Sept. 12, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
T he Penn State men's lacrosse team finalized its roster for the 2014-15 academic year as head coach Jeff Tambroni announced 12 newcomers. The recruiting class is ranked 11th by Inside Lacrosse.
"Our staff is excited to welcome these 12 student-athletes and their families to the Penn State men's lacrosse program," Tambroni said. "Along with their respective athletic talents we are confident that their character, integrity and work ethic will have a positive impact on our program on and off the field."
The 12-member class features a transfer from Virginia, Matt Florence (Greenwood Hills, Colo.) as well as three Under Armour All-Americans: Ryan Keenan (Smithtown, N.Y.), Tanner Peck (Lincoln University, Pa.) and Will Schreiner (Kemblesville, Pa.).
Keenan, Peck and Schreiner are ranked 6th, 36th and 47th, respectively by Inside Lacrosse in their freshman rankings. Joining them on that list are Mike Aronow (Holbrook, N.Y.) at No. 66 and Tyler Butler (Doylestown, Pa.) at No. 96.
Weston Butcher (Severna Park, Md.), Chris Isenberg (Glen Mills, Pa.), Hunter Pearl (Reisterstown, Md.), Tripp Traynor (Downingtown, Pa.), Josh Wellman (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) and Chris Young (Oakville, Ontario) complete Tambroni's incoming crew.
The Nittany Lions host their annual Blue-White Scrimmage Friday night at 9:30 p.m. as part of their Alumni, Friends & Family Weekend. Pre-game and post-game tailgates, as well as an alumni game preceding the Blue-White contest take place Friday. Saturday features a golf outing and Sunday the annual awards brunch celebrating the 2014 season.
Mike Aronow
#17 ¬- Fr. - D - 5-11 / 180 - Holbrook, N.Y. / Sachem North
BEFORE PENN STATE
Ranked No. 66 by Inside Lacrosse's Power 100 Freshman rankings for 2014-15...Lettered for four seasons at Sachem North High School...Earned team's Player's Player Award and defensive MVP senior year...Caused 34 turnovers as a senior, earning All-American, All-Long Island, All-Suffolk County and All-Division honors...Named team defensive MVP junior year.
PERSONAL
Michael David Aronow was born July 8, 1996 in Holbrook, New York to Melissa and Dave Aronow...Has three younger brothers who play lacrosse: Ben, Trey and Drew...Intends to major in business.
QUOTING ARONOW ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State for a great college experience and education."
Weston Butcher
#41 ¬- Fr. - M - 5-8 / 175 - Severna Park, Md. / Calverton School
BEFORE PENN STATE
Played 2014 season at the Calverton School after lettering for Severna Park for three seasons...Played club lacrosse for FCA, Roughriders and SMS Elite...At Severna Park, tallied 144 goals and 73 assists in three years, including a 62-goal, 30-assist year in 2013 as team went 19-1...
PERSONAL
William Weston Butcher was born July 4, 1994 in Annapolis, Maryland to Jessica and Brandt Butcher, who played for the U.S. National Rugby Team...Has two younger brothers: Dunham and Matthew...Intends to major in business.
QUOTING BUTCHER ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because of the brotherhood of the team."
Tyler Butler
#12 ¬- Fr. - D - 5-9 / 180 - Doylestown, Pa. / Central Bucks East
BEFORE PENN STATE
Played four seasons of lacrosse at Central Bucks East, massing 181 ground balls, 91 caused turnovers, five goals and an assist...Ranked No. 96 by Inside Lacrosse's Power 100 Freshman rankings for 2014-15 and No. 22 of all defensemen...Named All-Suburban One Continental Conference First Team and All-Intelligencer First Team as a senior captain...Named an Under Armour All-American for the Philadelphia region in 2013...Earned back-to-back All-Suburban One Continental Conference Second Team honors in 2012 and 2013...Twice named a player to watch by Inside Lacrosse (2012, 2013)...Captained the Dukes Lacrosse Club team for four years...Played four years each for Mesa Fresh and Twist club squads...Played three years of football for CB East, named captain as a senior.
PERSONAL
Tyler Christian Butler was born April 14, 1995 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania to Mark and Bernadette, who both graduated from Penn State in 1983...Has an older sister named Melissa...Aunt, Tina Conn, graduated from PSU in 1987...Cousin, Nikki Conn, lettered for four seasons at Temple in women's soccer...Serves as a volunteer firefighter with Midway Fire Company (Lahaska, Pa.)...Achieved status as an Eagle Scout...Intends to major in criminology with the career plan to be a police officer.
