UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Nov. 25, 2014 - Penn State men's lacrosse head coach Jeff Tambroni has announced the signing of 12 players for the 2015-16 academic year. The class includes five All-Americans, eight all-conference honorees, three all-league picks and a Canadian national champion.
Kevin Hill (Webster, N.Y.), Nick Spillane (Franklin Square, N.Y.), Michel McClain (Canandaigua, N.Y.) and Thomas Wright (Garden City, N.Y.) from New York, New Jersey natives Matt Donnelly, Dean Lamela (Brick, N.J.) and Brandon Stern (Cherry Hill, N.J.), Robby Black (Lutherville, Md.) and Kevin Fox (Annapolis, Md.) from Maryland, Doylestown, Pa. resident Grant Ament and Canadian Dylan Foulds will join the Nittany Lions next fall.
"Our coaching staff is extremely excited about our partnership with this group of high school seniors and their respective families," Tambroni said. "They are tremendous workers, role models in their community and talented lacrosse players. We are grateful that they have decided to attend Penn State and wish them well as they finish off their high school career."
GRANT AMENT
A | 5'7 / 165 | Doylestown, Pa. | The Haverford School
BEFORE PENN STATE
Has earned three letters at The Haverford School ... Posted 90 points (33 goals, 57 assists) in 25 games last season ... Named First Team All-Inter Ac, All-Delco, All-EPCLA and All-Inquirer ... His sophomore season, scored 27 goals and recorded 29 assists in 25 games en route to All-Inter Ac second team, All-Delco, All-Inquirer and MVP of the Inter Ac Invitational honors.
PERSONAL
Grant Bradford Ament was born on April 15, 1997 in Doylestown, Pa. ... Parents are Bradford and Elizabeth, both of whom graduated from Penn State ... Has twin brothers, Blake and Brandon ... Both attend Penn State and play club lacrosse ... Plans to major in business.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"Penn State has been my dream school forever since most of my family went there. Adding in the sport I love and a coaching staff that embraces family, it is a perfect fit for me."
ROBBY BLACK
M | 6'4 / 190 | Lutherville, Md. | McDonogh School
BEFORE PENN STATE
Plays club for Greene Turtle ... 2010 U-15 National Tournament quarterfinalist ... Named to the all-star teams at the Summer Kickoff and King of the Hill ... 2012 Jake Reed Nike Blue Chip ... Four-year starter for McDonogh and senior team captain ... 2014 Under Armour Baltimore Underclass Team selection when he scored 23 goals and posted 10 assists ... Recorded 38 combined points his freshman and sophomore seasons ... McDonough competed in the MIAA semifinals in 2013 and 2014 ... Also played two years of varsity basketball and one year of varsity soccer at McDonogh.
PERSONAL
Born on April 7, 1996 in Baltimore ... Parents are Rob and Joy ... Has a brother, Patrick, and a sister, Casey ... At Roanoke College, Rob played four years of lacrosse and soccer, while Joy competed in lacrosse and field hockey, and is in Roanoke's Hall of Fame for lacrosse ... Grandfather was an All-American competing in lacrosse at Cornell ... Casey plays lacrosse at Duke ... Plans to major in business and work in financial services.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because of the academic opportunities, culture of the lacrosse program and the tradition at the university."
MATT DONNELLY
M | 5'7 / 165 | Sewell, N.J. | Clearview Regional
BEFORE PENN STATE
South Jersey Times Player of the Year, two-time first team all-conference, first team all-state at Clearview Regional ... Team won the conference championships in 2014 and the county championships in 2013, when they advanced to the state quarterfinals and 2014, when they advanced to the state semifinals ... Also plays with Dukes Lacrosse Club (four years) and Shamrocks Lacrosse Club (five years).
PERSONAL
Matthew Andrew Donnelly was born on July 8, 1996 in Sewell, N.J. ... Mother is Irene ... Has a sister, Megan, who played lacrosse at The College of New Jersey ... Irene was a two-time All-American in lacrosse at Rowan ... Plans to major in exercise science and become a physical therapist of athletic trainer.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"I chose PSU because of the family feel of the school, how welcoming the players are, the great academic opportunities and the great coaching staff."
