CHARLOTTE, N.C. –Queens University of Charlotte's Jim Fritz, head men's lacrosse coach, is excited to announce 29 newcomers as additions to the men's lacrosse program this coming fall. The class includes players from 15 different states as well as Canada.
 
"While this is a big class, we have graduated larger classes the last few years and needed to bring in a big group this year," said Coach Fritz. "We have some great diversity with the players hailing from 16 states and many are multiple sport athletes who were leaders on their teams. I am excited about the players in this class who I think will help us be strong for the next few years. This group fills some immediate needs for us and I am excited about the potential of this class."
 
Attack
 
Mike Bonerbo comes to the Royals from St. Augustine Prep in New Jersey where he played attack. While there, he led his team to the state semifinals two years in a row, and a top-10 finish in the state. His leadership also helped the team secure a top national ranking.
 
Thomas DeSilva joins the Royals as an attackman out of Massapequa High School in New York. Desilva is a two-year letter winner who helped lead his team to become the 2014 Nassau County Champions, the 2014 Long Island Champions and the 2014 New York State Class A Champions.
 
Mitch Hughes joins the Royals as a transfer from Ohio State. Previously, he played attack at Olentangy Liberty High School and earned All-OCC First Team and all-region second team honors.
 
Bryce Landers is a graduate of Ashley Ridge High School where he played both the attack and midfield positions. Landers then attended Trident Tech Community College where he was a member of the Charleston Tribe Lax Club for three years, earning 2014 offensive MVP.
 
John O'Grady hails from Texas where he was a two sport standout. O'Grady was a three-time all-state selection in lacrosse playing attack and midfield. As a member of the football team, he was a two-time all-district defensive linemen who helped lead his team to the 2014 state final four.
 
Jesse Oliver comes from the Hill Academy in Ontario where he played both the attack and midfield positions. Additionally, he played AAA Hockey.
 
Gavin Perry joins Queens from Bridgewater-Raynham High School in Massachusetts. He was a two-time Maritime League All-Star, a 2014 Lacrosse All-Scholastic Team selection, and a Bridgewater-Raynham Hall of Fame inductee. Perry finished his career as an attacker with a career total of 269 points. 
 
Austin Retalic hails from Central Cabarrus High School in North Carolina where he played attack and midfield. Additionally, he was four-year letterman in football.
 
Garrett Sadler hails from Chittenango High School in New York where he was a first team all-league selection as an attackman. He was also named an academic all-American.
 
Vince Valenza is a transfer from Canisius College after being a four-year letterman and two-time team MVP at Long Reach High School. In his time at Long Reach, Valenza played attack and gained all-county selection honors while also being a member of the hockey team.
 
Midfield
 
Nick Carlson joins the Royals as a transfer from the College of Southern Maryland. In his time at Southern Maryland, he was Second Team All-MD JUCO selection, and an All-Region XX Honorable Mention selection as a midfielder. Carlson's high school career took place at Patuxent High School where he was an all-conference selection.
 
Bryce Carter, a long stick midfield four-year letterman, hails from Blue Ridge High School in Virginia. In his time at Blue Ridge, he was awarded the scholar-athlete award for football and lacrosse as well as the Baron Award for outstanding citizenship and academics. Carter was also a member of the National Honor Society.
 
Jake Coleman, a long stick midfielder from Vero Beach High School, comes to the Royals as a two-time MVP, Scripts Treasure Coast All-Area Player of the Year, and an all-region first team selection. Additionally, Coleman was named to the USA Today 2014-2015 All-USA Florida Boys Team as well as the 2015 Florida Lacrosse New All-Star team.
 
Jared Lucas is a midfielder and transfer from Emmanuel College in Boston, Mass. He attended the Tilton School where he was named MVP. Additionally, he was a member of the basketball and football teams. 
 
