By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/18/09
Haverford School junior attackman Chris Hupfeldt has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at the University of Pennsylvania.
Hupfeldt helped the Fords claim a share of the Inter-Ac League crown and win the first Inter-Ac tournament championship last year. Haverford School went 16-8 and finished fourth in the final Pennsylvania Media Rankings.
Hupfeldt becomes the fifth member of Haverford’s vaunted junior class to commit to a Division I college. The others are midfielders Carl Walrath (Virginia) and Matt Walters (Syracuse), goalie Conor Kelly (Notre Dame) and long stick midfielder Goran Murray (Maryland).
Hupfeldt, nicknamed, “Hup,” is the first recruit for new Penn coach Mike Murphy, the former Haverford College coach who took the job in July and has vowed to recruit heavily in the Philadelphia region.
Hupfeldt said he chose Penn over Cornell, Duke and Notre Dame , and also was drawn to a coaching staff that includes former Philly greats Brian Dougherty and John Christmas. Hupfeldt plans to study business.
“I felt really comfortable with coach Murphy as well as coach Christmas and coach Dougherty,” Hupfeldt said. “I have known them a long time.”
Hupfeldt was coached by Murphy during the summer in the King of the Hill Tournament. He has known Murphy – who had much success at Haverford College – for six years.
“I only see the program at Penn moving upwards,” Hupfeldt said. “Coach Murphy did great work at Haverford College, raising their level of play. I expect him to do the same at Penn.”
Hupfeldt said Murphy is making a major commitment to recruit the top players from Philadelphia.
“Everyone likes him and respects him and wants to play hard for him,” “Hupfeldt said. “And he told me he wanted to get more Philly guys on the team.”
Hupfeldt can now focus on Haverford School’s upcoming season. The Fords have a deep and talented junior class and three seniors (Liam O’Connor, Notre Dame; Stephen Aitken, Penn State; and Billy Annesley, St. Joseph’s) that already have signed with Division I colleges.
“I can’t wait for the upcoming season,” he said. “Expectations are high and we just have to play together and keep working hard.”
Hupfeldt wanted to thank the coaches at Haverford School, and singled out head coach John Nostrant and assistant Mark Petrone. He also credited Mike Morsell, his club coach for Seven Nations.
“I have to thank coach Nostrant and coach Petrone for their help in the recruiting process and for helping me with my whole lacrosse game,” he said. “They also have helped me off the field as well.”
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