QUOTING BUTLER ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because I feel an overwhelming sense of family at Penn State."
Matt Florence
#8 ¬- R-So. - M - 5-11 / 175 - Greenwood Village, Colo. / Kent Denver School (University of Virginia)
BEFORE PENN STATE
2014 at Virginia: Redshirted the season as a sophomore, retains three years of eligibility entering 2015.
2013 at Virginia: Appeared in five games for the Cavaliers, tallying a goal against VMI (2/19)...Earned ground ball pickups against VMI (2/19) and Mount St. Mary's (2/26)...Made appearances against Drexel (2/16), Vermont (3/5) and Ohio State (3/16).
BEFORE COLLEGE
Played for the U.S. National U-19 Team in the 2012 World Championships held in Turku, Finland...Listed as the No. 60 recruit by Inside Lacrosse entering the 2013 season and No. 19 for incoming midfielders...Named a U.S. Lacrosse All-American on two occasions...Earned 2012 Under Armour all-America honors...Named Under Armour Underclassman All-American in 2011...Earned three All-State selections, leading Kent Denver in total points sophomore, junior and senior years...Lettered for four years in lacrosse and three in football as a quarterback and running back.
PERSONAL
Matthew John Florence was born June 8, 1993 in Evanston, Illinois to Megan and Tom Florence, who played lacrosse at Penn State (1981-85) as a goalie...Has an older sister, Kelly, and a younger brother, TJ, who plays lacrosse at Roanoke College...Majoring in communications with a business minor with the intent to work in the sales field for an investment firm.
QUOTING FLORENCE ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because it embodies the character I hope to implement into my life. The culture and the tradition of Penn State are second to none and the team emphasizes the notion of family."
Chris Isenberg
#4 ¬- Fr. - LSM - 6-1 / 170 - Glen Mills, Pa. / Malvern Prep
BEFORE PENN STATE
Lettered for four years at Malvern Prep with fellow Nittany Lion teammate Tripp Traynor...Played club lacrosse for Duke's Lacrosse Club and Mesa Fresh.
PERSONAL
Christopher Guy Isenberg was born March 25, 1995 in Media, Pennsylvania to Paul and Miriam Horrocks-Isenberg...Has and older sister, Christa Horrocks, who ran track at College of Charleston, an older brother, Mick Horrocks who plays lacrosse at High Point, and a younger sister, Gabby...Intends to major in communications.
QUOTING ISENBERG ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because I felt welcome the first time I met the coaching staff. The team is close-knit and has the structure I need to succeed on the field and academically."
Ryan Keenan
#25 ¬- Fr. - A - 5-9 / 165 - Smithtown, N.Y. / Smithtown West
BEFORE PENN STATE
Ranked No. 6 by Inside Lacrosse's Power 100 Freshman rankings for 2014-15...Twice named a U.S. Lacrosse All-American and participated in the 2014 Under Armour All-America Classic...Named First Team All-Tri-State and Newsday Suffolk County Player of the Year senior year for scoring 46 goals and 55 assists...Tallied 44 goals, 53 assists junior year, 32 goals and 38 assists sophomore year and 8 goals, 10 assists freshman year...Finished high school with 130 goals, 156 assists and 286 points...Lettered in football and basketball...Named All-County in football.
PERSONAL
Ryan J. Keenan was born January 6, 1996 in East Islip, New York to Sean and Bridget Keenan...Sean played lacrosse, while Bridget played soccer, basketball and softball at Adelphi...Has an older brother, Kyle, who plays lacrosse at Duke University.
QUOTING KEENAN ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State for the best combination of academics, athletics and college experience there is."
Hunter Pearl
#20¬ - Fr. - GK - 5-11 / 195 - Reisterstown, Md. / St. Paul's
BEFORE PENN STATE
Lettered three years at St. Paul's School, earning a record of 34-27 and a save percentage of 61 percent...Led St. Paul's to an MIAA A Conference runner-up finish as a senior and earned the Louis D. Clark Loyalty Cup award...Ranked No. 27 among senior players in Maryland and Washington D.C. by Student Sports...Won two MIAA B Conference titles in football (2012, 2013)...Led the league in receptions and receiving yardage as a senior...Two-time captain of the football team and a letterwinner in wrestling.
