Oct. 17, 2012
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State lacrosse team wrapped up its second-ever recruiting class in program history with an 11-member group, head coach Kylee White announced today. The 11 person class hails from six different states, including four from Maryland, two from California and one from Las Vegas. Of the group, nine are freshman and two are transfers.
"We are so excited about this second class of Aztec Lacrosse players," White said. "These athletes have tremendous character and outstanding lacrosse skills and we expect them all to make an immediate impact both on and off the field. Together with the returners from our inaugural season, we believe great things are in store for our second season as a program."
Felice Artuso, a 5-foot-3-inch midfielder, comes to The Mesa from Westminster, Md., where she attended Winters Mill High School. Artuso helped lead the Falcons to two State Championships during her sophomore and junior seasons. During her time at Winter Hills, Artuso was a two-time second team all-county selection and was also named to the second team All-MVAL squad during her senior year. Artuso played on the soccer team as well, where she earned four letters and was a second team honorable mention pick during her sophomore year when the Falcons were State runner-ups. Artuso was a member of the Check-Hers Elite club lacrosse team and played on the 2010 U-15 National Championship team. Her brother, Ryan, played Division I rugby at Mount Saint Mary's.
Another recruit from out of state, Anna Cholewczynski hails from Rockville, Md. As a 5-foot-7-inch midfielder/defender, Cholewczynski attended Urbana High School and earned three letters in lacrosse. While playing for the Tigers, she earned second team All-American Honorable Mention Honors during her sophomore year and then followed that by being named a second team All-American during her junior year. Cholewczynski then earned first team honors in her last season at Urbana. She was a three-sport athlete, also playing volleyball and basketball. Cholewczynski played club lacrosse for the Rebels out of Olney, Md.
A 5-foot-4-inch midfielder/attack, Alexa Comfort played her high school lacrosse at Southern Regional in Manahawkin, N.J., where she started every game during her freshman season. During her junior year, Comfort earned the Golden Ram Award as well as first-team All-Shore honors. Then in her final season for the Rams, Comfort was named MVP by the Atlantic City Press and earned first-team All-Shore accolades. She also played volleyball at Southern Regional, where she broke the digs record her senior year. Comfort played three years of club lacrosse for the T3 Shore squad as a midfielder.
Kimberley Flather, a 5-foot-8-inch attack/midfielder, joins SDSU after attending Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, Calif. In her time as a member of the Vikings, Flather garnered first-team all-league honors on four occasions. She was also tabbed as the outstanding attacker of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League during her senior year. Flather picked up a number of other honors in her final prep season as she was an All-American nominee as well as a nominee for the Female Athlete of the year by Viking Sports Magazine. Flather was a member of Bay Area Wave club lacrosse team from 2008-12 and also competed for the NorCal U-19 in May 2011.
Hailing from Baltimore, Md., Madison Formwalt played her prep lacrosse at Roland Park Country School. A 5-foot-5-inch attacker, Formwalt is transferring in from Loyola University of Maryland and will have three years of eligibility remaining. She brings in NCAA Tournament experience as the Greyhounds advanced to the quarterfinals last season after winning the Big East Tournament. Formwalt's prep career, meanwhile, was just as successful. The Reds made it to the championship game during her senior year as Formwalt earned second team all-IAAM accolades. The previous year, meanwhile, she earned first-team honors as Roland Park advanced to the semifinals. Formwalt also participated in field hockey, squash and swimming for the Reds and was a member of the Sky Walkers club lacrosse team.
Lauren Gierke, a 5-foot-5-inch defender, comes to Montezuma Mesa after playing lacrosse at Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando, Fla. A two-time Academic All-American, Gierke led the Highlanders to a District Championship during her sophomore year. The following season, she garnered third-team honors on the All-Central Florida girls' lacrosse team and was also a 2011 District All-Star. During her final season with the Highlanders, Gierke was named the Lake Highland Defensive Player of the Year and also earned first-team accolades on the All-Central Florida girls' lacrosse team. Gierke was a three-sport athlete, playing soccer in 2010 and participating in cross country in 2011. She played her club lacrosse for RC Elite.
Hailing from Las Vegas, Nev., Andrea Killebrew was a four-time first-team MVP at Centennial High School. A 5-foot-5 inch attack, Killebrew, is the first female lacrosse player out of Las Vegas to get a Division I scholarship. An all-league MVP and team captain during her senior year, Killebrew led the Bulldogs to a state champion all four years she was on the squad. She also played volleyball at Centennial and was a team captain. Killebrew played club lacrosse for Team Vegas from 2008-12 as a midfielder. Her father, Scott, played college football for Utah State.
The fourth recruit from Maryland, 5-foot-4-inch attacker Sydney Langeler earned three letters in lacrosse at Parkside High School in Salisbury, Md., where she garnered first-team all-conference honors on three occasions and led the Rams to a regional championship during her senior year. Two seasons prior to that, the Rams were league champs as Langeler was named to the Eastern Shore Team by WDNT. Langeler also participated in field hockey and was named to the second-team all-conference team during her senior year. Langeler was a member of Greene Turtle club lacrosse team from 2006-10 and also competed for CC Lax from 2010-11.
A 5-foot-7-inch midfielder, Jacqueline Leibrandt is from Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Ill. An honorable mention All-American, Leibrandt helped lead the Titans to consecutive first-place regional finishes as well as fourth in state during her junior year. She also garnered back-to-back all-state honors and was named to the all-conference team in her senior season. In addition, Leibrandt played basketball during her time at Glenbrook South and also competed for the Lakeshore Lacrosse club team from 2010-11.
Nicole Lescano, a 5-foot-7-inch midfielder, attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Lescano garnered first-team all-county all three years she played lacrosse and led her team to a runner-up finish in league during her senior season. Lescano also earned first-team all-league honors during her junior and senior years and was named "Most Improved" following her first year of high school competition. Lescano also competed in volleyball during the 2010 season. Her father, Pepe, played quarterback at University of Florida and her twin brother Max currently plays football at Princeton. Lescano was a member the Lax Maniax Lacrosse Club and was ranked by ESPN RISE as the No. 13 defender and 66th overall player in the nation.
The final signee of the group is 5-foot-11-inch goalkeeper Sarah Tucker. Hailing from Alamo, Calif., Tucker is transferring in from Diablo Valley College and will have four years of eligibility as there was not a lacrosse program at her previous school. During her two years of prep lacrosse, Tucker led her team to consecutive NCS championships in her junior and senior seasons. She also played club lacrosse from 2008-09 for Triple Threat out of Dublin, Calif.