the great leadership, teamwork, and chemistry these Dons have with one another, they are on track for great things. The Aqua Dons have one more tri-meet against our rival St. Pats on the 7th of February before sectionals. Keep up the great work Dons. You all should be proud of your accomplishments and the work you all have put in. Good luck on the rest of the season and GO DONS!!!

By Erik Reykjalin | January 31, 2022

On Friday, the Dons hosted Marian Catholic in a major ESCC Conference battle. The Dons came into the game, riding a three game winning streak, with their most recent victory last Monday night against Vernon Hills. However on Friday, the Dons faced a challenging Marian Catholic team, led by senior Jeremiah Jones, the second leading scorer in the conference. Jones can impact the game on both ends of the floor, leading the Spartans in both points and steals. The Spartans also possess great size and elite rebounders, making them a tough matchup for Notre Dame’s bigs. The Dons got off to a slow start offensively, as the Spartans led 13-5 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Dons clawed their way back into the game, and held a 34-31 lead at the end of the third quarter. In the end, the Spartans’ defense was too much for the Dons to handle, as they were held to just two points in the fourth, and fell 41-36. The Dons’ offensive struggles did not come as a surprise, as many of the Spartans opponents this season have struggled offensively, thanks to great defense from Jeremiah Jones and Quentin Jones who is averaging nearly a block per game. The Spartans now have the second seed in the conference, with the Dons owning the third seed. Despite the loss, the Dons showed resilience, overcoming a sizable deficit, and battling with the Spartans until the final buzzer. The team is still building chemistry game by game, and new leaders are stepping up. Overall, it was a fun night, as the Don Dome opened up to full capacity for the first time in the new year, and fans were able to witness the first ever light show presented by the Tech Dons. More than likely, the Dons will host another game on Saturday, so be sure to come out and show your support.