Friday, September 13, 2024
BY RICH PALZEWIC
SPORTS EDITOR
DE PERE – It was an exciting day for De Pere High School student-athlete Olivia Fabry Nov. 20 at the high school.
The senior Fabry, the defending WIAA Division 1 state champ in the pole vault and a three-time state qualifier, signed her NCAA National Letter of Intent to compete in track and field for the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
Fabry is the Redbirds’ school record holder in the pole vault at 13-1 and was a member of the school-record setting 1,600-meter relay team (3:55.26).
“I’m just really excited to commit with Notre Dame,” said Fabry, who is the daughter of Ryan and Tracy Fabry. “As soon as I stepped on campus, I knew it was where I wanted to be. The academics there are amazing and the campus is beautiful.”
Fabry would like to become a biomolecular and chemical engineer.
She strongly considered Vanderbilt University as well, but in the end, the lure of the Fighting Irish was a perfect fit for her.
“I looked at a lot of schools in the Big Ten and talked to a lot of coaches around the country,” said Fabry. “I feel very blessed to say this is where I’m going to school and will graduate from.”
Fabry was ninth at the state meet as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore, and it was then she realized she could do more, and that this day might become a reality.
“My club coach told me during my freshman year that I could do all of this, but I didn’t believe him at that point,” laughed Fabry. “I think my junior year I finally realized it could happen.”
Fabry signs her National Letter of Intent with the University of Notre Dame. (Rich Palzewic Photo)Just because Fabry won a state championship and signed a National Letter of Intent with a big-time school, doesn’t mean she will rest on those accolades.
“I will practice and go to Synergy Sports to work with Scotty Smith and Bill Schroeder and hopefully get better,” she said. “State is the big thing in high school, so obviously it would be cool to win again. It’s a big dream, but I’d like to jump 14 feet. I like to set my goals high.”
De Pere High School track and field coach James Boyd had nothing but praise for his star athlete.
“Olivia has been an important part of the success of De Pere track and field,” Boyd said. “She is truly a team player and has never turned down a challenge from the coaching staff. Her contributions and success are well documented, but it is her commitment and leadership to the sport that has been second to none. I know Olivia will represent De Pere well at Notre Dame.”
