Cassese announces men’s lacrosse incoming class of 2022
8/21/2018 10:57:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Coming off a trip to the Patriot League Championship Game, the Lehigh men's lacrosse team will get back to work with a roster of 14 newcomers in the incoming class of 2022, as announced by head coach Kevin Cassese on Tuesday. The class features plenty of diversity, featuring six from New Jersey, four from New York, two from Pennsylvania and one each from Rhode Island and Indiana.
Here is a complete rundown of the 14 incoming players.
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Barclay was a two-sport athlete at Ridgewood High School, garnering first team All-County and second team All-State. The team's co-MVP, Barclay was also a two-time All-League honoree. He quarterbacked the 12-0 Ridgewood state championship team as a junior, garnering co-MVP as a senior and winning the Stroker Award. Barclay accumulated 86 points over his last two years and was named to the All-Gibbs Division Team.
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A varsity lacrosse captain at Pomfret School in Connecticut, Chace was a Philly Showcase (NXT) All-Star and Baltimore Summer Kickoff All-Star. Strong in the classroom, he was on the honor or high honor roll all four years, while garnering Academic All-America recognition. Chace was named a 2018 US Lacrosse Academic All-American.
Hagenberger was a standout at Mount Sinai High School, capped off as a senior when he was captain, All-County and All-Division while garnering Scholar-Athlete recognition. The year prior, Hagenberger garnered honorable mention All-Country along with All-Division. He was named to the Suffolk Team and was named a Scholar-Athlete for the second time in his career. Hagenberger suffered a season-ending injury as a sophomore, one year after a tremendous rookie campaign which saw him earn Freshman of the Year while being named to the Suffolk Team. He also earned Scholar-Athlete honors all four years of high school.
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Hicks was a standout at Moorestown High School, a career which saw him garner NJILCA first team All-State and first team All-State Group 3 (New Jersey). Ranked No. 100 in his class by Recruiting Rundown, Hicks was an Under Armour Underclass All-American and first team All-South Jersey honoree. He was also voted as most athletic in his high school.
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Brother of junior goaltender Colin Kirst, Cole was a U.S. Lacrosse All-American at Seton Hall Prep. He garnered first team All-League, first team All-Conference and first team All-State. Also strong in the classroom, Kirst earned first honors all four years.
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Kittaka was a four-year varsity starter and two-time team captain at Carmel High School in Indiana. Team MVP as a senior, he was a four-time All-State selection, two-time All-American and two-time All-Midwest League honoree. The all-time leader in goals and points at Carmel High School, Kittaka was named the team's Offensive MVP as a junior, helping lead Carmel to the second of three consecutive state finals. Carmel won the 2015 state championship while finishing as runners up in 2016 and 2017. Also strong in the classroom, Kittaka earned Academic All-State honors.
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A local product and the leading scorer in Lehigh Valley lacrosse history, Marker was a four-year starter at Allentown Central Catholic High School who broke the school's all-time scoring record with 369 career points. He was named first team Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (EPC) as a junior and senior, earning honorable mention as a sophomore. Second team All-Area as a junior, Marker led his team to the EPC and District XI championships his junior year, and a District XI title as a senior. In 2018, Marker was named team MVP, the Morning Call first team All-Area and Lehigh Valley Live Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year. Strong in the classroom, Marker was a member of the Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude honor rolls at Allentown Central Catholic.
McIlroy impressed at Westfield High School, earning USA Today third team All-America honors. A three-year varsity starter and senior captain, McIlroy made team New Jersey for the Under Armor All-American Underclassmen Games. He was ranked No. 39 in the country on Recruiting Rundown.
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Monitto was a four-year varsity starter at Half Hollow Hills East, leading the team in goals (49) and points (68) his senior year as his team advanced to the county finals. Monitto was an All-County honoree who garnered second team All-Long Island as a senior. He was also a top 25 point leader in Suffolk. Monitto was a three-time Hotbeds All-Star and a Blue Chip All-Star, garnering All-County his junior and senior years. The multi-sport athlete was also an All-Division honoree in football his senior year. Off the field, Monitto was a member of the National Honor Society.
