First Gator Lacrosse Signing Class Announced
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 | Lacrosse
Head Lacrosse Coach Amanda O'Leary announced the first recruiting class for the University of Florida lacrosse program Wednesday. The 24 member class will bring extraordinary experience from the nation's best high school and club lacrosse programs. Among the signees, 11 played for high schools that ranked among the top 25 programs in the final 2008 LaxPower national rankings. Additionally, seven were named to US Lacrosse High School All-America Teams as juniors.
“We, as a staff, are proud to announce the outstanding inaugural class enrolling at the University of Florida in the fall of 2009,” O'Leary said. “These quality young women will build the foundation of the future success of Florida lacrosse. They possess exceptional athleticism, talent and a strong work-ethic. Not only have they established themselves as high caliber athletes, but have distinguished themselves in the classroom and within the community. With the unprecedented support of Florida's Athletic Association, these remarkable student-athletes will compete among the nation's best and begin the legacy of Florida lacrosse in 2010.”
| 2008 University of Florida Lacrosse Signees | |||
| Name | Position | High School | Hometown |
| Lelan Bailey | Midfield | Severna Park High School | Millersville, Md. |
| Ashley Bruns | Attack | Mount Hebron High School | Ellicott City, Md. |
| Cara Canington | Goal keeper | C. Milton Wright High School | Bel Air, Md. |
| Caroline Chesterman | Midfield | Nyack High School | South Nyack, N.Y. |
| Katie Ciaci | Defense | Northport High School | Northport, N.Y. |
| Kitty Cullen | Midfield | McDonogh School | Rockville, Md. |
| Brittany Dashiell | Midfield | John Carroll High School | Bel Air, Md. |
| Emily Dohony | Defense | Hereford High School | Parkton, Md. |
| Samantha Farrell | Midfield | Severna Park High School | Millersville, Md. |
| Cori Gray | Midfield | John Carroll High School | White Hall, Md. |
| Lindsay Higham | Defense | Severn School | Severna Park, Md. |
| Jenna Hildebrand | Defense | Moorestown High School | Moorestown N.J. |
| Janine Hillier | Attack | Farmingdale Senior High School | Farmingdale, N.Y. |
| Haydon Judge | Midfield | St. Mary's High School | Chestertown, Md. |
| Hayley Katzenberger | Midfield | Academy of the Holy Cross | Damascus, Md. |
| Mikey Meagher | Goal keeper | Liverpool High School | Liverpool, N.Y. |
| Natalie Melaniff | Defense | Wantagh High School | Wantagh, NY |
| Jamie Reeg | Midfield | Park Vista High School | Atlantis, Fla. |
| Colby Rhea | Midfield | McDonogh High School | Abingdon, Md. |
| Hayward Sawers | Midfield | St. Paul's High School | Timonium, Md. |
| Julie Schindel | Midfield | St. Mary's High School | Edgewater, Md. |
| Rachel Smith | Defense | Mount Hebron High School | Ellicott City, Md. |
| Kayla Stolins | Midfield | Loch Raven High School | Glen Arm, Md. |
| Amanda Wedekind | Attack | Mount Hebron High School | Ellicott City, Md. |
Meet the First Gator Lacrosse Class…
Lelan Bailey
Part of 2007 and 2008 Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) 4A state champion Severna Park High School teams… Named to The Baltimore Sun's 2008 All-Anne Arundel County first-team… Also earned 2008 Coaches' All-Anne Arundel County first team honors… Severna Park H.S. ranked No. 3 in nation in 2008 by LaxPower.com… Played for CCLax Club in Annapolis, Md., for five years … Earned 2007 All-Galaxy honorable mention… Also played field hockey and ran indoor track … Part of the Severna Park H.S.'s MPSSAA Class 4A State Championship field hockey teams in 2007 and 2008 … Earned Coaches' All-County first team in 2008 and honorable mention in 2007… Member of the 2007 Under-16 Indoor National Field Hockey Championship team… Won Severna Park's Top-Scholar Athlete Award in 2008… Member of the National Honor Society and Severna Park H.S. Honor Roll… Also considered Vanderbilt and Penn State.
