Ten Lacrosse Student-Athletes Sign With JMU on National Signing Day

Ten Lacrosse Student-Athletes Sign With JMU on National Signing Day

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The James Madison lacrosse program has signed 10 incoming student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, as announced by Head Coach Shelley Klaes on Wednesday.

This year's class hails from seven different states, with three from New York, two from Virginia and one each from Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

JMU adds seven midfielders, one attacker, one defender, and one goalie on National Signing Day.

Many of today's signees are multi-sport athletes at their respective high schools, playing sports such as basketball, soccer, field hockey and ice hockey.

The incoming Dukes will enroll at JMU during the fall of 2023 and begin play in the 2024 season.

"This group is loaded with championship experience in multiple sports," Klaes said. "They possess the knowledge of what it takes to build a program to that level and sustain that championship mentality. They are true competitors and are passionate about the sport of lacrosse. We are so excited to welcome them to our JMU lacrosse family."

Introducing this year's JMU lacrosse signing class:

Ava Bleckley | Midfielder | 5-6 | Newtown Square, Pa. | Archbishop Carroll

USA Select Women's U18 Team
2022 First Team All-PCL (Philadelphia Catholic League) and 2022 & 2021 All-Delco honors
2022 PIAA 2A High School Lacrosse Championship
Four-year varsity starter in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse
Academic Honor Roll
Plays on Phantastix Club Team ranked No. 23 nationally by US Lacrosse Club

Klaes on Bleckley: "Her contributions and experience with the national team are extraordinary. Ava is a total competitor capable of impacting the entire field and our program right out of the gate. She is fierce on ground balls and defense and has the ability to contribute goals as a two-way midfielder."

Kaitlyn Carney | Midfielder | 5-5 | Franklin, Mass. | Franklin High School

2022 USA Lacrosse High School All-American
2022 & 2021 Under Armour All American New England Team and 2021 New England American Select Team
2020 Lacrosse Magazine watch list
U15 USA Lacrosse Select Team as a freshman
National Honor Society & Honor Roll
Plays on Gold Star Club Team

Klaes on Carney: "Kaitlyn competes with raw emotion and intensity that we can harness into the JMU grit that we love. She has dynamic dodges and skills that we look forward to utilizing in our offense in the years to come."

Emily Evans | Goalkeeper | 5-8 | Skaneateles, N.Y. | Skaneateles High School

Under Armour All-America Senior watch list
2021 Under Armour All-America National Championship All-Tournament Team and All-North Super Regional Team Selection
NYSPHSAA 2021 State Champions, 2021 state finalists in ice hockey, Class B State Quarterfinalist in soccer, and Section III Class D 2021 champions and 2022 finalists in lacrosse
Earned three varsity letters in lacrosse, three in ice hockey, one in soccer
National Honor Society & High Honor Roll
Plays on Salt City Snipers Club Team ranked No. 28 nationally by US Lacrosse Club

Klaes on Evans: "Emily will be a great addition to our goalie unit. She is athletic, well-rounded and smart. Emily possesses great mobility with size and will fit right in to our defensive style of play as an 8th defender."

Paige Glantz| Midfielder | 5-4 | Rochester, N.Y. | Pittsford Mendon High School

Section V Class A State Champions in 2021 and finalist in 2022 in lacrosse
NYSPHSAA State Champion finalist in basketball
All-Greater Rochester and All-County as a sophomore and All-Rookie as a freshman
Four-year varsity starter for lacrosse and basketball and captain for basketball
Academic Honor Roll
Plays on Monsters Club Team ranked No. 9 nationally by US Lacrosse Club

Klaes on Glantz: "Paige is a smart, well-coached multi-sport athlete that brings a wealth of knowledge on zones and defensive systems along with championship experience. We love her work rate all over the field and think she will push our defensive unit to be stronger."

Lilly Kelley | Midfielder| 5-5 | Annapolis, Md. | Broadneck High School

2022 High School All-American and Academic All-American
2021 Under Armour All American Baltimore Team
4A Maryland State Champion in soccer and lacrosse
Received All-County honors each of the last two seasons and is a four-year starter in three sports (soccer, basketball, and lacrosse)
Academic Honor Roll
Plays on CCLax Club Team

Klaes on Kelley: "Lilly has it all as a student-athlete. Consistent and smart, Lilly is a leader on the field and brings championship experience in multiple sports; she possesses an overall IQ that can lend her to make an immediate impact on the Dukes."