DYLAN FOULDS
M | 6'0 / 180 | Terry Fox Secondary
BEFORE PENN STATE
Three-year member of Team BC that won the U19 and U16 national championships in 2014 and 2013, respectively ... Named to the 2014 Canadian U16 National All Star Team ... Has played for Burnaby Mountain Select Elite Touring Team for two years ... In 2014, scored 23 goals and dished 27 assists in 16 games, leading all rookies in points and ranking third on the team ... Team posted a 17-1 record en route to a British Columbia Intermediate "A" Lacrosse Provincial Championship ... Burnaby Mountain Selects Sophomore Elite Team MVP in 2013 ... Fourth season competing for Terry Fox Secondary ... The Ravens were the 2012 and 2014 High School Provincial Champions and were runners-up in 2014.
PERSONAL
Dylan Jacob Foulds was born on April 28, 1997 in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia ... Parents are Darryl and Martha ... Has one sister, Paige ... Plans to major in business and work in sports management.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"Penn State made great efforts to come to Canada to provide me an opportunity to attend a school with a fine reputation both academically and athletically with exceptional coaches. I felt comfortable placing my future in their hands."
KEVIN FOX
M | 5'8 / 165 | Annapolis, Md. | St. Mary's
BEFORE PENN STATE
Plays club for the Annapolis Hawks ... Team posted a 19-3 record last season and won the Gait Cup and King of the Hill ... Team captain his junior season, when the team finished #20 in the Nike/US Lacrosse National High School Boys' Top 25 Poll.
PERSONAL
Born on July 11, 1996 in Annapolis, Md. ... Parents are Bert and Mary Ann ... Has one brother and one sister, Robert and Jennifer ... Jennifer played lacrosse four seasons at Johns Hopkins ... Plans to major in business.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State for a great college experience and education."
KEVIN HILL
M | 5'10 / 175 | Webster, N.Y. | Webster Thomas
BEFORE PENN STATE
Four year varsity starter at Webster Thomas ... Senior team co-captain ... Last season as a team co-captain, posted 51 goals, 16 assists and 53 ground balls en route to US Lacrosse All-American, All-Greater Rochester Super 16, first team all-section and first team all-league honors ... All-league second team selection in 2013 after scoring 37 goals, dishing 15 assists and collecting 21 ground balls ... Was an all-league honorable mention his freshman year (18 goals, 11 assists, 12 ground balls).
PERSONAL
Kevin Matthew Hill was born on June 2, 1997 in Rochester, N.Y. ... Parents are Maria and David ... Has two brothers, John and Matthew ... John played lacrosse at RIT for two years ... Plans to major in marketing.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because of the excellent academic environment, rich tradition, and the first class lacrosse program and coaching staff."
DEAN LAMELA
D | 6'2 / 205 | Brick, N.J. | The Lawrenceville School
BEFORE PENN STATE
Played two seasons at Brick Township Memorial High School and three years at The Lawrenceville (N.J.) School ... All-Shore Conference honorable mention pick as a freshman and sophomore ... MVP in 2011 and defensive MVP in 2012 ... Lawrenceville won its 12th-straight state title in 2014, advancing to the semifinals of the Inter-Ac Lacrosse Invitational in 2012-13 and 2013-14.
PERSONAL
Dean Christopher Lamela was born on Jan. 24, 1996 in Brick Township, N.J ... Parents are John and Karen ... Has two brothers, Drew and Dan ... John and Drew played lacrosse at Montclair State, and Dan played at Richard Stockton College ... Plans to major in Kinesiology with the hopes of becoming an athletic trainer.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because it has given me the opportunity to get one of the best educations in my major and the Penn State lacrosse program was the best fit for me."
