Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/3/09
From Press Releases
The University of Louisville lacrosse team has signed ten players to National Letters of Intent in the fall signing period – including two from Philadelphia.
The Philly recruits are Ridley midfielder Kelsey Garraty and Great Valley midfielder Colleen O’Malley.
Other signees are Nikki Boltja of Medina, Ohio, Hillary Bushway of Norfolk, Mass., Leslee Hefner of Forest Hill, Md., Ashley Herbst of Pittsford, N.Y., Monica Negron of Bel Air, Md., Amy Poteet of Whiteford, Md., Jamie Redding of Victor, N.Y., and Tory Wilkinson of Atherton, Calif.
“This is the most talented class of lacrosse players I have ever recruited to a Division I program. I am thrilled they have each chosen to join the Cardinal family and look forward to guiding their success on and of the field at Louisville,” said U of L head coach Kellie Young.
Here are rundowns on the recruits:
Kelsey Garraty, Ridley
Position: Mid Field / Defense
Hometown: Ridley Park, Pa.
Club Team: Lenape Premier
Accomplishment/Awards:
Lacrosse Awards: 2007 Ridley Team Player … 2007 Upper Atlantic Team … Upper Atlantic Team … 2009 Team Philly … 2009 All Central Team … 2009 All Delco Team … 2009 All-Phillylacrosse.com Honorable Mention… 2007-2009 Varsity Letters … Basketball Awards: 2008-2009 Varsity Letters … Lower Delco AAU …Field Hockey Awards: 2007-2009 Varsity Letters … Most Improved Player
Kellie Young on Kelsey Garraty: “A defensive midfielder, Kelsey is a fierce competitor with a gritty lacrosse personality. She plays with an attitude which will be a nice change of pace for Louisville Lacrosse. I look for her to be one of best defenders in her time at Louisville, building on great transition speed and game sense.”
Colleen O’Malley, Great Valley
Position: Midfield
Hometown: Malvern, Pa.
Club Team: PA Express
Accomplishment/Awards:
2nd team All-Ches-Mont American Lacrosse … 12 Varsity Letters (3-Soccer 1-Field Hockey 4-Basketball 4-Lacrosse) … All-Phillylacrosse.com Honorable Mention.
Kellie Young on Colleen O’Malley: “A true middie, Colleen is a lacrosser by nature. When she chooses, her incredible talent can impact either end of the field while consistently influencing the draw with her size and transition with her speed. A sought after recruit, I am thrilled that Colleen found her home in the `Ville.”
Nikki Boltja
Position: Midfield
Hometown: Medina, Ohio
Club Team: X-Team
Accomplishment/Awards:
Lacrosse: All-America Honorable Mention as a junior… First Team All-Ohio North as a junior and sophomore, Second Team All-Ohio as freshman. Three time Great Lakes National Team… Holds Medina’s scoring records… led team in assists as freshman, sophomore, and junior… led team in goals as sophomore and junior… led state of Ohio in goals/game, points/game, goals and points in 2008…Offensive Player of the Year for Medina … 197 career goals and 90 career assists as of junior year … Four time All-Conference in Cross Country …Two-time State Championship Qualifier in Cross Country … Two-time State Championship qualifier in indoor track (3rd place state 4×800) … Two time Cleveland Plain Dealer Athlete of the Week … Medina County Gazette All-County Selection
Kellie Young on Nikki Boltja: “A midfielder, Nikki is an incredibly talented lacrosse player and an equally intelligent student. Her speed will immediately advance our transition game while her uncanny ability to get inside the 8 and score will benefit our attack. A wonderful young woman, I am eager to get her to the `Ville and see her develop as a Cardinal.”
Hillary Bushway
Position: Attack
Hometown: Norfolk, Mass.
Club Team: Mass Elite
Accomplishment/Awards:
3 year varsity starter for King Philip High school … Boston Globe All-Star, Sun Chronicle All-Star … Hockomock leage All-Star … Played for Lower New England in National Tournament … Tri-sport captain (field hockey, lacrosse and track) … King Philip girls’ record holder for the 400m run … Bay State games gold medalist.
Kellie Young on Hillary Bushway: “A midfielder, Hillary may be fast and agile but she is also a bundle of light and positivity. She brightens any room she enters which may also be why people are so surprised by her intensity on the field. A team player and a workhorse, she promises to have a fantastic lacrosse career at Louisville.”
Leslee Hefner
Potision: Defense
Hometown: Forest Hill, Md.
High School: St. Paul’s School
Club: NEMS
Accomplishments/Awards:
2009 US Lacrosse Women’s Nat’l Tournament Team … 3 years Varsity lacrosse … Received Stacey Ellen Hooper award for sportsmanship at St. Paul’s … Four years Varsity soccer (goalie) and 3 years Varsity indoor soccer (goalie) … Soccer MVP Junior year … Soccer Captain senior year … 2008/2009 IAAM All-Conference for both Varsity Soccer and Varsity Indoor Soccer … Maryland Youth Lacrosse Association All Star.
