Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/29/11
From Press Release
Sixth-year Temple lacrosse coach Bonnie Rosen (Harriton) has signed 13 student-athletes to join the Owls starting in 2012-13. The class includes two sets of sisters, another set of teammates, nine players from Pennsylvania and two each from New Jersey and Maryland.
The rundown of the signing class is: Kirstie Connor (Westminster, Md./North Carroll), Bridget Hufnagel (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter Strasburg), Summer Jaros (Avondale, Pa./Bishop Shanahan), Avery Longstaff (Denver, Pa./Cocalico), Kari Longstaff (Denver, Pa./Cocalico), Brenda McDermott (Harleysville, Pa./North Penn), Maddie McTigue (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy), Megan Pinkerton (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township), Rachel Schwaab (Baltimore, Md./Catonsville), Kathryn Skahan (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan), Kara Stroup (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley), Megan Tiernan (Turnersville, N.J./Washington Township) and Nicole Tiernan (Turnersville, N.J./Washington Township).
“It is an amazing feeling when all of the work that goes into something yields great results,” said Rosen. “This recruiting class embodies that sentiment. We set out as a coaching staff to bring in a large and talented class who could not only fill the shoes of our graduating seniors but who could help to elevate our program. This strong recruiting class is made up of 13 very unique student-athletes who share a common goal: to make their mark on Temple Lacrosse.”
A Brine All-American for Pennsylvania out of Bishop Shanahan High School, Summer Jaros was also named to ESPN’s High School on the Rise lacrosse watch list as a junior and senior. Jaros, planning to major in business at Temple, will be playing alongside current teammate Kathryn Skahan as well as another best friend, Maddie McTigue.
“I am really excited to learn from Coach Rosen, who is such an accomplished lacrosse player,” said Jaros. “I am also excited to be part of the family atmosphere of the team and to be part of a large recruiting class.”
Kathryn Skahan is a US Lacrosse Academic All-American and third team All-ChesMont League selection who is the teammate of fellow recruit Summer Jaros at Bishop Shanahan High School. Skahan plans to major in business and possibly specialize in advertising at Temple.
“I wanted to go to, and play for, a city school,” said Skahan. “I love Philadelphia. Temple’s campus was the best of the city schools. I know I’ll get a really good education at Temple, and I really connected with the coaching staff.”
Coming in with huge enthusiasm for the program and Temple Athletics as a whole, is Kara Stroup out of Garnet Valley High School in Garnet Valley, Pa. “I love the atmosphere that all of the sports teams carry and the pride they have being Owls,” said Stroup. “I love going to other sports events, and being able to watch my peers play on the other sports teams will be so amazing. My grandfather and my cousin went to Temple, and it’s so nice to have that connection with my family members.”
Stroup has not definitively decided on a major, but an interest of hers is kinesiology. “I have always been interested in this field of study since I was young,” said Stroup, “which I think has contributed to my passion for athletics. My love for athletics and the human body would ensure that the field of kinesiology would be a great fit for me.”
Brenda McDermott, who plays at North Penn High School in Harleysville, Pa., chose Temple for a number of reasons. “First is the location of the school,” said McDermott. “I like the city atmosphere while still being close to home and only 10 minutes away from my sister at LaSalle. I also think the lacrosse facilities at Temple are better than most other schools. Furthermore, I fell in love with the program, and more importantly my future teammates. During my visit they made me feel at home and treated me as if I was one of them. I also believe Temple is the best fit for me because of the coaching philosophy instilled in the program.”
A three-sport athlete out of Villa Maria Academy and West Chester, Pa., Maddie McTigue has also earned multiple letters in soccer and basketball.
“There were a lot of factors for me in choosing Temple,” said McTigue. “I was looking for the school that fit me from the campus and city life, to the team and coaches that seemed right. When I visited Temple and took a tour I immediately knew it was the right school for me. I loved the campus life, the coaches and the team.”
As a four-year varsity letterwinner at Lampeter Strasburg High School in Lancaster, Pa., Bridget Hufnagel was a two-time league all-star and two-time Team MVP that helped lead her team to a Central Pennsylvania Championship. Hufnagel, who plays for X-treme Lacrosse, is excited about “being one of 13 incoming freshman, and getting the opportunity to improve my skills and hoping to make an impact on the field. Also, I am really looking forward to being coached by a great coaching staff. I am really excited about creating new friendships with my teammates.”
Avery and Kari Longstaff, one of two sets of twin sisters joining the Owls, hail from Denver, Pa., where they play at Cocalico High School and X-treme. Says Avery about her decision to attend Temple: “it was basically just a really good fit. I knew that Temple had a really good lacrosse program and that the school itself is highly regarded, so when I found out that they were interested in me as a player and then had the chance to meet the coaches, it was an easy decision.”
Sister Kari, who plans to enter Temple’s nursing program, is excited for “the competitive nature of the program,” and said “Temple lacrosse has a great family vibe that makes me very appreciative of my opportunity to become a part of the team.” She also plays for X-treme.
An honorable mention All-American as well as an Academic All-American out of Manheim Township High School in Lancaster, Megan Pinkerton has also been a first team all-league and all-section honoree. Off the field, Pinkerton is the co-organizer and director of Lax for Life Clinic to benefit the Special Olympics. She also plays for X-treme.
“I chose Temple because of the wide range of academic opportunities, the city location, and the lacrosse program,” said Pinkerton. “I really liked the city campus. I thought that it would be great to experience city life since it is so different than where I live. Also, Coach Rosen and Coach Wong made me feel like Temple would be a good lacrosse fit for me.”
Rachel Schwaab hails from Baltimore, Md., where she plays for Catonsville High School, and plans to study environmental engineering while at Temple.
“I was impressed by Temple since my first visit,” said Schwaab. “I was looking for a school where I could pursue my academic interests, contribute to a strong Division I lacrosse program, and live and study in a stimulating, urban environment.” About her decision to study environmental engineering, Schwaab says, “I have always had a strong interest in combining my interest in math and science with work that will address the real challenges that people and communities face in today’s world.”
The second set of twin sisters joining Temple lacrosse are Megan and Nicole Tiernan out of Washington Township High School in Turnersville, N.J. Both all-conference selections and Academic All-Americans, the Tiernans have helped lead their team to conference and county titles during their time at Washington Township. Megan is a Wendy’s High School Heisman School Winner and State Finalist, while Nicole, who plans to enter the nursing program, was also a nominee for the award.
“I know that I am going to have a great time studying and playing at Temple,” said Megan. “I am very excited to be going to college there and having my sister and close friends with me will be very special.”
“There were many factors that helped me decide on Temple,” said Nicole. “The coaches are amazing and very friendly, and the players are very inviting. Megan and I can go to school together, they have a great nursing program, the school is very close to home, and it is an overall great fit for me.”
“We chose each of these (recruits) for their current individual strengths but we also selected them with the vision that together they truly complement each other,” says Rosen. “Their athletic accolades speak for themselves, yet I am certain that each of their college lacrosse careers will far surpass their high school accomplishments. This group of players exudes potential, has something to prove, believes in the power of team, has demonstrated outstanding work ethic, is committed to academics, are good people first, and are excited to become Temple OWLS.
“While it will not be for another nine months until we get to officially welcome this class to Temple, they already feel like family,” Rosen said. “This NLI signing is an exciting time for these outstanding student-athletes and for Temple Lacrosse!”
Kirstie Connor, out of North Carroll High School in Westminster, Md., chose Temple for “the strong academic program, the cost, the opportunities for internships because of its location in the city, and the opportunity to play Division I Lacrosse.”
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