When Notre Dame’s school year started in the last days of August, I quickly discovered many new additions to the building. Every classroom was filled with new teachers, students and floors, but while walking down the hall, there was one thing that was unrecognizable. Our gym floor had been remodeled. But while taking a longer look, I saw the true beauty behind this new addition to Notre Dame, and I think it is one of the most important.

One of our most meaningful projects shortly became the remodeling of our own gymnasium floor, where many winning games for basketball and volleyball have once been played. From the planning to the practices, this took around six weeks, ensuring the utmost safety for our players. Before the design process, the existing gym floor was sanded using a “super sport finishing system.” Notre Dame teamed up with Miller Sports Construction to design a meaningful piece that places history behind our beloved court.

Our remodeled court has been made in memory of a tragically deceased alumnus, and renamed “Jeff Dailey Court.” Dailey was a 2004 Notre Dame graduate but also a star varsity basketball player with records at Notre Dame of 338 three-point shots and at Lehigh University of 126 three-point shots. Through his Notre Dame career, he held a spot on the varsity basketball team for four consecutive years and scored 1,746 points. But Dailey was not only a truly incredible basketball player; he could be described as a kindhearted soul. He was a true leader on and off the court and displayed confidence in every aspect. Dailey truly exemplified what it means to be a Crusader. In December, at the Dailey Tip-Off Tournament, a ceremony honoring him will be held.

But our court has more to it than this. If you take a closer look, you will see an Easton Catholic logo. Just this simple logo holds a great deal of pride, community, and, of course, team spirit. The Easton Catholic logo connects the court to our previous Easton Catholic alumni and everyone who created a path to what Notre Dame has become today.

Our court before held many memories, but now they will never be forgotten. With these changes, our court will show not only the definition of a true Crusader but also how we got to where we are today. The remodeled court was needed not only for our school but also for our hearts; legacies live on, and we can honor the ones who deserve it most.

What else is new at ND?

Notre Dame’s newest play is “Under Wave,” and “The Diary of Anne Frank,” a historically-based play that takes place during the Holocaust. You get to see the incredible heroes Miep and Mr. Kraler take in the Franks, a Jewish family in need of hiding. The play exhibits the emotional stress both families were under and the tension that brewed under one roof during World War II.

If you have seen any of our plays or musicals, you can find some familiar faces in this one. Actors include Christina Andreano as Anne Frank, Daniel Carroll as Mr. Frank, Ella St. Pierre as Mrs. Frank, and Freddy nominated Keegan Ramsey as Mr. Van Daan. The play runs this Friday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, Nov. 4. Come support our actors this Friday and Saturday to see the Franks’ challenges and how a kind act can protect a family’s life.