Kellie Young on Leslee Hefner: “A defender, Leslee plays and lives with a great deal of maturity. She is wise beyond her years and maintains a light hearted goofiness in her personality. She was patient with the recruiting process, knowing what she wanted and making it happen. Since her commitment, we’ve grown more and more excited about what she will bring to our Louisville defense.”
Ashley Herbst
Position: Goalie
Hometown: Pittsford, N.Y.
Club Team: Lady Roc
Accomplishment/Awards:
2007 and 2008 All Greater Rochester … Three Time First Team All County… Two Time Empire State Games Member … Three Time National Team Member … First Division I girls lacrosse player to come out of Pittsford
Kellie Young on Ashley Herbst: “Ashley has been a gift…there’s no other way to say it. We had not recruited a keeper for this class but when her name came around late in the recruiting cycle we were wise enough to keep an open mind. Upon meeting this intelligent and certainly talented young woman, we knew immediately that she would be a great fit with Louisville Lacrosse. Ashley is an extremely capable keeper who will impact our program early in her career.”
Mónica A. Negrón
Position: Defense
Hometown: Bel Air, Md.
High School:
Club: NEMS
Accomplishments/Awards:
Varsity Starter as a freshman in volleyball, basketball and lacrosse at Bel Air HS … All-County Honorable Mention in basketball as a freshman … Captain of volleyball, basketball and lacrosse teams at Patterson Mill High School as a junior … First Team All-County/Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference in volleyball, basketball and lacrosse as a junior … Digital Sports Baltimore Metro Honorable Mention in Lacrosse as a junior … Played for Baltimore Metro 1 in the 2009 US Lacrosse Women’s Division National Tournament … Captain of volleyball team this year … National Honor Society … Spanish Honor Society … Maryland Distinguish Scholar … President of Student Government Association … Minds in Motion Award for each sport season
Kellie Young on Monica Negron: “A smart and tenacious line defender, Monica can play both on and off ball D. Her scrappy style of play makes her a perfect fit for an aggressive defensive mindset. She also brings a maturity to the game that will help lead the defense from the back.”
Amy Poteet
Position: Midfield
Hometown: Whiteford, Md.
Club Team: NEMS 2010
Accomplishment/Awards:
2007 County Champions … Regional Champions, and State Finalist for North Harford High School Varsity Lacrosse, Varsity letter as a freshman, 2007 Captain JV Volleyball, 2008 inducted into the National Honor Society, 2009 Volleyball All-County Honorable Mention … Sophomore and junior year led high school lacrosse team in draw controls … Junior year high school lacrosse team third leading scorer … 2009 Maryland Distinguished Scholar … 2009 Varsity Volleyball Captain … 2009 Principle’s Award of Excellence for 4.0 GPA or higher … Member of the 2010 North Eastern Maryland Select Club Lacrosse Team for 6 years.
Kellie Young on Amy Poteet: “Amy is the epitome of a Division I student-athlete. She is dedicated to her studies while living with an intensity for the game of lacrosse needed to compete at this level. She is a `no-drama’ kind of person and will keep her teammates level headed and focused on success for practice and games.”
Jamie Redding
Position: Attack
Hometown: Victor, NY
Club Team: Lady Roc
Accomplishment/Awards:
9th Grade: Second team All League … Tenth Grade: First Team All League, First Team Daily Messenger … Offensive MVP … Empire State Games silver medalist (Western team) … NY3 team at Nationals … 11th Grade: Captain and MVP … First Team All League … First Team Daily Messenger … Scholar Athlete and Academic All-American … WNY1 team at nationals … Broke school record for career goals and career total points …Member of National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society; Three years on varsity soccer team- senior captain.
Kellie Young on Jamie Redding: “A dynamic attacker, Jamie is one of the top players coming out of high school and I am thrilled that she’s chosen Louisville to play out her college career. A very grounded and confident young woman, Jamie possesses an incredibly high LAX IQ and will have an immediate impact on our offensive success.”
Tory Wilkinson
Position: Mid-Field
Hometown: Atherton, CA
Club Team: Bay Area Wave – Coaches Michele Uhlfelder & Jen Lee
Accomplishment/Awards:
2009 Pacific Nor-Cal USLax Women’s Division National Tournament Team … Palm Springs Sandstorm All-Tournament Team Recognition … West Bay Athletic League (WBAL) All-Conference Athlete Award … Varsity Team Co-Captain … 2008 Pacific Nor-Cal USLax Women’s Division National Tournament Team-Alternate … West Bay Athletic League (WBAL) All-Conference Athlete Award … Varsity Team Co-Captain Varsity MVP … 2007 Pacific Nor-Cal USLax Women’s Division National Tournament Team …West Bay Athletic League (WBAL) All-Conference Athlete Award … WestSideLax Central Coast Section “Player to Watch” … Sacred Heart Prep Female Freshman Athlete of the Year … Varsity MVP
Kellie Young on Tory Wilkinson: “Tory is a diamond in the rough. She is the type of player that with hard work, dedication and a little self reflection can become an All American in her collegiate days. A midfielder, she can impact our defense, help transition the ball with speed and finish on the offensive end. I can’t wait to see who she becomes with a little heart and a dedicated approach.”
Leave a Reply