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A US Lacrosse All-American at Delbarton School, Schelling earned plenty of awards and accolades in his career. In both his junior and senior years, Schelling was named first team All-State Non-Public A, second team All-State, first team Pitt/Fitch Division and first team NJAC American Division. A three-sport varsity letterwinner, Schelling was also an Under Armour Underclassmen Team New Jersey member and News 12 Varsity Tri-State honorable mention honoree. He was ranked No. 84 in his class by Recruiting Rundown. Strong in the classroom, Schelling was named an NJAC Scholar-Athlete as well.
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A Lehigh Valley native and standout at Southern Lehigh High School, Sisselberger became Lehigh's first incoming freshman to play in the Under Armour All-America Game since Eddie Bouhall in 2015. He went on to win 25-of-41 faceoffs while also scoring a goal in a dominant effort. Sisselberger was named to the Philly Under Armour All-America underclassmen teams in 2016 and 2017. First team All-Area and All-League his sophomore through senior years, Sisselberger was a USA Today preseason high school All-American, All-State honoree, No. 1 faceoff recruit in the 2018 class and top 50 overall recruit in the class. He was also named MVP of his high school football and lacrosse teams.
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A three-year starter at Chaminade High School, Tangredi helped Chaminade win both the Long Island and New York State Catholic League Championships as a senior, finishing with a 17-3 record. He was the recipient of the Ronald Winchester Award for defensive MVP, earning CHSAA All-League honors. In addition, Tangredi was assigned honorary number 19 his JV year (for past alum Jimmy Regan). He also helped Chaminade win the National High School Lacrosse Showcase (NHSLS) Championship junior year, earning a spot on the All-Tournament team (most outstanding long-stick midfielder). Tangredi was a member of Team 91 Extreme and FCA. Strong in the classroom, he was a member of the National Honor Society and made the honor roll all four years. Tangredi's brother Frankie plays lacrosse at Harvard.
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Venezia was a two-year varsity starter for Massapequa High School, finishing his career with a 33-5 record, 242 saves and a 62.2 save percentage (63.3 percent as a senior). Venezia led the Massapequa Chiefs defense to back-to-back Nassau County Class A championships, earning Player of the Game his senior year. He was a two-time US Lacrosse Academic All-American, a two-time NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete, and a two-time Nassau Academic All-County and All-County player. Venezia was also a two-time Class A Nassau County Championship MVP Goalie and the 2017 Nassau County Goalie of the Year as the top-rated goalie. He was named to Newsday's All Long Island Lacrosse Second Team in 2018. Also stellar in the classroom, Venezia was an exceptional student with a 99.23 overall average and was a member of the National Honor Society.
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West finished his career at Sparta High School with 323 points behind 196 goals and 127 assists. He capped off his career as a senior by earning first team All-State, first team All-Fitch-Pit, first team All-NJAC, first team All-New Jersey Herald and New Jersey Herald Player of the Year. The year prior, West garnered first team All-State and second team All-Fitch Pit. He was also ranked 83rd in the country by Inside Lacrosse Recruiting in the class of 2018, and named a top 10 breakthrough player in the summer of 2017. Prior to that, West was named honorable mention All-State as a sophomore, while also garnering NJ.com Freshman of the Year and first team All-Rizk Division. Strong in the classroom, West was an honor roll scholar and honor roll commended student.
Here is a complete rundown of the 14 incoming players.
Barclay was a two-sport athlete at Ridgewood High School, garnering first team All-County and second team All-State. The team's co-MVP, Barclay was also a two-time All-League honoree. He quarterbacked the 12-0 Ridgewood state championship team as a junior, garnering co-MVP as a senior and winning the Stroker Award. Barclay accumulated 86 points over his last two years and was named to the All-Gibbs Division Team.
Highlight Video
A varsity lacrosse captain at Pomfret School in Connecticut, Chace was a Philly Showcase (NXT) All-Star and Baltimore Summer Kickoff All-Star. Strong in the classroom, he was on the honor or high honor roll all four years, while garnering Academic All-America recognition. Chace was named a 2018 US Lacrosse Academic All-American.
