Feb. 25, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Joining the Penn State field hockey team for the 2013 season, head coach Charlene Morett announced the addition of five new members to the Nittany Lion program. Morett and the coaching staff welcome new Lions Sarah Bates (Highland, Md.), Brooke Birosik (Harrisburg, Pa.), Carly Celkos (Voorhees, N.J.), Emilee Ehret (Philadelphia) and Kirsten Gochnauer (Mount Joy, Pa.) during the early signing period.
"I'm really excited about the class of 2013," said Morett. "It's a group of young girls that we've been keeping our eye on for a couple of years. What I really enjoy about this class coming in is that they're very balanced. They're outstanding students. They're going to represent us very well in the classroom and on the field."
"What I like about this class, as well, is that we have players that have a lot of flexibility in what positions they can play. Brooke can play a forward or a middy, and the same with Kirsten, who can play a back or a middy. Then we have Carly Celkos, who really is a premiere middy, and Emilee is a back. I would say that Sarah is definitely, absolutely a goalie. But I think that there is a lot of balance regarding their positions. They come from great families that are really excited about being a part of the Penn State family. So, we're looking forward to getting them here in the fall."
Sarah Bates |
SARAH BATES
Hometown: Highland, Md.
High School: Glenelg Country School
Coach: Jessica McAdams
Honors & Highlights: Four-year letterwinner for the Glenelg Country School Dragons under head coach Jessica McAdams...Led her team to a B Conference Championship in 2010, as well as the 2009 B Conference Finals...A four-year varsity starter and captained her squad for two years...Ended her high school career with a .890 save percentage and 33 shutouts...Named IAAM Conference B All-Star from 2010-12 and named Maryland All-State Honorable Mention in 2010 and 2012...Selected for the Maryland State Senior All-Star Game in 2012...Named Baltimore Sun Player to Watch in 2012, as well as earned the Glenelg Country School Coaches Award (2012) and the Glenelg Most Valuable Player Award (2009)...Three-time Howard County First Team (2010-12)...Named Washington Post All-Met First Team in 2012, Second Team in 2010 and Honorable Mention in 2011...Named Baltimore Sun All-Metro Team second team in 2012, as well as Baltimore Sun Athlete of the Week Honorable Mention in 2010..Leading Goalie Howard Country Times in 2009 and 2012...Additionally played for the Washington Wolves, D.C. Dragons and Ocelots Field Hockey Clubs...Six-year USFHA Futures Participant...Competed at the National Futures Championship from 2009-12...Participated at Futures Elite (2012-13), as well as in the AAU Junior Olympics in 2010...Attended the National Field Hockey Festival seven out of the past eight years (2005-06, 2008-12)...Also competed at the Disney Showcase (2008-13), the National Indoor Tournament (2008, 2010-12), the California Cup (2004-07) and the Disney AAU (2005-07)...Additionally lettered one year in indoor track.
Personal: Born Sarah Mae Bates on June 8, 1994 in Highland, Md. to Roy and Kimberly Bates...Has two brothers, Justin (17) and Pierce (13)...Selected for the 2013 St. Bernard's Project in New Orleans...Currently undecided on a major.
Bates on Penn State: "Penn State has everything I want in a college. Its long-standing traditions, school spirit, field hockey program and challenging academics immediately pulled me in. Having played with the same girls since I was six, a family atmosphere is important to me. Once I met the team and coaches, I knew that this is where I wanted to be."
Morett on Bates: "Sarah Bates is a very athletic goalkeeper that we have coming in out of Maryland. We just like her athleticism, she's very coachable and she's really looking forward to learning more at this level. We saw her play down at Disney; she played with the Washington Wolves Club Team year after year. And I think that she's going to be someone that we see come along quickly."
BROOKE BIROSIK
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pa.
High School: West Perry
Coach: Cori Zeigler
Honors & Highlights: Four-year varsity letter-winner for West Perry High School under head coach Cori Zeigler ... 2012 Capitol Mid-Penn Player of the Year and All-State Honorable Mention... Two-time Mid-Penn All-Star... Helped squad to 2010 Capitol Mid-Penn Championship... Lead team in scoring during junior and senior seasons ... Played for the East Coast Field Hockey Club... Also a two-year letterwinner in soccer.
