Impact Alumni Magazine Winter 2024/25

BRID G ET G ALLA G HER ’23

JACOB MODLESKI ’23

Bridget Gallagher ’23 is currently a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame where she runs cross country and track. This fall, she competed in her first season of cross country for the Irish, having redshirted her freshman year due to injury and to save eligibility. “As a member of the cross country and track team at Notre Dame, I work hard to improve as both a runner and a person. Despite facing injuries and hardships, I feel that God has provided me with numerous opportunities to use my gifts to become a better teammate and runner.” Bridget considers it a true blessing to compete at this level and strives to use her abilities to bring glory to God. “My teammates are some of my best friends, and my coaches care about me as a person. Just like Guerin Catholic, Notre Dame has been a strong support system.” One of her most cherished memories from high school is running in the cross-country Semi-State as a team during her senior year. Although she advanced individually, she wanted to also qualify as a team. “The team was composed of my closest friends, and everyone had worked diligently throughout the season. I will never forget the moment when their coaches announced the results and confirmed that they were advancing as a team. Knowing that Regionals would be the most competitive meet leading to State, we felt confident about their chances”. This moment remains her favorite due to the genuine joy shared among her teammates, coaches, and the friends and family who came to support them. Though her journey may not always appear linear, Bridget trusts that God has a plan for her. She is committed to using the gifts He has given her to become the best runner she can be, relying on her support system as a solid foundation, just as she has done since she started running. n

Jacob Modleski ’23 is a sophomore currently playing golf for the University of Notre Dame. After completing the fall season, he will resume the second half of the season in the Spring of 2025. “I’ve absolutely loved participating in collegiate athletics so far and can’t wait to continue again soon!” Jacob won two collegiate events during his freshmen year at Notre Dame— “The Folds of Honor Collegiate” and the “Johnnie-O”, where he earned his first collegiate individual win. The Fighting Irish made it to the NCAA tournament at La Costa in May 2024 for the first time in 68 years! Jacob also had success in two amateur events, including the prestigious “Jones Cup Invitational,” where he entered as an alternate and won the event in January 2024. That win earned him an automatic exemption into the RSM Classic, a PGA tour event, which was played in Sea Island GA, Nov 21-24, 2024. He also made the final eight of this year’s US Amateur which earns him an exemption into next year’s US AM as well. Jacob and the Notre Dame golf team won two events this fall—the Canadian Collegiate Invitational and their own Fighting Irish Classic. They will commence their team schedule again in February 2025. n

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