Hagenberger was a standout at Mount Sinai High School, capped off as a senior when he was captain, All-County and All-Division while garnering Scholar-Athlete recognition. The year prior, Hagenberger garnered honorable mention All-Country along with All-Division. He was named to the Suffolk Team and was named a Scholar-Athlete for the second time in his career. Hagenberger suffered a season-ending injury as a sophomore, one year after a tremendous rookie campaign which saw him earn Freshman of the Year while being named to the Suffolk Team. He also earned Scholar-Athlete honors all four years of high school.
Highlight Video
Hicks was a standout at Moorestown High School, a career which saw him garner NJILCA first team All-State and first team All-State Group 3 (New Jersey). Ranked No. 100 in his class by Recruiting Rundown, Hicks was an Under Armour Underclass All-American and first team All-South Jersey honoree. He was also voted as most athletic in his high school.
Highlight Video
Brother of junior goaltender Colin Kirst, Cole was a U.S. Lacrosse All-American at Seton Hall Prep. He garnered first team All-League, first team All-Conference and first team All-State. Also strong in the classroom, Kirst earned first honors all four years.
Highlight Video
Kittaka was a four-year varsity starter and two-time team captain at Carmel High School in Indiana. Team MVP as a senior, he was a four-time All-State selection, two-time All-American and two-time All-Midwest League honoree. The all-time leader in goals and points at Carmel High School, Kittaka was named the team's Offensive MVP as a junior, helping lead Carmel to the second of three consecutive state finals. Carmel won the 2015 state championship while finishing as runners up in 2016 and 2017. Also strong in the classroom, Kittaka earned Academic All-State honors.
Highlight Video
A local product and the leading scorer in Lehigh Valley lacrosse history, Marker was a four-year starter at Allentown Central Catholic High School who broke the school's all-time scoring record with 369 career points. He was named first team Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (EPC) as a junior and senior, earning honorable mention as a sophomore. Second team All-Area as a junior, Marker led his team to the EPC and District XI championships his junior year, and a District XI title as a senior. In 2018, Marker was named team MVP, the Morning Call first team All-Area and Lehigh Valley Live Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year. Strong in the classroom, Marker was a member of the Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude honor rolls at Allentown Central Catholic.
McIlroy impressed at Westfield High School, earning USA Today third team All-America honors. A three-year varsity starter and senior captain, McIlroy made team New Jersey for the Under Armor All-American Underclassmen Games. He was ranked No. 39 in the country on Recruiting Rundown.
Highlight Video
Monitto was a four-year varsity starter at Half Hollow Hills East, leading the team in goals (49) and points (68) his senior year as his team advanced to the county finals. Monitto was an All-County honoree who garnered second team All-Long Island as a senior. He was also a top 25 point leader in Suffolk. Monitto was a three-time Hotbeds All-Star and a Blue Chip All-Star, garnering All-County his junior and senior years. The multi-sport athlete was also an All-Division honoree in football his senior year. Off the field, Monitto was a member of the National Honor Society.
Highlight Video
A US Lacrosse All-American at Delbarton School, Schelling earned plenty of awards and accolades in his career. In both his junior and senior years, Schelling was named first team All-State Non-Public A, second team All-State, first team Pitt/Fitch Division and first team NJAC American Division. A three-sport varsity letterwinner, Schelling was also an Under Armour Underclassmen Team New Jersey member and News 12 Varsity Tri-State honorable mention honoree. He was ranked No. 84 in his class by Recruiting Rundown. Strong in the classroom, Schelling was named an NJAC Scholar-Athlete as well.
Highlight Video
A Lehigh Valley native and standout at Southern Lehigh High School, Sisselberger became Lehigh's first incoming freshman to play in the Under Armour All-America Game since Eddie Bouhall in 2015. He went on to win 25-of-41 faceoffs while also scoring a goal in a dominant effort. Sisselberger was named to the Philly Under Armour All-America underclassmen teams in 2016 and 2017. First team All-Area and All-League his sophomore through senior years, Sisselberger was a USA Today preseason high school All-American, All-State honoree, No. 1 faceoff recruit in the 2018 class and top 50 overall recruit in the class. He was also named MVP of his high school football and lacrosse teams.