Ashley Bruns
Part of Mount Hebron High School team that claimed 2006 and 2007 Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) 3A-2A State Championships… Earned 2008 All-Howard County first-team honors… 2008 The Washington Post All-Metro honorable mention selection… Five-year member of Skywalkers Lacrosse Club in Baltimore, Md.… Team won first place in the 2008 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Champions Cup and second place in the 2008 IWLCA Capital Cup ... Also member of US Lacrosse's Mid-Atlantic High School Team 1 in 2007 and 2008 … Earned Scholar-Athlete honors at Mount Hebron H.S.… Named to Baltimore Sun's 2007 All-Howard County Public Schools field hockey team… Also considered Delaware, James Madison, Maryland, Boston College, Cornell, Rutgers, Denver and Louisville.
Cara Canington
2008 US Lacrosse High School All-America Honorable Mention selection… Listed among Inside Lacrosse Top Girls' Rising Seniors in August of 2008...Under Armour All-American 2007… 2006, 2007 and 2008 4A-3A regional lacrosse finalists at C. Milton Wright High School… Lacrosse team captain in 2008… Voted high school team MVP 2007, 2008 … Earned The Baltimore Sun All-Harford County first-team honors in 2008 and second team in 2007… Six-year member of NEMS (North East Maryland Select) Lacrosse Club in Harford County, Md.… Team won National Lacrosse League Club Tournament in 2008… Finalists at the 2008 Champion Cup and Capital Cup … Named UNC Elite Camp MVP Goalkeeper in 2007 and to the Elite 300 Camp All-Stars team in 2006 … Earned four varsity letters in lacrosse and field hockey… Field hockey captain in 2008… Field Hockey All-State Senior Team 2008… Earned The Baltimore Sun Field Hockey All-Harford County accolades in 2006, 2007... Member of National Honor Society… Distinguished Honor Roll 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008… Earned Maryland Distinguished Scholar honors … Also considered Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins, Virginia Tech, William and Mary and Duke.
Caroline Chesterman
2008 US Lacrosse High School All-America Honorable Mention selection… 2008, 2007 and 2006 all-league, all-section and All-Rockland County selection… Nyack High School Team MVP in 2007, 2008… 2008 lacrosse team captain… Named to New York State Team 1 in 2008, Team 2 in 2007, and Team 5 in 2006 for the US Lacrosse Women's Division National Tournament… Three-year participant in the Empire State Games representing Hudson Valley which earned the silver medal at the 2007 Games… Played club lacrosse for Hudson Valley Hurricanes… Soccer all-league, all-county, all-section 2006, 2007, 2008… Soccer team captain and MVP in 2008… Basketball 2007 all-league, all-section, all-county team and Nyack H.S.'s team MVP… Member of the National Honor Society and the Business Honor Society at Nyack H.S… Also considered Northwestern, North Carolina, Duke and Cornell.
Katie Ciaci
2008 US Lacrosse High School All-American… Listed among Inside Lacrosse Top Girls' Rising Seniors in August of 2008...Member of Northport High School's 2006 and 2008 Suffolk County Class A championship, 2007 Suffolk County finalist and 2005 Suffolk County semifinalist teams… 2007, 2008 All-Suffolk County… Northport H.S. ranked No. 12 in the nation in 2008 by LaxPower.com… Part of 2007 and 2008 Long Island Empire State gold medalist lacrosse teams… Named to the New York State Team 1 (2008) and Team 2 (2006,2007) for the US Lacrosse Women's Division National Tournament...Seven-year member of Long Island Yellow Jackets club team… Team won 2008 Lax for the Cure championship and were 2007 Star Spangled Banner champions… Selected All-Galaxy in 2007… Also considered Duke, James Madison University, Hofstra and Notre Dame.
