Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/6/15
From Press Release
Liberty Lacrosse Head Coach Kelly Nangle has announced the signing of eight student-athletes to national letters of intent for the 2016-17 academic year. The eight players – Molly Blake, Grace Fletcher, Jenna Joyal, Hannah Quast, Sarah Steenson, Nicole Stumpf, Carly White and Emily Wilhelm – hail from six different states, including two apiece from Virginia and Maryland, and one each from Connecticut, Georgia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
“We are extremely excited to announce our 2016 class,” stated Nangle. “This is an incredibly talented group of young women who we have no doubt will come in and make an immediate impact. With the addition of these young women along with our current athletes we are continuing to put this program in a position to be extremely successful.”
Hannah Quast (M – Mullica Hill, N.J.)
Hannah Quast hails from Mullica Hill, N.J., competing for Clearview Regional High School and the South Jersey Select club team. Quast has recorded 114 goals, 10 assists, 97 ground balls, 63 caused turnovers and 122 draw controls in her first three seasons at Clearview Regional. Quast is a three-time letter winner, two-time Olympic Conference Champion, two-time Gloucester County Cup Champion and an Olympic Conference Patriot Division first team honoree. Quast was also an All-South Jersey honorable mention in 2015. Quast is the daughter of Brad Quast, a former member of the National Football League. Brad Quast played linebacker for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 1986-1989 and ranks eighth in school history for interceptions with 11 and fourth in career tackles with 435. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and was a tenth round pick in 1990 to the New York Jets but ended his career in 1993 following a knee injury in preseason with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Molly Blake (M – Finksburg, Md.)
Molly Blake has led Gerstell Academy over the previous three seasons as she enters her senior campaign. As a freshman, Blake led the offense with 32 goals and finished second in points. The Maryland native followed that up with an impressive sophomore year, leading the team in points with 72 on 52 goals and 20 assists. During her junior campaign, Blake recorded 38 goals and 30 assists to finish second on the squad in points with 68. Blake is a two-time Capital Area Lacrosse League (CALL) All-Conference first team representative. Last season, Blake was named team captain and led her squad to win the CALL Championship. Blake also played soccer for Gerstell Academy, claiming back-to-back Northern Maryland Soccer League Championships in 2013 and 2014. The Maryland native is also the team captain for the 2015-16 varsity basketball squad. Blake is able to perform off the field as well, being a member of five different honors societies, named to the President’s Honor Roll and having been an SGA class representative for the previous two years.
Grace Fletcher (A/M – Springfield, Va.)
Grace Fletcher enters her senior season with Bishop Ireton, having played both attack and midfield. Fletcher has started on the varsity squad for three seasons prior to the 2016 campaign and has won two state championships. With Bishop Ireton, Fletcher also played field hockey. The Virginia native has three years of club lacrosse experience, playing in the attacking position each season. Fletcher’s brothers, Daniel and Brian, are on the club lacrosse team at Virginia Tech while her sister Hayley participates on the club field hockey squad at Virginia Tech.
Jenna Joyal (A/M – New Fairfield, Conn.)
Jenna Joyal has competed for Canterbury School during the last two seasons, following a two-year appearance at New Fairfield High School. Joyal has competed at both the midfield and the attacking position. In 2013, Joyal won the Coaches Award at New Fairfield High School. Last season while at Canterbury School, Joyal netted 38 goals and recorded 24 assists to garner a position on the Western New England All-Star team. Joyal is a multi-sport athlete also competing in diving and field hockey. In 2014, Joyal finished fifth in the state and fifth in the conference in diving. Last season, Joyal led her squad to the New England Championship. Joyal was named field hockey’s Rookie of the Year in 2012, earned a spot on the All-Division squad in 2013, and won the Western New England Class C Championship in both 2014 and 2015.
Sarah Steenson (M – Haymarket, Va.)
Sarah Steenson enters her senior season at Pope John Paul the Great, having competed as a midfielder in each of the previous three seasons. Steenson is a three-time varsity letter winner. In 2014, Steenson was named to the all-conference first team and all-state second team. Last season, Steenson recorded a school record for the most draw controls in a single season. The Virginia native also garnered a spot on the Steward Tournament All-Tournament team as well as being named an Academic All-American. Steenson has also competed in volleyball, cheerleading, indoor track and field hockey.
Nicole Stumpf (M – Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Nicole Stumpf hails from Pittsburgh, Pa., and enters her senior season at Fox Chapel Area High School. Stumpf recorded 11 goals and six assists during her first two seasons. The Pennsylvania native had a breakout year in 2015, recording 41 goals, 15 assists, 46 draw controls and 55 ground balls. Due to her efforts, Stumpf was named to the all-conference first team. Stumpf was voted as the team captain as well as the team Midfielder of the Year. During her junior campaign, Stumpf was named the Post Gazette North-Feature Athlete of the Week. Stumpf is also a three-time letter winner in volleyball.
Carly White (M – Marietta, Ga.)
Carly White has competed at Walton High School in Marietta, Ga., for the past three seasons as she enters her final stint. During her junior campaign, White recorded 29 goals and dished out 21 assists. In addition, White finished the season with a 55 percent shooting average, 41 ground balls and 46 draw controls. White joins Hannah Pridemore as the second player on the current roster from the Peach State.
Emily Wilhelm (D – Baldwin, Md.)
Emily Wilhelm is the lone true defender thus far in the recruiting class, competing for McDonogh School. During her sophomore season, Wilhelm was named to the Under Armour Uncommitted 2016 team. Wilhelm’s team currently has 133 consecutive wins without a loss, breaking the national record for most consecutive victories (previously held by Loch Raven High School with 105). Wilhelm is a two-time IAAM A Conference Champion and her squad was named No. 1 in the nation by USA Today Lacrosse Magazine. Wilhelm also competed in swimming and field hockey at McDonogh School, winning an IAAM A Conference Championship in each sport.
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