MICHEL MCCLAIN
D | 6'0 / 160 | Canandaigua, N.Y. | Canandaigua Academy
BEFORE PENN STATE
Five-year member of Canandaigua's varsity team ... Second team All-League honoree last season and an all-league honorable mention in 2013 ... Braves were the 2013 Section V champions ... Has earned two letters in indoor track and is a team captain.
PERSONAL
Michel Laurence McClain was born on April 29, 1997 in Rochester, N.Y. ... Parents are Michael and Christine ... Plans to major in premedicine and become an orthopedic surgeon.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"PSU will provide me the opportunity to pursue my passion of playing lacrosse while earning a highly recognized degree in the field of medicine."
DREW PETKEVICH
M | 5'10 / 173 | Bethesda, Md. | Bullis School
BEFORE PENN STATE
Has played at Bullis for four years ... Garnered All-IAC and All-Gazette honorable mention honors his junior year ... In his fourth year competing for the Baltimore Crabs ... In 2014, the team won the Crab City Championship and were the NSCLA champions ... Team captured the King of the Hill championship in 2013.
PERSONAL
Andrew Michael Petkevich was born on June 17, 1996 in San Francisco ... Parents are Lis and John ... Has a brother, Nicky, and a sister, Kathryn ... John is the 1971 U.S. national champion and North American champion in figure skating, placing sixth at the 1968 Winter Olympics and fifth at the 1972 World Championships ... Undecided on a major.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"I chose PSU for its outstanding academics and athletics. I can't wait to get there and play for Coach Tambroni, Doctor, Toner and Shriver."
NICK SPILLANE
A | 5'10 / 165 | Franklin Square, N.Y. | Carey
BEFORE PENN STATE
Has played four years at Carey ... Posted 65 points in 17 games his junior season when the team went 11-6, resulting in all-county honors ... All-county selection as a sophomore (28 goals, 20 assists) and freshman (32 goals, 21 assists) ... Plays club for FLG Lacrosse ... Also plays varsity football at Carey.
PERSONAL
Born on Dec. 16, 1996, in Mineola, N.Y. ... Parents are Cammi and Chris ... Has one brother and one sister, Kaylee and Chris ... Father Chris played four years at C.W. Post while brother Chris played four seasons at Manhattan College ... Plans to major in marketing and work in sports.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because there is a high level of academics balanced with a great college atmosphere."
BRANDON STERN
M | 5'11 / 175 | Cherry Hill, N.J. | Cherry Hill East
BEFORE PENN STATE
Varsity starter at Cherry Hill East since freshman year ... Has earned all-conference honors each season ... Team captain his junior and senior seasons ... 86 goals and 53 assists over his career ... The Cougars have competed in the New Jersey State Lacrosse Playoffs every year since 2012 ... Also a three-year starting quarterback and two-year team captain for Cherry Hill East's varsity football team.
PERSONAL
Born on April 23, 1997 in Philadelphia ... Parents are Richard and Dawn ... Has a twin brother, Matthew, and a sister, Samantha ... Samantha played four years of lacrosse at Vermont ... Plans to major in business and work in marketing at a university athletic department.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"Penn State will allow me to compete in lacrosse at the highest levels, with the chance to win a National Championship and allow me to be part of a University with a renowned athletic department while also providing excellent academics."
THOMAS WRIGHT
M | 6'0 / 185 | Garden City, N.Y. | Garden City
BEFORE PENN STATE
Four-year varsity starter for Garden City ... 2014 All-American, all-conference, all-academic conference, all-county and Newsday All-Long Island honoree ... The 2014 Nassau County Long Stick Midfielder of the Year ... Garden City was the 2012 and 2013 New York State Champion ... Has played club for FLG Lacrosse for seven years ... U-15 National Champions in 2011 ... In his third season on the varsity football team and is a team captain.
PERSONAL
Born on March 19, 1997, in Garden City, N.Y. ... Parents are Debbie and Tom ... Has two brothers, Kenneth and James ... Kenneth played lacrosse for four years at Siena College and James played three years of football at SUNY Cortland ... Undecided on a major.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"Penn State is a perfect fit both academically and athletically."