Wheeling Jesuit announces 2009-2010 class

Head Coach, Jay Sothoron, announces his first class at Wheeling Jesuit University. This list of 16 talented student-athletes from around the U.S. will begin their play in September 2009. The class consists of 2 goalies, 5 defensemen, 6 midfielders, and 3 attack men.
 
“After losing two starting defenders we knew that we had to replenish our defensive unit. Our incoming Defensemen are all very athletic with great size. I am extremely happy in the caliber of players who we have recruited in to fill holes, not only in the defense but at our goalie position, midfield and attack as well.” Sothoron said.

Student-athletes joining the Cardinal Lacrosse Program in the fall are as follows:

Attack

Nick Tatro - 5’11 - 180lbs - Walsh Jesuit High School/Suffield, OH
Nick was a captain and D2 1st team all region player at Walsh Jesuit high school in Ohio. This left-handed midfielder comes to Wheeling with a natural ability and knowledge of the game that can make him very dangerous in the years to come. He is a very strong dodger and is a threat to score when he has the ball in his stick.  Nick will push for a significant role next year at either midfield or attack.

Greg Kaplan - 5’6 - 185lbs - Bethel Park High School/ Pittsburgh, PA
Greg joins fellow Bethel Park teammates Symsek, Zigmond and Henk at Wheeling Jesuit. He is a deceivingly shifty player who has a great nose for the goal and finished his senior year with 35 points, helping Bethel Park to a 12-6 record.  With an experienced attack in front of him, he will need to make the best of his opportunities.

Zach Klein - 6’0 - 165lbs - First Love Christian Academy/Washington, PA
Zach finished his senior year strong with 49 goals and 14 assists, giving him 1st team WVSLA honors. He has a great sense for the game and a nose to the goal, which will prove to be most beneficial for him in the college arena. Zach has a great stick with good athleticism, which should put in good position to better his game this fall and possibly find the field in the spring.

Midfield

Andrew Moretz - 5’11 - 190lbs - St. Mary’s Ryken/Chesapeake Beach, MD
Andrew is a transfer from Roanoke College. Moretz played high school lacrosse at St. Mary’s Ryken High School. During his senior year SMR finished ranked 17-2 with Ryken capturing the WCAC championship defeating Dematha high School. Andrew was an All Conference WCAC winning 78% of his face offs.  Andrew has the ability to control a game with his face off ability. He will push for time immediately bringing depth to the face off X. 

Ricky Rano - 5’11 - 185lbs - Westerville South H.S./Westerville, Oh
Ricky was a two sport athlete playing football and lacrosse for Westerville South High School. Ricky was a member of the Midwest Adidas classic all star team. He has incredible speed and dangerous first step, which gives him the ability to beat his man and create offense whenever he has the ball. He will be looked upon to be an offensive threat for the Cardinals immediately. Ricky has the potential to be a top D2 middie early in his career. 

Josh Lambert - 5’11 – 175 - Hilliard Davidson High School/Hilliard, OH Josh will be joining high school teammate LJ Wilson at WJU.  Josh helped Hilliard Davidson to a 12-8 record in ’09. He is a seasoned face-off man who will be a strong offensive threat next season. Josh finished his senior season as team groundball leader, adding 21 points, and winning 68% of his face-offs. Josh was also named D1 2nd team all region and 2nd team all OCC in Ohio. Lambert could be difference maker early in his career, filling the holes left by the graduated midfielders. 

John Symsek - 5’11 - 180lbs - Bethel Park, PA/Pittsburgh, PA
John comes to WJU from Bethel Park high school where he was the team’s top face-off man. He is a good-sized midfielder who has the ability to be a scoring threat along with winning face offs. John shoots very well, and could crack the starting lineup at either attack or midfield.

Nathan Freeland - 6’1 - 180lbs - Fairmont High School/Fairmont, WV
Nathan comes to Wheeling from Fairmont High School where he helped his team win the 2009 West Virginia state championship. Nathan was a two-year captain and 1st team WVSLA selection. He is a good athlete who will continue to improve at the college level. 

Tyler Amos - 6’1 - 175lbs - Wheeling Central Catholic/Wheeling, WV
Tyler a Wheeling native comes to Jesuit having dominated the local lacrosse circuit and was second in points in West Virginia with 93 and was a 2009 team captain at Wheeling Central Catholic. Tyler was also a member of the Pittsburgh Aces summer select team. He is a versatile player who is comfortable with both hands, and could find himself on the field at either attack or midfield.

Defense
 
Matt Maccario - 6’1 - 205 - Springfield Delco High School/Springfield, PA
Matt was a two-sport standout at Springfield, and his athleticism from the hockey rink bleeds over onto the lacrosse field very well.  He is a well rounded defender who can do it all. Springfield High finished with an impressive 19-7 record, ranked 5th in the state. They lost in the state semifinal game to powerhouse Conestoga High School. Maccario has the ability to be a dominant D2 defenseman and is a very talented defenseman who should see significant time as a freshman.

Lonnie Wilson - 6’0 - 215lbs - Hilliard Davidson H. S. /Hilliard, OH
LJ comes to Wheeling from Hilliard Davidson High School where he was a 4-year varsity starter and a 3-year captain. He was named 2nd team all region and honorable mention OCC. He brings a physical and athletic style of play and uses his size to his advantage. LJ is a hardnosed player who is deceivingly quick and has the potential to crack the starting line-up next year.
 
Zach Zigmond - 5’8 - 190lbs - Bethel Park High School/Pittsburgh, PA
Zach helped Bethel Park high school finish the season with a 12-6 record.  He is also a two-sport high school athlete playing soccer and lacrosse. Zach is a tenacious and aggressive defender on the lacrosse field. Being hawk on ground balls, Zach has the ability to play both close defense and long stick middie.  He will push for time at the LSM position.   
 
Evan Johnston - 6’1 - 185lbs - Millard West High School/Omaha, NE
Evan helped his team to a 16-1 season record and the Nebraska state championship. He could be the most gifted athlete of the class because his size and speed will make him an impact at the D2 level. Evan was a team captain his junior and senior year and was named 1st team All State picking up 61 groundballs in his senior season. Coming from Nebraska where lacrosse isn’t very prominent, he has made the best of his opportunities. Evan is a very focused young man who should see significant time as a freshman.    

Matt King - 6’2 - 185lbs - Westerville South High School/Westerville, OH
Matt comes from Westerville South High School where he was a standout defenseman and team leader. He twice earned All-Ohio Capital Conference and All-Region Honors, and was also named defensive player of the year and team MVP for Westerville South in 2009. Matt is an athletic defensemen who plays very hard, and his size and speed should help him see some time as a freshman

Goalie 

Jim LaPenna - 5’11 - 170lbs - Bel Air High School/Bel Air, MD
Jim comes to Wheeling from Bel Air high school where he played hockey and lacrosse. He is a quick goalie who is a good stopper with great clearing ability. Jim finished his senior year with the record of 9-7 with a (.687 career save %) and was Honorable Mention All County and team defensive MVP. LaPenna was also a member of the Maryland Fireballs club team over the summer playing with some of the best players in Maryland. Jim will push for time as a freshman.
 
Tyler Henk - 6’2 - 190lbs - Bethel Park High School/Pittsburgh, PA
Tyler has been the starting goalie for his team for the last two seasons, leading them to a current rank of 4th in Western Pennsylvania. In 2009, Tyler was team captain, all league, and Bethel Park Player of the year. He helped his team to a 12-6 record while recording a (.684 save %). He is a big stopper who has the big save capability with very good outlet passing ability. He could push for time next year.