Personal: Born Brooke Nicole Birosik on February 5, 1995 in Harrisburg, Pa. to John Birosik and Jennifer Powell... Has two sisters, Brittney (20) and Chloe (9)... Currently undecided on major.
Birosik on Penn State: "After coming up to Penn State, I fell in love with everything it had to offer. The field hockey coaches and team made you feel welcomed. The academics it has to offer and the sports atmosphere here is one of a kind."
Morett on Birosik: "Brooke Birosik is a West Perry grad. She has really been committed to playing a strong club program and has been to our camps the past couple of years. She has great physical strength and speed. We'd like to really see Brooke tighten up her skills a little bit and use her speed to really be dangerous to counter attack for us."
Carly Celkos |
CARLY CELKOS
Hometown: Voorhees, N.J.
High School: Eastern
Coach: Danyle Heilig
Honors & Highlights: Currently a member of the 2013 Under-19 National Touring Team...Member of the Under-17 National Team and the Under-19 National Team...Competed in the Under-17 Canada Tour, the National Futures Championship (2007-11), the Futures Elite Tournament (2012) and the Junior Olympics (2010-11)...Four-year varsity letterwinner for Eastern High School under head coach Danyle Heilig...Helped squad to its 14th consecutive State Group Four Title, as well as its 14th Sectional Championship and 14th Conference Championship...Eastern named 2011 and 2012 Top of the Circle National Number One Team...Helped her team to two Tournament of Champions Championships...Individually a two-time First Team National All-American (2011-12), as well as a three-time Regional All-American (2010-12)... Two-time Field Hockey Club of South Jersey Midfielder of the Year (2011-12) and three-time Field Hockey Club of South Jersey First Team All-South Jersey (2010-12)...Three-time All-Conference (2010-12), First Team All-State (2010-12) and First Team Group Four (2010-12)...Team captain and team MVP during the 2011 and 2012 seasons...Attended Spirit of USA Junior National Camp 2010-12... Won gold medal at the 2010 Under-16 National Futures Championship...Additionally won gold at the 2009 and 2008 Under-14 National Futures Championship and competed in 2007...Trained with the 2011 New Jersey Junior High Performance practice squad in 2011...Earned a gold medal at the 2009 Under-14 Disney Showcase and earned silver in 2008...Gold Flight silver medal at the 2010 Under-16 Disney Showcase and Gold Flight bronze medal in 2011...Also a one-year letterwinner in lacrosse and a two-year letterwinner in track.
Personal: Born Carly Elizabeth Celkos on August 8, 1995 in Voorhees, New Jersey to Ed and Tracy Celkos ... Has one brother, Eddie (22), who played football at Lock Haven University ... Cousin Jenifer Hubler ('04) and Aunt Michelle Primano ('76) attended Penn State ... Member of the National Honor Society (2011-13), the NFCHA All-Academic Squad and the Spanish National Honor Society (2011-12)...Currently undecided on major.
Celkos on Penn State: "The first time I went to visit, it felt like home to me right away. I felt that academically and athletically it was the perfect fit for me. The team and coaches felt like a family to me as soon as I met them on my visit."
Morett on Celkos: "Carly Celkos has been a two-time First Team All-American; the only player in the country, I believe, that has been able to put that on back-to-back in 2011 and 2012. She comes from Eastern High School in south New Jersey, where they have won 14 state championships consecutively. It's a very, very successful program. Her coach, Danyle Heilig, has just done an outstanding job there. Carly played on the U.S. Under-17 team, the U.S. Under-19 team and was also a member of the Future's Elite Tournament last year. Her strengths are her poise and her vision. She also has a very strong hit, where she could be a corner shooter, and great pace on the ball. She's an outstanding passer."
