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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
JMU Lacrosse Signs Nine Future Dukes on National Signing Day
11/8/2023 9:00:00 AM | Lacrosse
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Lacrosse has signed nine incoming student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to complete the class of 2028, as announced by Head Coach Shelley Klaes on Wednesday.
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The class consists of three attackers, three midfielders, two defenders, and a goalie. JMU signed athletes from three regions including the Mid-Atlantic (Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania), New England (Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts) and South (Virginia).
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Many members of this class are multi-sport athletes at their respective high schools, partaking in sports such as basketball, cross country, field hockey, indoor track, soccer, and swimming.
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The incoming Dukes will enroll at JMU during the fall of 2024 and begin play in the 2025 season.Â
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"This group is loaded with championship experience in multiple sports," Klaes said. "They have what it takes to make an immediate impact in an elite program and to help us maintain our 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."
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Introducing this year's JMU lacrosse signing class:
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Maya Antonakas | Midfielder | 5-7 | Parkton, Md. | Hereford High School
Klaes on Antonakas:Â "Maya is a work horse and the consummate team player. A versatile athlete and selfless teammate, Maya is relied upon to be consistent performer on game day. Maya expects to compete for champions and will add to our team culture immediately."
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Abigail Beattie | Goalkeeper | 5-8 | Warrenton, Va. | Kettle Run High School
Klaes on Beattie:Â "Abigail is the complete package as a goalie. She is athletic, technically and tactically sound, and a vocal leader. Abigail thrives in the pressure stations. We expect her to elevate the competitive play between the pipes here at JMU."
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Chloe Bleckley | Midfielder | 5-5 | Newtown Square, Pa. | Archbishop John Carroll
Klaes on Bleckley:Â "Chloe is the ultimate competitor. She is strong, explosive, and has great hands. Chloe will help us maintain our family feel, following her sister, Ava Bleckley, to JMU. Enroute to Madison, she is on a mission to lead her high school to its fourth state championship while also representing team USA U-16."
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Reese Cuviello | Defender | 5-8 | Fairfax, Va. | Woodson High School
Klaes on Cuviello: "Reese is a smart defender. Her IQ and athleticism make competing look effortless. She is known for her ability to get the ball back and quickly transition it to the attack. We look forwarding to having Reese make an immediate impact as a match up defender and leader in our D-unit."
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Harlowe Healey | Attacker | 5-7 | Beverly Farms, Mass. | Deerfield Academy
Klaes on Healey:Â "A multi-sport athlete, Harlowe loves competing with and for her teammates. Her speed, grit, and will-to-win make her a perfect fit for JMU. When she focuses on lacrosse at the Division I level, she will keep getting better and enhance our competitive cauldron."
Ava Main | Midfield | 5-7 | Long Beach, N.Y. | Long Beach High School
Klaes on Main:Â "Ava is a tireless middie, who makes impact plays in all aspects of the game. Being threat on offense and defense and having a quick change of focus, Ava will make our midfield unit potent on game day. A multi-sport athlete, Ava brings diverse competitive experiences including leading the Swedish National Team to a medal."
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Olivia Matthews | Attacker | 5-3 | Bedford, N.H. | Bedford High School
Klaes on Matthews:Â "Olivia is the heart and soul of her team. She is a leader and champion at the high school level. Her work rate and passion will push us to make every day our game day. We are excited to have a natural leader join this class."
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Olivia Ritter | Defender | 5-7 | Mechanicsville, Va. | Atlee High School
Klaes on Ritter:Â "Olivia has a ton of upside as a competitor. A multisport athlete, she has a physical presence and plays with emotion. The more she is challenged the more she rises to the challenge. We look forward to seeing her develop into an elite athlete here at JMU."
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Payton Root | Attacker | 5-7 | Guilford, Conn. | Guilford High School
Klaes on Root:Â "Payton can put the ball in the back of net. She is also relied upon to feed. Payton will add to our offensive chemistry having already competed and won high school championships with her former teammate and current JMU sophomore, Maddie Epke."
