Notre Dame Dream A Reality For Kwapis

Stephen Kwapis 3B / 2B / Hackett Catholic Prep, MI / 2021

KALAMAZOO - A dream that began in the second grade has become a reality for Stephen Kwapis.

The Hackett Catholic Prep junior has committed to play baseball at Notre Dame.

“I went to a Notre Dame football game in second grade and I fell in love with the university,” Kwapis reflected. “For me it’s close to home, the academics can’t get any better and then there’s the baseball program.”

A revamped coaching staff led by new head coach Link Jarrett saw enough at a prospect camp back in October to realize Kwap, as he is nicknamed, was right for the program.

“My freshman year I sent emails letting them know who I was,” Kwapis related about the Atlantic Coast Conference baseball school. “Then they had a chance to see me play at the Future Games. After that I went to a prospect camp where they gave everyone 10 swings. I hit six home runs in a row. That was a special moment. I ran well and showed off my bat. After that I was hoping to get a response from the show I put on.

“About a month ago I got a DM from (assistant) coach (Rich) Wallace who said can we talk, that Notre Dame was interested in me,” Kwapis continued. “A few weeks ago they sent me a text to come on a visit for the Notre Dame-Navy game and they ended up offering me.”

Recent improvement helped the cause for the 17th-rated 2021 in Michigan.

“My bat has really gotten better,” Kwapis explained. “I’ve worked hard to be a more well-rounded batter and a more situational hitter. I’ve also worked on my agility to get faster and I’m still working on my arm strength to make myself more well-rounded so I can compete at the college level.