Highlight Video
A three-year starter at Chaminade High School, Tangredi helped Chaminade win both the Long Island and New York State Catholic League Championships as a senior, finishing with a 17-3 record. He was the recipient of the Ronald Winchester Award for defensive MVP, earning CHSAA All-League honors. In addition, Tangredi was assigned honorary number 19 his JV year (for past alum Jimmy Regan). He also helped Chaminade win the National High School Lacrosse Showcase (NHSLS) Championship junior year, earning a spot on the All-Tournament team (most outstanding long-stick midfielder). Tangredi was a member of Team 91 Extreme and FCA. Strong in the classroom, he was a member of the National Honor Society and made the honor roll all four years. Tangredi's brother Frankie plays lacrosse at Harvard.
Highlight Video
Venezia was a two-year varsity starter for Massapequa High School, finishing his career with a 33-5 record, 242 saves and a 62.2 save percentage (63.3 percent as a senior). Venezia led the Massapequa Chiefs defense to back-to-back Nassau County Class A championships, earning Player of the Game his senior year. He was a two-time US Lacrosse Academic All-American, a two-time NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete, and a two-time Nassau Academic All-County and All-County player. Venezia was also a two-time Class A Nassau County Championship MVP Goalie and the 2017 Nassau County Goalie of the Year as the top-rated goalie. He was named to Newsday's All Long Island Lacrosse Second Team in 2018. Also stellar in the classroom, Venezia was an exceptional student with a 99.23 overall average and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Highlight Video
West finished his career at Sparta High School with 323 points behind 196 goals and 127 assists. He capped off his career as a senior by earning first team All-State, first team All-Fitch-Pit, first team All-NJAC, first team All-New Jersey Herald and New Jersey Herald Player of the Year. The year prior, West garnered first team All-State and second team All-Fitch Pit. He was also ranked 83rd in the country by Inside Lacrosse Recruiting in the class of 2018, and named a top 10 breakthrough player in the summer of 2017. Prior to that, West was named honorable mention All-State as a sophomore, while also garnering NJ.com Freshman of the Year and first team All-Rizk Division. Strong in the classroom, West was an honor roll scholar and honor roll commended student.
| No. – Name | Pos. | Ht./Wt. | Hometown/Previous School | Major/College |
| 48 - Jack Barclay | M | 6-3/185 | Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood | Arts and Sciences |
| 24 - John Chace | M | 5-9/165 | Providence, R.I./Pomfret School | Arts and Sciences |
| 18 - Michael Hagenberger | D/LSM | 6-2/175 | Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai | Arts and Sciences |
| 21 - Judah Hicks | LSM/D | 6-0/196 | Mooretown, N.J./Moorestown | Arts and Sciences |
| 20 - Cole Kirst | A | 6-2/200 | Bernardsville, N.J./Seton Hall Prep | Arts and Sciences |
| 25 - Chad Kittaka | A | 5-9/165 | Carmel, Ind./Carmel | Engineering |
| 37 - Matt Marker | A | 6-0/165 | Bethlehem, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic | Arts and Sciences |
| 36 - Patrick McIlroy | D | 5-11/185 | Westfield, N.J./Westfield | Arts and Sciences |
| 9 - Mike Monitto | M | 5-9/165 | Melville, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East | Arts and Sciences |
| 22 - Tommy Schelling | A | 5-10/165 | Warren, N.J./Delbarton | Business |
| 32 - Mike Sisselberger | FO/M | 5-9/190 | Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh | Business |
| 88 - Anthony Tangredi | D | 5-11/175 | Smithtown, N.Y./Chaminade | Engineering |
| 29 - Michael Venezia | G | 5-10/160 | Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa | Integrated Business and Engineering |
| 33 - Jesse James West | A | 5-10/190 | Sparta, N.J./Sparta | Economics |
Players Mentioned
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