EMILEE EHRET
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
High School: Mount Saint Joseph Academy
Coach: Lois Weber
Honors & Highlights: Four-year varsity letterwinner for Mount Saint Joseph Academy under head coach Lois Weber...Helped her team to two Catholic Academy Field Hockey League Championships in 2010 and 2011...Additionally led her squad to the District Semi-Finals in 2011, as well as the District Finals and Semi-Finals in 2010...Three-time Catholic Academy League All-Star (2010-12)...Earned First Team All-State, Second Team All-Region and Second Team All-Southeastern PA...Named to the NFHCA High School National Academic Squad, as well as named Academic All-State...Six-time National Indoor Tournament Champions and three-time National Festival Tournament Champions with the True North and Mystx field hockey clubs...Also a four-year letterwinner in lacrosse...Named Academic Lacrosse All-American, as well as a Second Team Lacrosse All-American...Two-time Catholic Academy Lacrosse League All-Star (2011-12)...Named Mount Saint Joseph's Lacrosse MVP in 2012...Additionally played for Steps Elite Philadelphia Lacrosse.
Personal: Born Emilee Ehret on December 26, 1994 in Philadelphia, Pa. to Lori and Patrick Ehret ... Has two sisters, Margaretha (26) and Whitney (28) ... Mother, Lori, played field hockey at College of William & Mary, and sister Margaretha played field hockey at the University of Pennsylvania ... Father, Patrick, played basketball at Duke ... Godfather, Tyler Ahrenhold, and his wife, Rachel, were Penn State athletes...Member of the Spanish National Honor Society...Currently undecided on major.
Ehret on Penn State: "I chose Penn State because I immediately felt a sense of belonging when I stepped on campus. Penn State embodies academic and athletic excellence. Penn State has a wonderfully diverse community with a strong school spirit. This university is the place for me!"
Morett on Ehret: "Emily E. is a tall, true back. We were really fortunate that we had a chance to see her play one of our tournaments last year. She just has great deception when passing the ball, communicates well for a young player, and really could be the person that is the quarterback of the back field in the future. She also has a really affective drag flick. Em brings a lot of offensive skills to the table although she is primarily a defender."
KIRSTEN GOCHNAUER
Hometown: Mount Joy, Pa.
High School: Donegal
Coach: Jessica Rose Shellenberger
Honors & Highlights: Four-year varsity letter-winner for Donegal High School under head coach Jessica Rose Shellenberger...Helped her team to the 2012 PIAA AA State Semi-Finals...2009 PIAA AA District 3 Champions, as well as 2010 PIAA AA District 3 Runner-Ups...Additionally 2009 Lancaster-Lebanon League Runner-Ups...Individually named All-State First Team in 2011 and 2012, and earned Honorable Mention in 2010...2012 Lancaster-Lebanon League Player of the Year...Earned Lancaster-Lebanon League All-League Team in 2011 and 2012...Additionally competed at the National Futures Championships (2010-12), Futures Elite (2011-12) and the National Indoor Tournament with OD Clan in 2012...Also a three-year letterwinner in soccer...Named Lancaster-Lebanon League All-League Team in 2009-11...Helped her squad to becoming 2010 PIAA AA Spring State Champions, as well as 2010 PIAA AA District 3 Runner-Ups.
Personal: Born Kirsten Gochnauer on October 7, 1994 in Mount Joy, Pa. to Raymond and Denise Gochnauer ... Has one brother, Mitchell (16) ... Senior Class Vice President and a member of National Honor Society...Plans to major in Kinesiology with a minor in Spanish.
Gochnauer on Penn State: "I chose Penn State because of the outstanding academic traditions, as well as the captivating atmosphere that is PSU. With a great field hockey program, coaches, and teammates, Penn State felt like home the minute I stepped on campus."
Morett on Gochnauer: "Kirsten G. comes in as Lancaster Player of the Year. She comes from Donegal High School, which is the same high school as Laura Gebhart. We've had the opportunity to see Kirsten play at camp, and we just really love her aggressive style and her coachability. As I mentioned, she's a player that could play potentially back or middy. She's a strong tackler and has speed to transition from defense to attack."
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