CHARLOTTE, N.C., (July 8, 2008) — Queens University of Charlotte men's lacrosse coach Jim Fritz has announced the addition of 19 players to the Royals 2009 lacrosse team. The incoming class includes 16 freshman and three transfer students. The group hails from eight different stats with the largest number, nine, coming from New York and one from the state of North Carolina.
“This season's team had a large group of juniors and seniors so we needed to bring in a sizable younger group. The idea is to create an impact immediately, but have them be prepared to step into larger roles as the current junior and senior classes graduate,” said Fritz. “I was hoping to bring in quality kids from good programs and I think we have done that. The team's overall athleticisms will improve as this group of 19 is not only talented, but extremely athletic. I am excited to see how their impact helps us reach the next step in the development of the program.
The 19 new additions are:
Dane Blodgett: A native of Corning, N.Y…Attends Corning Painted Post East High School…Helped lacrosse team win three consecutive section titles (06-08)…Two-year state champion lacrosse runner-up in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association…2007 and 2008 All-League First-Team defenseman…Also a member of the high school football team…Helped football team win three section titles.
Adam Booth: A native of Castle Rock, Co…Graduate of Douglas County High School…Lacrosse team captain this season…Lettered all four years of high school in lacrosse…Three time honorable mention player for Continental League in the long stick middie position…Just earned 2008 honorable mention for defense by the Continental League…Team leader in forced turnovers in 2008…Student Council member and student body president…Teammates with Anthony DeRosa.
Fred Bush: A native of Jordan, N.Y…One of the three transfer students…Joins Queens from Onondaga Community College…Helped the Lazers capture their 2007 NJCAA National Champion…Was the 2008 captain…2008 team captured region title.
Stephen Collura: A native of North Andover, Mass…Graduate of North Andover High School…Letter four years in lacrosse and basketball and one year of football…Two-time Cape Anne League all-star…Won three Cape Anne League titles in four years…Scored 48 goals in his senior year for a four-year total of 100.
Kyle Davis: A native of Saltsburg, Pa…Graduate of The Kiski School…Two-time All-League selection for lacrosse…Voted the offensive most valuable player in 2007…Captain of the team past two seasons…2007 runner-up in the Western Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association…Is the leading middie in goals and points for the past three seasons…Also participated in golf and hockey…All-League selection for golf each year and two-time team captain…Twice the captain and MVP of the hockey team.
Matthew Dees: A native of Hillsborough, N.C…Graduate of Orange High School…Participated in lacrosse and cross country…Four-time lacrosse defensive most valuable player…Won a silver medal in the state games on the North team…Helped the cross country team place third in the state meet.
Anthony DeRosa: A native of Castle Rock, Co…Graduated Douglas County High School…Teammates with Adam Booth…Three-time honorable mention All-Continental League defense…Picked up 128 groundballs in three years…Helped team advance to the quarterfinals, the best in school history…Participated in the Vail Shootout his junior season with Team Denver and senior year with Team Continental.
Jamie Donachie: A native of Wilton, Conn…Graduated from Forman School…Was a four-sport athlete, lacrosse, football, track and field and cross country…Named All-Hudson Valley Athletic League (HVAL) long stick middie in 2008…Played in the 2008 Division III New England all-star game…2008 lacrosse team captain…Part of the 2007 undefeated Division III and HVAL championship team…Had a face-off percentage of 63 percent or better in the past two seasons…Academically, he won the 2007 Forman School history award…Elected to the model UN…Was the 2007-2008 senior class president.
Chad Formica: A native of Northville, Mich…Attended Detroit Central Catholic…Participated in lacrosse, football and wrestling…Captain of the lacrosse team…Helped the lacrosse team capture two regional championships…Lacrosse team is a two-time state finalist…Chad's lacrosse accolades include being named second-team all-state once, named to the Michigan all-star team, earned team defensive most valuable player award and was named to the all-catholic team…Away from the DCC team, he is a member of the top Michigan club lacrosse team, Team Total.
Corey Geroy: A native of Horseheads, N.Y…Graduate of Horseheads High School…Played varsity lacrosse all four years and two years on the varsity football team…Four-year NIAAA Scholar Athlete Award in lacrosse and two years in football…Led team in goals, points and points per game his junior year…Named first-team All-League his junior year.
Brendan Hennessy: A native of Corning, N.Y…Attended Corning Painted Post East High School…Helped lacrosse team win three consecutive section titles (06-08)…Two-year state champion lacrosse runner-up in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association…Also played football and was awarded the “Coach's Award”.
Miles Kerbien: A native of East Greenbush, N.Y…Graduated from Columbia High School…2007 and 2008 Suburban Council leading scorer…Set school record in 2008 for most goals scored in a single season, 66…Named to the Capital District Select team in 2006 and 2007…Honored as a Suburban Council all-star second team attack in 2008…Named to the Albany Times-Union all-area lacrosse team.
Michael O'Brien: A native of West Genessee, N.Y…Graduated from West Genessee High School…Helped West Genessee capture the District III championship…Member of the student council.
Kane Saunders: A native of Auburn, N.Y….Attended Auburn High School…Three-year lacrosse letter winner.
Steve Smith: A native of Huntingdon, Md…Graduate of the Calverton School…Four-year member of the lacrosse team…Played four other sports while at Calverton, basketball, cross country and soccer…Captain of the lacrosse team his senior year…First-team all-league for the Maryland Independent Lacrosse League in 2008…First team all-league for Maryland Independent Athletic league in cross country, his freshman year and second team for soccer his senior year…Honored on the Calvert County all-count first team in 2008.
Jonathan Stanistreet: A native of West Genessee, N.Y…Graduated from West Genessee High School…Attended Onondaga Community College for the past two years…Helped the Lazers capture the 2007 National Championship, two Mid-State Conference Championship and two Section 3 Championships… Played lacrosse all four year in high school with two at the varsity level…Won the New York State Championship once while at West Genessee and two Section 3 titles…Earned the sportsmanship award once…Four-year varsity ice hockey member.
Joseph Taylor: A native of Auburn, N.Y….Attended Auburn High School…Two-year member of Onondaga Community College team…Helped Onondaga capture the 207 National Championship…2007 All-Region 3 honorable mention…2008 first-team Mid-State Athletic Conference…First-team All-Region 3 player…Won 70 percent of all face-offs in 2008…In high school two time Section 3 All-League honorable mention.
Shane Ward: A native of Brookeville, Md…Graduate of Sherwood High School…Was a four-year varsity lacrosse starter…Played long stick middie, defense and middie…Selected for the Montgomery County All-Star game…Won first team All-District for long stick middie…Voted most improved player in 2008.
Derek Young: A native of Murrysville, Pa…Graduated from The Kiski School…Helped Kiski capture the Western Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association Division II title in 2008…Led team in points his senior year.
In addition to the 19 players announce here, Fritz has already added Brian Rose. The following players are also joining the team in the fall and expected to make an impact, Chad Coy, Wyatt DiLauro, Jerrit Fuller, Derek Larkin, Cameron Lewis and Cole Shaffer.