PERSONAL
Hunter John Pearl was born July 26, 1996 in Sykesville, Maryland to Debbie and J.J. Pearl, who played goalie at Penn State (1989-92); ranks fifth all-time in saves and posted two years of .635 save percentage or better...Debbie graduated from Penn State in 1990...Has a younger brother, Keegan...Intends to major in finance in order to pursue a career in investment banking or the stock markets.
QUOTING PEARL ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because it's an important piece of my family lineage and it's been my dream to play here."
Tanner Peck
#28 ¬ Fr. - A - 6-1 / 210 - Lincoln University, Pa. / Avon Grove
BEFORE PENN STATE
Ranked No. 36 by Inside Lacrosse's Power 100 Freshman rankings for 2014-15, No. 9 for attackmen...Two-time U.S. Lacrosse All-American (2013, 2014) and a 2014 Under Armour All-American...Named All-Ches-Mont League First Team three times (2012, 2013, 2014)...Earned two All-EPLCA honors (2013, 2014)...Helped lead Avon Grove to a pair of District 1 championships (2013, 2014) as well as the Ches-Mont League title in 2013 with Nittany Lion teammate Will Schreiner...Played four years of club ball for Duke's Lacrosse.
PERSONAL
Tanner Scott Pack was born August 31, 1995 in West Chester, Pennsylvania to Kellie and Jim Peck...Has an older brother, Colin, and two younger brothers Brayden and Carson...Intends to major in business.
QUOTING PECK ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State for the combination of academic, athletic and social excellence."
Will Schreiner
#19 - Fr. - GK - 6-1 / 210 - Lincoln University, Pa. / Avon Grove
BEFORE PENN STATE
Ranked No. 47 by Inside Lacrosse's Power 100 Freshman rankings for 2014-15, No. 5 for goalies...Picked up the win in the Under Armour Senior Classic as an All-American...Played four seasons at Avon Grove with fellow Nittany Lion classmate Tanner Peck, earning team MVP honors junior and senior years as team captain...Helped Avon Grove to back-to-back 20-win seasons and two District 1 championships (2013, 2014) as well as the Ches-Mont League title in 2013...Played four years for Duke's Lacrosse Club.
PERSONAL
William Augustus Schreiner was born March 23, 1996 in West Chester, Pennsylvania to Matt and Tracey Schreiner...Has an older sister, Audrey...Intends to major in business.
QUOTING SCHREINER ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State for the stellar academics and the opportunity to play under a national championship-caliber coaching staff."
Tripp Traynor
#33 - Fr. - M - 5-11 / 170 - Downingtown, Pa. / Malvern Prep
BEFORE PENN STATE
Four-year letterwinner at Malvern Prep with fellow Nittany Lion teammate Chris Isenberg...Named All-Inter-AC Second Team senior year as Malvern Prep went 24-0...Four-year starter in soccer and was named All-Inter-AC First Team...Played club lacrosse for Mesa Fresh and Man-Up.
PERSONAL
Kevin Joseph Traynor III was born February 14, 1996 in Downingtown, Pennsylvania to Beth and Kevin Traynor...Has four brothers, A.J., Jack, Matthew and Kyle...Intends to major in business management.
QUOTING TRAYNOR ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because of the great academics, facilities and the coaching staff."
Josh Wellman
#2 - Fr. - M - 5-9 / 190 - El Dorado Hills, Calif. / Oak Ridge
BEFORE PENN STATE
Lettered four years at Oak Ridge, earning four All-Sac Sierra League mentions and three Coach's Awards by the team...Picked up a pair of All-American honors as a sophomore and junior...Named team MVP as a freshman and as a senior... Played for three club teams: ADVNC for three years, Adrenaline Tropics for a year and the Alcatraz Outlaws for a year.
PERSONAL
Johhua Tyler Wellman was born November 24, 1995 in Sacramento, California to Robert and Kim Wellman...Has two brothers, Jacob and Sam...Enrolled in the Division of Undergraduate Studies.
QUOTING WELLMAN ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because academically it's a great fit for me and the lacrosse coaching staff and team are remarkable."
Chris Young
#43 - Fr. - M - 5-8 / 170 - Oakville, Ontario / The Hill Academy
BEFORE PENN STATE
Played four years at The Hill Academy...Played three years of club lacrosse for the Burlington Chiefs.
PERSONAL
Christopher James Young was born September 21, 1995 in Phoenix, Arizona to Tom and Carolyn Young...Has two older brothers, Tom and Sean, who is a defenseman at Syracuse, and an older sister, Sara...Served as class valedictorian at The Hill Academy.
QUOTING YOUNG ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because of the academic and athletic reputations."