Mike Holba Class: Sophomore Hometown: Lansing, Illinois High School: Thornton Fractional South Height / Weight: 6-7 / 225 Position: First Baseman Birthdate: 05/17/1981 Bats: Right

Accomplished athlete who had option of attending college on a football scholarship, as a record-setting quarterback ... part of an athletic family that has seen all four of its boys go on to play collegiate sports ... a dangerous power hitter who will compete for playing time at first base and DH ... his 6-7, 215-pound frame provides a big target at first base ... could make greater contributions as he develops his strength and overall hitting skills ... one of eight Chiacgoland natives on Notre Dame's 2000 roster and one of 138 Illinois natives who have lettered with the Notre Dame baseball program, with 26 playing for the Irish in the six-year tenure of coach Paul Mainieri.

PREP & PERSONAL: Talented three-sport athlete at Thornton Fractional South High School, serving as senior team captain and earning team MVP honors in football, basketball and baseball ... named to ’99 first team all-state baseball team by Chicago Tribune, after batting .458 with 17 home runs, 10 doubles, 55 RBI and a .975 slugging pct. ... his 17 home runs led the state, set a school record and were three shy of state record ... also set school season records for doubles and runs (58), plus a school-record 31 career home runs ... led ’99 team to 29-7 record and regional final ... became the first four-year starter in school's baseball team history ... three times named all-conference, twice all-area ... helped baseball team win conference title as a sophomore ... played summer ball with Prairie Gravel ... named school's male athlete of the year, after earning all-state in baseball and football and all-conference in basketball ... named Chicago Sun Times offensive football player of the year as a senior (1,776 passing yards, 16 TDs), when he led a nationally-ranked squad while earning all-conference and all-city honors ... played in the North/South all-star football game ... twice named all-conference and all-area in basketball ... averaged 13 points and eight rebounds as a senior center ... youngest of five children and tallest in a family that includes three brothers who played college football ... named Academic All-Conference in 1998 and a 1999 Illinois State Scholar ... member of the National Honor Society ... his brother Bob Holba (6-4) played football and baseball at Air Force ('82-'86) ... brother Bill Holba (6-3) was a tight end at Butler in late '80s ... brother Tom Holba (6-6) was a reserve quarterback at Michigan State in late ’80s ... born May 17, 1981, in Chicago Heights, Ill. ... his parents are Tom and Jackie Holba ... full name is Michael Andrew Holba ... enrolled in the First Year of Studies ... intends to major in government.