| Building Towards Gator Lacrosse Premiere | |
| June 14, 2006 | University of Florida announces lacrosse as the program's 21st varsity sport. First season: 2010 |
| Oct. 11, 2006 | University of Florida joins American Lacrosse Conference |
| June 22, 2007 | Amanda O'Leary named head coach of Gator lacrosse program |
| Jan. 17, 2008 | Jennifer Ulehla named assistant coach for Gator lacrosse program |
| Aug. 15, 2008 | Erica LaGrow named assistant coach for Gator lacrosse program |
| September, 2008 | Work begins on the University of Florida's Lacrosse/Soccer Practice facility - scheduled to be completed by July, 2009 |
Kitty Cullen
Under Armour Baltimore All-Star team selection as a junior... Listed among Inside Lacrosse Top Girls' Rising Seniors in August of 2008… Named to the Baltimore County and Baltimore All-Metro first teams by The Baltimore Sun in 2008… 2008 Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) A Conference All-Star… Member of the McDonogh School lacrosse team, which ranked No. 6 in nation in 2008 by LaxPower.com … Six-year member of the M&D Lax Club Lacrosse team that won the Galaxy League National Championship… Named to 2007 All-Galaxy first team… Named to 2008 Vail Shootout all-tournament team… Baltimore Digital Sports first team lacrosse 2008...Varsity letter winner in soccer and basketball… Basketball team captain… Also considered Maryland, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Johns Hopkins.
Brittany Dashiell
2008 US Lacrosse High School All-America honorable mention selection … All-metro (second team) and All-Harford County (first team) selection in 2008 and All-Harford County second team in 2007 by The Baltimore Sun...Listed among Inside Lacrosse Top Girls' Rising Seniors in August of 2008… Member of the Skywalkers Club Lacrosse Team...Played on Baltimore Girls' All-Stars team at 2008 and 2007 Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic… Member of the John Carroll School Lacrosse team that won the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) A Conference titles in 2007 and 2008… John Carroll H.S. ranked No. 1 in nation in 2008 by LaxPower.com… 2008 US Lacrosse Academic All-America… Also played four years of high school soccer, earning first-team all-county, first-team all-metro, IAAM A All-Conference and all-state honorable mention honors… Also considered John Hopkins University, Notre Dame, Virginia, Duke Northwestern, Maryland and Stanford.
Emily Dohony
Consensus selection in 2008 Coaches All-Baltimore County team… 2008 Coaches All-Baltimore County Division I first team… Member of Hereford High school team that reached 2008 Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) Class 3A-2A North Region final… Six-year member of Skywalkers Lacrosse Club team… Captain of Hereford's soccer team that won regional championship in 2008… Honor Roll Grades 9-12… Member of student council, yearbook and school newspaper staff...Also considered Maryland in the recruiting process.
Samantha Farrell
Part of Severna Park High School's 2007 and 2008 Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) Class 4A-3A state championship teams… 2008 The Washington Post All-Metro honorable mention selection… 2008 Coaches' All-Anne Arundel County second team, first team in 2007… All-Anne Arundel County second-team selection in 2007… Severna Park H.S. ranked No. 3 in nation in 2008 by LaxPower.com… Ranked by Sports Illustrated Takkle website as one of the "Top 100 Girls High School Lacrosse Players”… Four-year member of the CCLax Club Lacrosse Team… Named to 2007 All-Galaxy first team … Nominated for the 2008 Tewaaraton Award… 2008 All Galaxy First Team… Part of Severna Park H.S. National Honor Society… Also considered North Carolina, Johns Hopkins, Maryland and Notre Dame.
Cori Gray
Four-year member of the John Carroll School lacrosse team that won the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference titles in 2007 and 2008… John Carroll H.S. was ranked No. 1 in the nation in 2008 by LaxPower.com… Member of the Skywalkers Club Lacrosse Team… Also played high school basketball… Named to 2007 All- Harford County second team for basketball … Earned first honors and second academic honors at John Carroll… Also considered James Madison, Hofstra and Cincinnati.
Lindsay Higham
Three-year member of Severn School lacrosse team… Severn School ranked No. 13 in the nation in 2008 by LaxPower.com… Also played field hockey and soccer… Selected for senior field hockey all-star game… MVP for the field hockey team in 2004… Six-year member of CCLax Club Lacrosse Team… Also considered Loyola, Hofstra and Denver.
Jenna Hildebrand
Member of Moorestown High School lacrosse team that ranked No. 5 in the nation in 2008 by LaxPower.com… Part of the team that won eight consecutive New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association state championships… Four-year member of the South Jersey Select lacrosse club… Part of the team that won 2006 and 2007 LAX By the Sea championship… Selected to the Upper Mid-Atlantic Team 3 for the US Lacrosse Women's Division National Tournament...Earned Moorestown H.S. honor roll… Also played soccer at Moorestown High School… Selected as MVP for high school soccer team in 2005… Named South New Jersey second team in soccer… Also considered Oregon, Ohio State, George Mason, Georgetown and James Madison.
