ITHACA, N.Y. – Matt Kerwick, the Richard M. Moran Head Coach of Lacrosse at Cornell, has announced that the Big Red will add 15 newcomers to the roster for the 2016 season. The 15-member class consists of six US Lacrosse All-Americans, the most to join the program since the 2009 season, and consists of six midfielders, five attackmen, three defenders, and one goalie.
 
The group hails from nine different states, including a class-high four New Yorkers, as well as one player coming from Toronto and one from the District of Columbia.
 
"We graduated a large senior class of talented players that logged a ton of minutes for us a year ago," said Kerwick. "But this incoming class is extremely talented and there are several players that will have an opportunity to earn important minutes very early in their careers."
 
Cornell Men's Lacrosse Class of 2019 

  
Ryan Bray – A/M – 5-11/170
Shoreham, N.Y. (Shoreham Wading River HS)
A US Lacrosse All-American and an Under Armor All-American, Bray was a four-year letter winner at Shoreham Wading River high school. As a senior captain, he was named the League 3 midfielder of the year, a Newsday Top 25 Player to Watch, and was selected to try out for the United States' U19 Team. A two-time all-county selection, he was named second-team All-Long Island as a junior, and was named the Suffolk County Rookie of the Year in 2012. Bray helped Shoreham Wading River to a Long Island championship as a sophomore and a state championship as a freshman. He was given the school's Academic Achievement award four consecutive years in high school. Bray also lettered three times in basketball and golf.
 
Kerwick on Bray: Ryan is one of the best offensive players coming off Long Island. He had a great career at one of the top high school programs in the nation and he should compete for playing time early in his time here at Cornell.
 
Kiernan Coles – D – 6-1/200
Mercer Island, Wash. (Mercer Island HS)
A three-year letter winner, Coles helped Mercer Island high school to the 2015 D1 Washington State Championship. He was named first-team All-Kingco as a senior, after an honorable mention selection as a junior. Coles was named the Mercer Island Defensive MVP in each of his final two seasons and also won the team's Biggest Hitter Award. Coles also earned three varsity letters in football, serving as team captain as a senior and earning first-team All-Kingco honors. As a junior, he was an honorable mention All-Kingco selection and was selected to the Best in the West and BC's Best all-star teams.
 
Kerwick on Coles: Kiernan is one of the best athletes in the incoming class. We expect him to compete for a role on our defensive unit as he learns our system and continues to improve his lacrosse skills.
 
Jake McCulloch – M – 6-0/185
Stony Brook, N.Y. (Ward Melville HS)
A US Lacrosse All-American and an Under Armor All-American, McCulloch earned three varsity letters at Ward Melville high school.  As a senior, he was named the Suffolk County League 1 Midfielder of the Year, as well as a Newsday first-team All-Long Island selection, after registering 54 goals, 23 assists, and 35 ground balls to lead Ward Melville to a 17-3 record. As a sophomore, he started on the 2013 state championship team. McCulloch also lettered once in football.
 
Kerwick on McCulloch: Jake is another in a long line of outstanding Ward Melville players to come to Cornell. He's one of the best lefty shooters there is and he will compete immediately for playing time in the midfield.
 
Connor O'Brien – A – 6-3/190
West Lake, Calif. (West Lake HS)
A four-year letter winner at West Lake High School, O'Brien served as team captain in each of his final two seasons. He helped the team to a pair of Marmonte League Championship and was a three-time All-Marmonte League selection. He was also a first-team All-Ventura County selection in 2015. O'Brien was named his team's Offensive MVP twice and was the team's overall MVP once. He was also a four-time scholar athlete selection, awarded to students with at least a 3.5 GPA.
 
Kerwick on O'Brien: Connor has a very high lacrosse IQ to go along with excellent vision and quickness. He'll provide solid depth for our young attack unit.
 
Clarke Petterson – M – 5-10/185
Toronto, Ont. (The Hill Academy)
Petterson was a four-year member of The Hill Academy lacrosse team, serving as team captain in each of his final two seasons. He was named the MVP of the 2014 NALI championship game and won the  Lacrosse Award at the Hill Academy that same season. Petterson also took home the Hill 1845 Award in 2013, given to the hardest working player with a positive attitude. He was also a member of the Brampton Junior A Excelsiors.
 
