Matt Schipper Class: Sophomore Hometown: Leo, IN High School: Bishop Dwenger Height: 5-11 Event: Jumps Birthdate: 05/03/1987

AS A FRESHMAN: Emerged from both the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons with the team's top mark in the pole vault, despite competing amongst several talented teammates ... first significant breakthrough was a 4.55m (14-11) effort at the Meyo Invitational ... busted out a huge career and personal best at the indoor BIG EAST Championship, vaulting 4.80m (15-9) to take second and earn all-conference laurels ... also jumped 4.63m (15-2 1/4) at the Alex Wilson Invitational ... went 4.60m (15-1) for eighth place at the Mike Poehlein Invitational ... matched that height to tie teammate Dave Viken for second place at the Spartan Invitational ... placed second at the Central Collegiate Championships with a vault of 4.75m (15-7) ... soared to a season- and career-best vault at the Hillsdale Gina Relays, taking sixth place with a 4.85m (15-11) mark ... scored points at the BIG EAST outdoor meet, tying for fifth place with a 4.65m (15-3) vault ... closed his season with a 4.75m effort at the Georgia Tech Invitational which tied him for third ... should contend for more BIG EAST accolades in 2008 while working towards NCAA Regional qualification.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Two-sport letterwinner (track & field and wrestling) at Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, Ind. ... two-time all-state, and three-time all-city and all-conference pole vaulter ... won regional pole vault crown as a junior and conference title as a senior ... top prep clearance in pole vault was 4.725m (15-6) outdoors at 2006 New Haven Relays ... finished fourth at 2006 Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) outdoor state meet ... participated in '06 Midwest Meet of Champions ... accomplished prep wrestler who set school record for most pins as a freshman in 2003 ... garnered academic all-state status in wrestling as senior ... won Distinguished Athlete Award from U.S. Marine Corps ... National Honor Society member ... classmate of current Irish freshman football player Jake Richardville ... born May 3, 1987 in Fort Wayne, Ind. ... son of Janet and Donald Schipper ... fourth of nine children ... older brothers Andrew and Ryan both were All-American pole vaulters at Division III entity Rose-Hulman ... multiple relatives have graduated from Notre Dame, while cousin, Marc Sordelet, is a junior at the University ... plans to major in civil engineering at Notre Dame ... enrolled in the First Year of Studies program.