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JMU Lacrosse Signing Class
Name              Pos.    Ht.      Hometown/High School
Maya Antonakas       M     5-7    Parkton, Md./Hereford
Abigail Beattie        GK    5-8    Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run
Chloe Bleckley        M     5-5      Newtown Square, Pa./Archbishop John Carroll
Reese Cuviello        D       5-8      Fairfax, Va./Woodson
Harlowe Healey         A     5-7       Beverly Farms, Mass./Deerfield Academy
Ava Main             M       5-7      Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach
Olivia Matthews        A       5-3      Bedford, N.H./Bedford
Olivia Ritter           D     5-7      Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee
Payton Root          A        5-7      Guilford, Conn./Guilford
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The class consists of three attackers, three midfielders, two defenders, and a goalie. JMU signed athletes from three regions including the Mid-Atlantic (Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania), New England (Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts) and South (Virginia).
Â
Many members of this class are multi-sport athletes at their respective high schools, partaking in sports such as basketball, cross country, field hockey, indoor track, soccer, and swimming.
Â
The incoming Dukes will enroll at JMU during the fall of 2024 and begin play in the 2025 season.Â
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"This group is loaded with championship experience in multiple sports," Klaes said. "They have what it takes to make an immediate impact in an elite program and to help us maintain our 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."
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Introducing this year's JMU lacrosse signing class:
Â
Maya Antonakas | Midfielder | 5-7 | Parkton, Md. | Hereford High School
- 2021 Under Armour All-American Championship TeamÂ
- 2022 & 2021 Lacrosse State Finalist and 2023 Lacrosse State Semi-Finalist
- 2022 & 2023 All-County Honors Lacrosse
- Three sport athlete – lacrosse, indoor track, soccer
- Indoor Track State Champion and 2021 Soccer State Finalist & 2022 Soccer Semi-Finalist
- National Honor Society & Math Honor Society
- Earned #4 ranking from US Club Lacrosse with a 21-9-4 overall record for SkyWalkers Blue 2024
Klaes on Antonakas:Â "Maya is a work horse and the consummate team player. A versatile athlete and selfless teammate, Maya is relied upon to be consistent performer on game day. Maya expects to compete for champions and will add to our team culture immediately."
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Abigail Beattie | Goalkeeper | 5-8 | Warrenton, Va. | Kettle Run High School
- 2023 New Balance All-American All-Tournament TeamÂ
- 2023 Baltimore All-American Team, 2022 FCA National High School Team, 2022 & 2021 D.C./VA American Select Team
- Led Kettle Run to back-to-back state tournament appearances in lacrosse
- VHSL Region 4B Lacrosse Player of the Year and Three-time VHSL Region 4B First Team Goalie (2021-2023)
- Three sport athlete – lacrosse, swimming, field hockey
- National Honor Society & Academic Honor Roll
- Earned #15 ranking from US Club Lacrosse with a 18-10-3 overall record for Capital Blue 2024
Klaes on Beattie:Â "Abigail is the complete package as a goalie. She is athletic, technically and tactically sound, and a vocal leader. Abigail thrives in the pressure stations. We expect her to elevate the competitive play between the pipes here at JMU."
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Chloe Bleckley | Midfielder | 5-5 | Newtown Square, Pa. | Archbishop John Carroll
- 2023 High School Lacrosse All-American
- Three-time PIAA 2A Lacrosse State Champion (2021-2023) and PCL Lacrosse Champion (2021-2023)
- 2023 All-Catholic Lacrosse First Team who scored 100 goals this season
- USA U-16Â Â
- Three sport athlete – lacrosse, basketball, soccer
- Academic Honor Roll
- Earned #35 ranking from US Club Lacrosse with a 11-11-4 overall record for Phantastix Purple 2024
Klaes on Bleckley:Â "Chloe is the ultimate competitor. She is strong, explosive, and has great hands. Chloe will help us maintain our family feel, following her sister, Ava Bleckley, to JMU. Enroute to Madison, she is on a mission to lead her high school to its fourth state championship while also representing team USA U-16."
