The Ponte Vedra lacrosse program produced its share of college signees this year with 11 players signing to play college lacrosse.
The signees gathered at Vincenzo’s Italian Restaurant for a special signing day ceremony on Nov. 13.
Those signing included five from the Sharks’ girls lacrosse program with Hannah Toole going to Florida State; Ashley Albert, Taylor Burke and Aubrey Schmidt signing to Embry-Riddle; and Abby Paul deciding to go to Lynn University.
According to Toole, she is excited to sign with Florida State because they are a new program, and she is looking forward to leaving her mark as they grow.
“I’m excited to be part of something new, and it’s going to be a really cool experience,” Toole said. “I’m sure its going to be a lot of work, but I’m excited to get started.”
For Paul, it was her visit to Lynn that led her to believing it was the right fit for her.
“The biggest thing that drew me to Lynn is the team community they have there,” Paul said. “I just loved how close they all were and the connection they had with the coaches. And the location (in Boca Raton) is very beautiful.”
Embry-Riddle was always a school Schmidt was interested in because of her goal to become a commercial airline pilot.
However, she is also happy that she gets the opportunity to continue playing lacrosse at the next level while she works on getting her degree.
“I’m really excited just to learn new things and just push myself even further,” Schmidt said.
Six players signed from the boys team on the night, including Ryker Kemp with Utah; Jackson Hume with Lynn; Brody Murchison with Methodist University; Blake Powers with Sewanee, Camden Ezring with Anderson University and Mason Hauseman with Jacksonville University.
“It’s great to have finally signed,” Ezring said. “It’s a real weight off your shoulders and I just want to thank Anderson for the opportunity.”
Prior to the recruiting process Kemp had never been to Utah, but now he will spend his next four years in the state after committing to the University of Utah.
Although it may be far from Florida, he is anxious to play for one of the contending teams nationally every year.
“There always in the playoffs and they’re always giving it a run for their money,” Kemp said. “One of my friends from Ponte Vedra, Freddie DiMarzo, is on the team and he just loves it there.”
The recruiting process is uniquely different for each person and for Hauseman he decided the best place for him to continue his career was by staying in town and going to Jacksonville University.
“My dad went there, so that was a big impact, and the group of guys I met on my first visit just made me feel at home and fall in love with the campus,” Hauseman said.
Although the Dolphins are a smaller school they are a fearless program in many ways as they do not shy away from scheduling contest against national powers and have developed a strong lacrosse tradition over the years.
“They play Duke and all these other bug schools every year, and they are on the winning end in a lot of those games,” Hauseman said.
Family and friends filed into Vincenzo’s to be part of the signing ceremony, and that support will surely be with the student-athletes throughout their college careers as well.