Kerwick on Petterson: Clarke is one of the best two-way midfielders coming out of high school this season. He will be fully prepared to make the transition to Division I lacrosse after learning from Brodie Merrill at The Hill Academy.
 
Joe Rassenfoss – M – 6-2/185
Denver, Colo. (Kent Denver School)
A US Lacrosse All-American, Rassenfoss earned four varsity letters at Kent Denver School.  He was named first-team all-state and was the All-South Suburban conference Player of the Year his senior season. He also won his team's MVP award that same season. Rassenfoss also earned four varsity letters in football, helping Kent Denver School to at state championship in 2013 and a state runner-up finish in 2015.
 
Kerwick on Rassenfoss: Coming off an injury two years ago that limited his junior season, Joe had an outstanding senior year. He is a big, athletic offensive midfielder who also has the capability to face-off.
 
Tom Reilly – D – 6-1/180
Stony Brook (Ward Melville HS)
A four-year letter winner on defense, Reilly served as Ward Melville's team captain during his junior and senior seasons. He was a two-time Suffolk County All-County selection, as was all being named to the 2015 American Family Insurance All-USA Preseason Boys Lacrosse Team. Reilly was the 2013 S.C.L.C.A. Division 1 Rookie of the Year, and was also named to the Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Underclassmen team that same season. During the 2013 campaign, he started on Ward Melville's undefeated 22-0 New York State Class A Championship team. He was also a 2012 Suffolk County All-Star as a freshman. Reilly also lettered twice in football.
 
Kerwick on Reilly: Tom had an injury in the spring which limited him a little bit but we expect him to make an immediate impact on the defensive end of the field. He is an excellent and aggressive cover man.
 
Colton Rupp – A – 5-10/180
Washington, D.C. (Landon School)
A US Lacrosse High School All American, Rupp earned three varsity letters at Landon School, where he won the prestigious Harrison Triplett Award at graduation, which is given to the most athletic student in the class who represents, skill, great sportsmanship, and dedication to the programs. He was also the winner of the 2014 George Boiardi for integrity, citizenship, and humility. As a senior captain, Rupp was named the team's MVP after leading Landon to a No. 2 national ranking and a record of 20-2 on the season, marking just the third time the program had ever won 20 games. He tied the school record for goals in a single season (49) and added 16 assists to lead the team in points. Rupp also finished his career ranked third all-time at Landon in career goals. Following the season, he was named first-team All-Met and first-team All-Gazette. Rupp was a two-time first-team All-IAC selection and a two-time Under Armor Undercalss All-American. He helped Landon to consecutive IAC Championships and was a member of the Maryland Freestate Team. Rupp was also named second-team All-Met as a junior after leading Landon in points. Rupp also earned three varsity letters in football and hockey. On the gridiron, he served as team captain and earned MVP honors as a senior.  He was a two-time All-IAC honoree and helped the football team to an IAC Championship as a sophomore. A two-time captain in hockey, Rupp was twice named All-IAC, won three IAC Championships, and led Landon to the High School Hockey Maryland State Championship as a senior.
 
Kerwick on Rupp: Colton is small in stature, but really strong and extremely tough. He has been one of Landon's top players for three straight years and we expect him to compete for playing time right away.
 
Ridge Slater – M – 5-8/175
Kensington, Md. (Gonzaga College HS)
A three-year letter winner and two-time team captain, Slater helped Gonzaga College High School to three consecutive WCAC Lacrosse Championships. A two-time first-team WCAC selection, he was also a second-team Washington Post All-Met honoree and team MVP as a senior. Slater also lettered four times in hockey, serving as team captain as a senior and earning the team's MVP award that same year. He helped his team to consecutive MAPHL Hockey Championships and was named both a first-team MAPHL selection and a second-team Washington Post All-Met honoree.
 
Kerwick on Slater: Ridge is a tremendous athlete and leader. He excelled in lacrosse and in hockey and he will be one of those prototypical 'do-it-all midfielders' for us during his career.
 
Liam Stauss – D – 6-4/195
Duxbury, Mass. (Duxbury HS)
A three-year letter winner at Duxbury high school, Stauss served as team captain and earned his team's MVP award as a senior. He also won his team's Defensive Player of the Year award twice after leading the squad to consecutive South Sectional championships. Stauss was a two-time first-team Massachusetts All-American, as well as a two-time BostonLax All-American. He was named to both the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald All-Scholastic teams in each of his final two seasons. Stauss also earned consecutive Patriot Ledger All-Star honors as a junior and senior. Stauss lettered twice in football.
 
