Krol closes out career with title
Mike Connolly
Outside Looking In
PALO ALTO, Calif.
When the green light flashed for the fifth and final time, senior Magda Krol pumped her fist in the air and screamed in triumph — just like she had 63 previous times at the NCAA Champion-ships.
Her 5-2 victory over Elizabeth Thottam of St. John's, however, was more than just her 64th career victory at the NCAA Champion-ships — it was her last victory.
"I didn't have anything on my mind but just go touch by touch and to win it for Notre Dame," Krol said. "I didn't even realize it was my last one of the day. I was so ready to finish my last bout with good spirit and good sportsmanship and determination on every touch."
Spirit. Determination. Sportsmanship.
While Penn State head coach Emmanuil Kaidanov threw hissy fits on the sidelines, demanded extra judges and weapons checks and played every other mind game with Krol, the senior never strayed from the spirit, determination and sportsmanship she learned under the Dome.
"They've have been doing that for years," Irish head coach Yves Auriol said about Penn State's antics. "We know what to expect from them."
Auriol also knows what to expect from Krol every time she takes the strip — spirit, determination and sportsmanship.
When Auriol needed a foilist for this year, he turned to Krol. Although Krol had fenced epee for three years for Notre Dame, she switched to foil because she knew that was where she could help the team most.
Krol has developed from a talented individual as a freshman when she won the national title in epee into a talented team player as a senior.
"Fencing is sometimes a very individual sport but fencing at Notre Dame has taught her it's more than just you," Jolanta Krol said about her daughter. "It's everybody. The team is more important than you. And after she got over `I am only in fifth place,' she thought `but we still have a chance.' We as Notre Dame — that is what is important."
Krol drew more satisfaction from being a representative of Notre Dame than she ever did as an individual fencer. Being named an All-American for the fourth time in her career was just an after thought for Krol.
"I don't think I accomplished as much as a fencer but more as a representative of our University," she said. "I didn't realize it was four years of All-American honors. I just feel extremely proud for Notre Dame."
When Krol walked off the strip for the last time, her teammates cheered — not just for a great fencer, but for a great leader and a great person.
"It was really special because you work with her every day for four years and you see how much focus she has and how hard she works," sabre captain Clay Morton said. "I am glad I got to see it in person because she puts everything she has into it and she is a role model for every other member of the team."
So while Penn State flies home from Stanford with a first place trophy, Krol leaves as a champion. Her spirit, determination and sportsmanship made her a great leader and a model for Notre Dame athletes.
"I feel sorry for Magda because she deserved it the most to win a national championship," Auriol said. "She is such a great competitor. I wish I could recruit people like Magda more often."
Krol, however, walks away with no regrets.
"I think I am leaving Notre Dame on a very good note," she said. "This is a very promising team in the next for years. These freshmen and sophomores have so much potential. If we just keep the spirit going, I think it will be very good for the team."
With Krol leaving, however, keeping the spirit going may be the biggest test the Irish will face.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Sports Stories for Monday, March 27, 2000