Janine Hillier
2008 US Lacrosse High School All-America honorable mention selection… 2008 Newsday All-Long Island second-team selection… 2004 and 2006 All-Nassau County Selection award... Led Farmingdale High School to three consecutive Long Island Class A titles and to the 2007 and 2008 New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class A finals… MVP of 2008 NYSPHSAA Class A - New York State Championship Game… Won Nassau County Championships with Farmingdale H.S. consecutively from 2005-2008… Farmingdale H.S. was New York State finalists 2007-2008... Farmingdale H.S. ranked No. 9 in the nation in 2008 by LaxPower.com… Six-year member of the Long Island Elite Yellow Jackets Lacrosse Club… Long Island Empire State team member for three consecutive years that captured the gold medal in 2006, 2007, and 2008...Member of New York State regional team in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 including the team that won the Women's Division National Tournament Championship in 2007… A member of the Spanish National Honor Society and National Honor Society at Farmingdale H.S… High Honor Roll 2005-2008… Leaders Club of FHS... Played Varsity basketball, soccer and volleyball… Soccer Most Improved 2007... Basketball all-conference 2006-2007...Also considered Johns Hopkins, Duke, Notre Dame, Hofstra, Virginia, Northwestern and North Carolina.
Haydon Judge
Member of the St. Mary's High School team that advanced to 2006 and 2007 Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference semifinals and 2008 quarterfinal… St. Mary's H.S. ranked No. 22 in the nation in 2008 by LaxPower.com… Seven-year member of the CCLax Club Lacrosse Team… Team reached 2007 All-Galaxy Games… Earned individual All-Galaxy honors in 2007, 2008… Selected for the 2007 All-Baltimore Under Armour Team… Ranked by Sports Illustrated Takkle website as one of the "Top 100 Girls High School Lacrosse Players”… Also played field hockey… Earned Baltimore Sun's 2006 All-Anne Arundel County second-team honors and first-team honors in 2007… A two-time IAAM A Conference All-Star team selection for field hockey… Member of National Honors Society… President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at St. Mary's High School… Also considered John Hopkins University, Maryland and Virginia.
Hayley Katzenberger
2008 US Lacrosse High School All-American honorable mention… Listed among Inside Lacrosse Top Girls' Rising Seniors in August of 2008… Member of Academy of the Holy Cross team that was the 2007 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) runner-up in lacrosse and 2008 runner-up in field hockey… Part of the team that won the 2007 and 2008 Mid-Atlantic Championships… 2007 WCAC first team… 2008 WCAC lacrosse first-team and player of the year… Ranked by Sports Illustrated Takkle website as one of the "Top 100 Girls High School Lacrosse Players”… Lacrosse team MVP… All-Gazette first-team … 2008 The Washington Post All-Metro honorable mention selection … 2007 and 2008 Under Armor D.C. selection… Also played for the M&D Lax Lacrosse club that won the Galaxy Nationals Tournament… Was selected as the 2008 Vail Shootout All-Star … Also considered James Madison, North Carolina, California and Notre Dame.
Mikey Meagher
Member of Liverpool High School that won 2005 and 2006 league championships … Three-time second team Class AA all-league goalie… Earned The Post-Standard's All-Central New York second-team honors in 2007 and third-team honors in 2008… Set league record in 2008 with 277 season saves … Third in final 2008 New York High School state lacrosse rankings for saves percentage (54.9 percent)… 2006, 2007 and 2008 Empire State lacrosse team … Part of New York Team 3 for 2007 Women's Division National Tournament… Eight-year member of the Star Riders Lacrosse Club team… Captain of the Liverpool lacrosse team (2009) and field hockey team (2008)… All-League second-team for field hockey (2007)… Section III field hockey champions (2007, 2008)… Also considered Ohio State, Virginia Tech and Louisville.
Natalie Melaniff
2008 All-Nassau County selection in lacrosse...Member of Wantagh High School team that reached Nassau County Class B finals three times...Three sport athlete in soccer, basketball and lacrosse at Wantagh High school...Named all-class Bin soccer 2007 and 2008...Named Wantagh Junior Female Athlete of the Year in 2008...Played for Team New York at the US Lacrosse Women's Division National Tournament in 2007 and 2008...Member of the Long Island Yellow Jackets 2009 Blue Team for five years...Member of the National Business Honor Society at Wantagh H.S. and named to the honor roll every semester...Also considered Ohio State and Duquesne.