Kerwick on Stauss: Liam is a big, aggressive defenseman coming to us from a dominant program in New England.  I think with added strength and size he will be able to cover an opponent's top attackman. 
 
Teddy Strzetelski – G – 6-4/200
Natick, Mass. (Noble and Greenough School)
Strzetelski earned four varsity letters at Noble and Greenough School , serving as team captain during his senior season. He was a 2015 Boston Lacrosse All-American and was his team's MVP that same season. Strzetelski was a two-time All-ISL honoree in lacrosse. Strzetelski also lettered four times in football and twice in basketball. He was captain of the football team as a senior and was a two-time All-ISL selection.
 
Kerwick on Strzetelski: As a goalie, Teddy is a great communicator that takes command and directs his defense.  He also brings great size to the position and will compete with our talented corps of goalies.
 
Anthony Teixeira – A/M – 5-11/180
Jacksonville, Fla. (The Bolles School)
Teixeira was a four-year varsity letter winner, earning two letters from Creekside high school, before finishing his playing career at The Bolles School.   A 2014 US Lacrosse All-American, Teixeira was a two-time team captain and helped Bolles School to consecutive Florida District 5 championships. He was a two-time first-team all-district selection, and was named to the Florida Lacrosse News Senior All-Star Team in 2015. Teixeira was his team's MVP as a senior, earning Offensive MVP in each of his final two seasons. He was also the school's 2014-2015 Van Etten Bent Award winner, given annually to outstanding individuals who have distinguished themselves in a particular sport in the varsity athletic program. Prior to his time at Bolles, he helped Creekside high school to a pair of Florida District 6 finalist finishes. Teixeira also lettered once in soccer and played one year of football.
 
Kerwick on Teixeira: Anthony finished his career as one of the top players in the state of Florida. He is a fast, tough player that will give us options at both attack or at midfield.
 
Fleet Wallace – M – 6-3/200
Richmond, Va. (St. Christopher's School)
A US Lacrosse All-American, Wallace was a three-year letter winner at St. Christopher's School, serving as team captain his senior season. He was named a first-team All-Prep league twice and was selected a first-team All-VISAA in 2015. Wallace helped St. Christopher's School to consecutive state runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2015, and was named the school's Davenport Award Winner for athletics. Wallace also earned three varsity letters in football and basketball, serving as team captain of both teams. As a senior on the gridiron, he was named Football All-Prep League, Football Prep League Offensive MVP, first-team All-VISAA and first-team All-Metro.
 
Kerwick on Wallace: Fleet is arguably the most athletic member of the incoming class. He was an outstanding three-sport athlete in high school and was a great leader as captain of all three sports.
  
Zach Ward – A – 5-10/155
Lancaster, Pa. (Hempfield HS)
A two-time US Lacrosse All-American, Ward earned four varsity letters at Hempfield high school, serving as team captain during his senior season.  He was the 2015 Lancaster-Lebanon League Player of the Year, and was a two-time first-team All Lancaster-Lebanon League selection. Ward set the school record for career points (239) and led the team to a league championship in 2013. As a junior he was named first- team All-Pennlive.com, after earning second-team Lancaster-Lebanon League honors as a sophomore and an honorable mention selection as a freshman.  Ward also won the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence, given to the top 20 finalist across the country who demonstrates excellence in the classroom, athletics, and in their community. As a member of the Duke's Lacrosse Club, Ward won the 2014 Champ Camp National Championship and was name to the 2012 and 2013 Baltimore Shootout All-star team. Ward also lettered twice in golf at Hempfield high school.
 
Kerwick on Ward: Zach had an outstanding senior season. He plays with great vision and quickness and he is equally adept at scoring and feeding the ball to his teammates.
 
Sam Welch – M – 5-11/17
Pleasantville, N.Y. (Hackley School)
Welch earned four varsity letters at Hackley School, serving as team captain as a senior. A three-time first-team All-Ivy League selection, he was also selected to the Senior All-Star team and won the 2015 Bruce D. Hislop MVP award. Welch also earned four varsity letters in wrestling.
 
Kerwick on Welch: Sam found his true position this season when he switched from attack to midfield and had a breakout senior season. He is also extremely athletic, which will help him as he adjusts to the Division I level.