By Ed Jennett
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/11/11
Bayard Rustin senior goalie Joe Kelly has committed to play next year at Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association Division I power Arizona State University.
“I chose Arizona State University because of the coaching, and the powerhouse program it is,” said Kelly.
Kelly said that his assistant coach at Rustin, Springfield-Delco graduate Ryne Adolf, played at Maryland several years before Malone played there and had high grades for the Arizona State (currently 12-4) program – ranked No. 5 in the nation in the MCLA.
“(He) runs Arizona State very well as a team and led them to the MCLA D1 club national championship game last season and (is) looking to get back and finish the unsettled business for them this year,” said Kelly.
Kelly, who plays club lacrosse for Black Bear Elite, added that he wanted to explore something new out west, enjoy the weather, “and to have a shot at being a national champion with a great lacrosse organization and great coaching staff.”
Kelly will major in business at Arizona State University, and was accepted into the W.P. Carey School of Business. He says that he will most likely focus on accounting.
During his sophomore year at Rustin, Kelly was an Honorable Mention All-Ches-Mont Selection. He was a First Team pick and the team MVP as a junior.
Kelly also enjoys participating in community service. He is a volunteer for “United for Her,” an organization that raises money for breast cancer treatment andf awareness and run by the mother of his teammate, Evan Weldon. Evan’s mother Sue Weldon is a breast cancer survivor.
Kelly also helps raise money and does community service for the Greater ALS Association for the Philadelphia Chapter. His father was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in September 2009.
While he acknowledges that Bayard Rustin has struggled at times this season, Kelly points out that “a record on paper doesn’t mean much.” He explained that “it is all about how our young guys have stepped up all season.”
Kelly added that “we work hard every day in practice and always keep our heads up and continue to fight each and every game.” He takes pride in the fact that while they have lost a lot of very close games that his team always gives their opponents a battle.
“The season has been progressing well with the commitment and hard work from our team,” he said.
Kelly played for Coach John Heisman’s Black Bear Elite Lacrosse during his sophomore and junior seasons.
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