As a legacy following in his brother's footsteps at Queens, William Morgan comes to the Royals as a midfielder from Portsmouth High School in Rhode Island. Morgan, a four-year letterman, was a recipient of the Portsmouth Coaches Award, a team captain and a division two first team all-state selection.
 
Jake Radebaugh comes to the Royals after playing at the defensive midfield position at Pope John Paul II High School in Boca Raton, Fla. Radebaugh is a four-year letterman who was named captain his senior year and voted most improved as a junior. Additionally, he was awarded the team's 2014 and 2015 Hammer Award. He was also an all-district team selection in 2014 and 2015, and an all-region selection his senior year.
 
Jack Smith hails from Virginia where he attended Robinson Secondary School. As a midfielder, he was a two-time all-district second team selection. He also lettered in football for two years.
 
Griffin Stechmiller is another local product of North Carolina, hailing from Lake Norman Charter School. In his time at Lake Norman Charter, he helped lead his team as a long stick midfielder to a conference runner up finish three times, and to the conference championship once. Additionally, he was a three-time all-conference, two-time all-region, two-time all-state, two-time All-Lake Norman, and two-time All-Charlotte Observer selection. He was also selected to the NC Great 38 Senior All-Star game.
 
Steven Swift is a transfer who attended SUNY Delhi in 2015, SUNY Cortland in 2014 and Rondout Valley High School in 2014. His high school accolades include being named to the 2012 all-division attack team and the 2013 Section 9 All-Section Attack Team. Last season, Swift was named to the All Mountain Valley Conference Team. 
 
Michael Weltner comes to Queens as a midfielder from Holy Trinity High School. In his time at Holy Trinity, he gained all-league honors, was selected as varsity captain in his senior year, and received the 2015 Holy Trinity Seven Award for participating in seven varsity sports during his four year high school tenure.
 
Defense
 
Ryon Bellamy joins the Royals as a defenseman from Scotia-Glenville High School in New York. In his time at Scotia-Glenville, he was a three-year starter in lacrosse as well as a two-time captain. Bellamy was named defensive MVP three consecutive years, while being selected to the Foothills Council All-Star First Team twice.
 
Jackson Hall comes to Queens as a senior captain from Sharon High School in Massachusetts. Hall was four-year starting varsity player on defense. He also lettered in football.
 
Max Houghton joins the Royals from Maryland where the defenseman helped lead St. Mary's High School to the MIAAA Conference Championship. In addition to his talent on the field, Houghton was a two-time letter winner in soccer and swimming.
 
Nick Rizzieri is a defenseman hailing from right here in the Queens City where he attended Charlotte Catholic High School. In his time at Charlotte Catholic, he was a three-time all-conference selection, 2015 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and a NC Great 38 All-Star. Additionally, Rizzieri was selected to the South Charlotte Weekly Super Team, All-Observer Second Team, and he received the 2015 NCHSAA Sportsmanship Award. As team captain and four-year letterman, he helped Charlotte Catholic become 2014 NC State Champions. He was also captain of football team and helped lead Charlotte Catholic to 2014 state runner-up finish.
 
Frank Valenza will join the Royals alongside his brother as a transfer from Suquehanna University. Valenza's high school career took place at Long Reach High School where he was a two-year captain. He currently serves in the National Guard with the 1-175 Infantry Battalion, Bravo Company, Second Platoon.
 
Zach Woeste comes to Queens from St. Charles North High School where he was two-time team MVP, a two-time all-conference team member and an Illinois All-Star Team member.
 
Goal Keeper
 
Anthony Caruso hails from Easton Area High School in Pennsylvania where he was a First Team East Pennsylvania Conference selection. Additionally, he was named the Morning Call All-Area First Team goalie, Express Times All-Area First Team goalie, the Lehigh Valley Conference Player of the Week and 2014 Team MVP.
 
Connor Duffus out of Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey is a four-year letterman and two-year starter in goal. As a senior, Duffus was selected as team captain and led his team to a state sectional runner-up finish.