Dec. 7, 2010
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State lacrosse team revealed its first-ever recruiting class, head coach Kylee White announced today. The eight-member class, which will join the Aztecs in the fall of 2011, includes three from San Diego County, two each from Florida and Ohio, and one from Australia.
"I am proud to announce the first eight women's lacrosse recruits for San Diego State," White said. "This is a very talented group of student-athletes who will help build the foundation and future success of SDSU lacrosse. All eight of these young women possess exceptional athleticism, talent and a strong work ethic both on and off the field.
"It is exciting and telling of the growth of lacrosse in San Diego to have three of the top players in the area join this inaugural squad."
A 5-foot-8-inch attack/midfielder, Jordan Cook comes to The Mesa from Saint Augustine, Fla., where she was an honorable mention All-American for Bartram Trail High School. Cook, who led the Bears to three consecutive district championships, also was a third-team all-state selection, and first-team all-region, first-team all-district and first-team all-league pick. While attending Bartram Trail, Cook was a three-sport athlete, playing volleyball and swimming in the off seasons. Cook played her club ball at LaxManiax.
A local recruit out of Carlsbad High School, Spencer Harden (5'4") earned second-team all-league accolades as a defender for the Lancers. A San Diego Union-Tribune scholar-athlete in 2010, Harden also excelled for the San Diego Sharkz club team, which won three elite championships in the past year. Harden was an all-star selection at the Adrenaline Showcase, Adrenaline Shootout and Adrenaline Challenge while with the Sharkz.
A 5-foot-9-inch attack/midfielder, Grace Korandovich played her high school lacrosse at The Wellington School in Columbus, Ohio. Korandovich led the Jaguars to the state semifinals a year ago, while earning second-team all-state and first-team all-district accolades. A captain and an academic all-region pick, Korandovich led the team in ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers. Korandovich, who also plays basketball for the Jaguars and is the student body president, is a member of the Midwestern Force Lacrosse Club.
A teammate of Korandovich with the Midwestern Force, Falon Manns starred for Mason High School in Mason, Ohio. Manns, a 5-foot-4-inch midfielder for the Comets, scored 13 goals and added two assists when they finished eighth in the state. Manns earned three letters at Mason under head coach Paul Limpert. She earned the Principals Award and Academic Achievement Award, while garnering scholar-athlete honors.
A local standout with La Costa Canyon High School in Encinitas, 5-foot-3-inch attacker Jackie Mills will bring her talents to SDSU. Mills was named a 2010 U.S. Lacrosse All-American, and is a two-time (2009-10) first-team all-CIF selection and two-time (2009-10) first-team all-Avocado League pick. Mills led the Mavericks to back-to-back league and CIF titles (2008-09). A scholar-athlete who was named to the 2010 San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic team, Mills was listed as one of the top players to watch in San Diego for 2010. A two-time Union-Tribune Athlete of the Week, Mills also plays with the San Diego Rip club team.
The third San Diego County recruit, Brittany Parrish attends Scripps Ranch High School. As a 5-foot-1-inch attack/midfielder, Parrish helped the Falcons advance to the CIF semifinals in 2010 and the quarterfinals in 2009. Parrish was a Lax-All-Area honorable mention pick (2009) and was selected to the San Diego City League Second Team. A scholar-athlete, Parrish also excels in soccer and field hockey at Scripps Ranch, and plays alongside fellow future Aztec Spencer Harden on the San Diego Sharkz club team.
An Adelaide, Australia, native, Isabelle Pickett brings international experience to San Diego State as a member of the Under-19 Australian squad. Pickett has represented South Australia in nine national competitions, including a national championship win in 2010. Pickett also starred for the competitive Brighton Bombers Lacrosse Club team, which won three straight league championships (2008-10). A 5-foot-5-inch midfielder, Pickett is a scholar-athlete and also a high school letterwinner in cross country, soccer, tennis and beach volleyball.
The eighth and final member of White's first recruiting class is Catherine Shepardson, a 5-foot-9-inch attack/midfielder from Winter Park, Fla. Shepardson garnered first-team all-district, all-county and all-Metro Conference honors while at Winter Park High School. In 2010 with the Wildcats in Florida, Shepardson led the team with 103 points on 56 goals and 47 assists, and now attends Our Lade of Good Council in Olney, Md. Shepardson, who played her club ball at LaxManiax with Cook, was a member of the Florida U-19 team, and is a scholar-athlete and letterwinner in cross country and soccer.
The Aztecs will begin a full schedule in the spring of 2012 and will play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF).