La Salle lacrosse head coach Julie Weiss and the La Salle athletic department announces the signings of six freshmen for the 2005 season. In recruiting, Weiss covered the field, adding a goalkeeper, a midfield along with two defenders and two attackers. This recruiting class hails from New York, New Jersey and south to Maryland.
At the goalkeeping position is Marlton, New Jersey native Chantelle McCormick, who was named First Team All-Olympic Conference in 2003 at Cherokee High School after posting a .650 save percentage. A leader both on and off the field, McCormick served as team captain and received the Super Chief Award for maintaining a 3.5+ GPA while earning a varsity letter. McCormick also competes for the South Jersey Angels club team in lacrosse, while lettering in field hockey at Marlton. She is also a member of the honor roll.
Backing up McCormick on defense, Weiss adds Jessica Hanson of Cortlandt Manor, New York and Kaylan Billingsley from Bowie, MD. Hanson, a two-time All-Section, All-Journal News, and All-North County News First Team, was a member of the Walter Panas High School team that advanced to the Section finals twice and State semi-finals once. A Hudson Valley representative at the Empire State Games, Hanson also competed in basketball. Off the field, Hanson is an honor student and is active in Student Government.
Billingsley was a member of the 2003 IAAMB Conference championship team from Archbishop Spalding High School. On the club level, Billingsley competes for
CC Lax which went to the semi-finals in the Galaxy National Championship. She was also named to the 2004 All-Galaxy team. A three-sport athlete, Billingsley also earned varsity letters in soccer and indoor track. A well-rounded student-athlete, Billingsley is a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and is active in the Student Government Association.
Moving to the midfield, Kelly Heiss of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, is the lone midfielder of the group. A four-year varsity starter at Lenape High School, she received the Coach's Oustanding Player award in 2003. Heiss also picked up the Outstanding Player award at the Villanova Lacrosse Camp. She also competes in club lacrosse for the South Jersey Angels with McCormick. A dual sport athlete, Heiss was also a four year member of the soccer team at Lenape.
On offense, Emily Bonczek of Pittsford, New York and Christie Walker of Silver Spring, Maryland round out this recruiting class. Competing on the varsity level since eighth grade, Bonczek holds the Rush Henrietta High School record for both goals and assists. She was a three-time selection to the Empire State Team and New York National team. During her time at Rush Henrietta, Bonczek was also a three-time First Team All-County and two-time All-Greater Rochester selection. On the club level Bonczek plays for the Lady Roc.
A member of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Championship team in 2002 at Academy of the Holy Cross, Walker was named All-WCAC Second Team and Honorable Metion by Gazette Newspapers in 2003. She competes for the Future Elite club team. Walker served as the team captain not only for lacrosse, but also for field hockey as well as playing club basketball. An honor roll student, Walker is active in community service, working with special education students.
Covering the field with this recruiting class, Weiss is thrilled to add this group, "full of talent, determination, and commitment to the Explorer program." Weiss sees these additions as "playing a huge part in taking the program to another level." Weiss looks forward to coaching such a tremendous group of athletes, "from the dazzling attackers in Bonczek and Walker to consistent hustle of midfielder Heiss to the solid and strong defense of Billingsley and Hanson to the aggressive nature of McCormick in goal. Each of these players will make an immediate impact on the field."