Jamie Reeg
2008 US Lacrosse High School All-America honorable mention selection… 2008 Palm Beach Post and Sun-Sentinel Player of the Year… Member of Park Vista High School that reached the final of the inaugural Florida High School Athletic Association Lacrosse Championship in 2008… 2008 South Florida Lacrosse All-League first team; also earned first-team all-district, all-region, All-Palm Beach County in 2008… 2007 and 2008 US Lacrosse High School Academic All-American… Four-year member of Stickbenders Lacrosse Club… Member of the Park Vista H.S. National Honor Society and recipient of the Academic Excellence award… Also considered James Madison University, William and Mary, Penn State and Cornell.
Colby Rhea
Member of the McDonogh School squad that reached Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) A Conference finals in 2008… Named to Baltimore Sun's 2008 All-Baltimore County first-team and All-Metro second team… All-Baltimore County second team as a sophomore...Ranked by Sports Illustrated Takkle website as one of the "Top 100 Girls High School Lacrosse Players”… Played on Baltimore Girls' All-Stars team at 2008 Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic… McDonogh School ranked No. 6 in the nation in 2008 by LaxPower.com… Six-year Skywalkers Club team member… Named 2007 All-Galaxy first team… Also played soccer, earning 2008 and 2007 IAAM A Conference honors… Recognized on 2007 all-metro and 2006 All-Baltimore County second team honors by The Baltimore Sun for soccer… Also considered North Carolina, Penn State and Maryland.
Hayward Sawers
Member of St. Paul's School team that reached the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) A Conference quarterfinals in 2008… Part of Mid-Atlantic Team 5 at US Lacrosse Women's Division National Tournament… Five-year team member of the Rome Lacrosse Club which made the national draw semifinal… St. Paul's School Rookie of the Year… Also played field hockey and was on the swim team… 2008 IAAM All-Star selection for field hockey… Earned the Patricia H. Harper Community Service Award… Achieved honor roll 2005, 2006, 2007.
Julie Schindel
Three-year member of St. Mary's High School lacrosse team that held the No. 28 spot in the 2008 national rankings… Also played for CCLax Lacrosse Club… Selected as an 2008 All-Galaxy All-Star… 2007 All-Galaxy first-team selection… Ranked by Sports Illustrated Takkle website as one of the "Top 100 Girls High School Lacrosse Players”… Named to the Mid-Atlantic team for the Women's Division National Tournament… Played varsity soccer at St. Mary's H.S.… Parvis Scholar at St. Mary's High School...Maryland Distinguished Scholar Honorable Mention… Member of the St. Mary's H.S.'s National Honor Society… Also considered Georgetown and Virginia.
Rachel Smith
Participated in 2007 Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic… Part of Mount Hebron High School's 2007 Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) 3A-2A state championship team… Member of the 2007 Howard County championship team… Six-year member of Hero's Lacrosse Club… Member of the 2008 Vail Shootout Championship team … Also plays field hockey… Second-team all-county for field hockey in 2007… Selected for the Senior All-Star Field Hockey team for the Baltimore metro area … Named to Mount Hebron H.S. honor roll… Also considered Boston University, Dartmouth and Ohio State.
Kayla Stolins
Member of 2008 Loch Raven High School team that reached Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) 2A-1A state final… Part of the 2007 all-division coaches second team… Six-year member of the Skywalkers Lacrosse Club… Also played field hockey in high school, earning a spot on 2007 Maryland-Baltimore all-division second team … Member of the Loch Raven H.S.'s National Honor Society and Future Educators of America… Also considered Johns Hopkins and Cincinnati.
Amanda Wedekind
The Baltimore Sun's All-Howard County first-team selection as a sophomore with the Mount Hebron High School lacrosse team… Named to 2006 Under Armour All-American Classic Baltimore Girls team… Leading scorer in goals and ground balls as a sophomore for Mount Hebron H.S. … Four-year member of CCLax Club Lacrosse Team which won the 2007 Tri-State tournament … Honor roll student at Mount Hebron H.S.… Also considered Loyola, Virginia and Syracuse.