Hannah Lewis | Midfielder | 5-10 | Bayville, N.J. | Central Regional High School

All-Division, All-County and All-Conference honors in lacrosse each of the last two years
Also ranked top five in the state in goals and top 10 in draw controls in 2022 and 2021
Four-year varsity soccer and lacrosse starter, a basketball team member, and recreational surfer
National Honors Society & High Honor Roll
Plays on Jersey Shore Select Club Team

Klaes on Lewis: "A crafty lefty that wants to score, Hannah uses her length to make big plays. She is passionate about the game and wants to compete at the highest level."

Emily Simkin | Attacker | 5-4 | Milton, Ga. | Milton

Under Armour All-American during all three of her high school seasons (2020-2022)
2022 Inside Lacrosse Committed Academy All-Tournament Team Selection
2022 First Team All-State
Won back-to-back Georgia State 7A State Championship titles in lacrosse; four-year varsity lacrosse team member
Academic Honor Roll
Plays on Eaglestix Club Team ranked No. 11 nationally by US Lacrosse Club

Klaes on Simkin: "Emily is a great connector on the offense, she has strong vision and communicates well. She possesses the composure, confidence and skill set we need behind the goal. We look forward to Emily bringing depth and options on the crease."

Madison Weybrecht | Defender | 5-4 | Bayport, N.Y. | Bayport-Blue Point

2023 American Select Watchlist and 2022 Long Island American Select Team
2022 LILJ Long Island First Team as well as All-County and All-Division Honors in 2022 and 2021
NYSPHSAA Class C State Champions in 2021 and County Champions last two seasons
A multi-sport athlete competing in soccer, track and field and lacrosse
National Honor Society & High Honor Roll
Plays on LI Legacy Club Team ranked No. 7 nationally by US Lacrosse Club

Klaes on Weybrecht: "Madison is the glue in Bayport's defense. She breaks up plays, covers for her teammates' mistakes and makes difficult reads look easy. We love the way Madison sees the game and she will transition well to playing college lacrosse."

Bridget Wilson | Midfielder | 5-6 | Richmond, Va. | Douglas Freeman High School

2022 US Lacrosse All-American, 2021 Under Armour All-American Watchlist selection; 2020-2022 Under Armour All-American DC Team
2022 VA Regional Player of the Year as well as First Team All-Metro and All-Region in both 2022 and 2021
VHSL Class 5 State Championships in 2022 and 2021 in lacrosse
A three-sport athlete (volleyball, basketball and lacrosse) who also enjoys recreational surfing
National Honors Society and High Honor Roll
Plays for Yellow Jackets South Club Team

Klaes on Wilson: "A work horse grinder, Bridget has developed into a solid midfield option. She has great vision and skill on offense and a solid base on defense along with the stamina to get up and down the field, bringing depth to the Dukes' midfield."

Aly Yee-Jenkins | Midfielder | 5-4 | Oakton, Va. | Oakton High School

2022 USA Lacrosse All-American and 2021 USA Lacrosse DC Region 1 Team
2022 Regional and District Player of the Year as well as All-Met, All-Regional and All-District honors
2020 & 2021 WPLL/AU Futures Regional Team
Four-year varsity starter and two-time captain in lacrosse who was also named team MVP last season
National Honor Society & Academic Honor Roll
Plays for VA Metro Club Team

Klaes on Yee-Jenkins: "Aly is a quick and tenacious athlete that is relentless on the field. She plays gritty with a blue-collar work ethic. Aly has great hands and smooth stickwork which helps her execute at a high level."

JMU Lacrosse Signing Class
Name Pos.     Ht.       Hometown/High School
Ava Bleckley                M         5-6       Newtown Square, Pa./Archbishop Carroll
Kaitlyn Carney             M         5-5       Franklin, Mass./Franklin
Emily Evans                 GK       5-8       Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles
Paige Glantz                M         5-4       Rochester, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon
Hannah Lewis             M         5-10     Bayville, N.J./Central Regional
Lilly Kelley                   M         5-5       Annapolis, Md./Broadneck
Emily Simkin                A          5-4       Milton, Ga./Milton
Madison Weybrecht   D          5-4       Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point
Bridget Wilson            M         5-6       Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman
Aly Yee-Jenkins          M         5-4       Oakton, Va./Oakton

Today's National Signing Day class represents the JMU class of 2027.

The Dukes are coming off a 14-5 finish to its 2022 season, which included an 11-game win streak. JMU won a tournament game for the second consecutive season and wrapped up ranked No. 12 in the country. JMU will begin its 2023 season at defending national champion North Carolina on Feb. 11.