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Reese Cuviello | Defender | 5-8 | Fairfax, Va. | Woodson High School
- 2023 USA Lacrosse All-American
- 2022 & 2021 American Select Virginia-DC Team and 2022 Under Armour 150Â
- 2023 & 2022 All-District, All-State, and Region First Team Honors Lacrosse
- Two sport athlete – lacrosse and field hockey
- 2023 Patriot District First Team Field HockeyÂ
- Academic Honor Roll & Scholar Athlete
- Earned #15 ranking from US Club Lacrosse with a 18-10-3 overall record for Capital Blue 2024
Klaes on Cuviello: "Reese is a smart defender. Her IQ and athleticism make competing look effortless. She is known for her ability to get the ball back and quickly transition it to the attack. We look forwarding to having Reese make an immediate impact as a match up defender and leader in our D-unit."
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Harlowe Healey | Attacker | 5-7 | Beverly Farms, Mass. | Deerfield Academy
- 2023 Under Armour Lacrosse All-AmericanÂ
- 2023 High School All-American and All-Nepsac Honors Lacrosse
- 2023 American Select National Team
- USA U-16 and U-18 Combine
- Three sport athlete - lacrosse, soccer, basketball
- Earned #25 ranking from US Club Lacrosse with a 15-9-2 overall record for Mass Elite Red 2024
Klaes on Healey:Â "A multi-sport athlete, Harlowe loves competing with and for her teammates. Her speed, grit, and will-to-win make her a perfect fit for JMU. When she focuses on lacrosse at the Division I level, she will keep getting better and enhance our competitive cauldron."
Ava Main | Midfield | 5-7 | Long Beach, N.Y. | Long Beach High School
- 2023 USA Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-AmericanÂ
- 2023 All-Tournament Second Team American Select and 2023 & 2022 All Long Island GamesÂ
- 2023 & 2023 All-County Honors Lacrosse
- 2023 Bronze medalist Sweden U-21 also named to the All-European Team
- Four sport athlete – lacrosse, basketball, winter track, cross country
- National Honor Society, Scholar Athlete & Academic Honor Roll
- Earned #26 ranking from US Club Lacrosse with a 10-2-3 overall record for Long Island Yellow Jackets Kildare 2024
Klaes on Main:Â "Ava is a tireless middie, who makes impact plays in all aspects of the game. Being threat on offense and defense and having a quick change of focus, Ava will make our midfield unit potent on game day. A multi-sport athlete, Ava brings diverse competitive experiences including leading the Swedish National Team to a medal."
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Olivia Matthews | Attacker | 5-3 | Bedford, N.H. | Bedford High School
- 2023 USA Lacrosse All-AmericanÂ
- 2022 Under Armour Team New England Highlight, 2022 UA 150, and 2021 Massachusetts American Select TeamÂ
- 2023 Division 1 State Champion
- 2021-2023 All-State Division 1 Honors who scored 100 goals in the 2023 season
- 2023 High School Team MVP and 2024 Captain in lacrosse
- Academic Honor Roll
- Earned #64 ranking from US Club Lacrosse with a 14-13-5 overall record for NH Tomahawks Purple 2024
Klaes on Matthews:Â "Olivia is the heart and soul of her team. She is a leader and champion at the high school level. Her work rate and passion will push us to make every day our game day. We are excited to have a natural leader join this class."
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Olivia Ritter | Defender | 5-7 | Mechanicsville, Va. | Atlee High School
- 2023 High School Lacrosse All-American
- 2023 & 2022 All-State and All-Metro Honors Lacrosse
- 2021-2023 All-Region Honors Lacrosse
- Two sport varsity athlete - lacrosse and field hockey
- 2023 All-State and All-Region Honors Field Hockey
- Earned #49 ranking from US Club Lacrosse with a 17-13-1 overall record for Long Island Yellow Jackets South 2024
Klaes on Ritter:Â "Olivia has a ton of upside as a competitor. A multisport athlete, she has a physical presence and plays with emotion. The more she is challenged the more she rises to the challenge. We look forward to seeing her develop into an elite athlete here at JMU."
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Payton Root | Attacker | 5-7 | Guilford, Conn. | Guilford High School
- 2021-2023 State Class M Lacrosse Title and 2022 & 2021 SCC Conference Title
- 2021-2023 All-State and All-SCC Conference Honors Lacrosse
- 2023 GameTime CT All-Area Honors Lacrosse
- Led high school team in scoring three consecutive seasons (2021-2023) and holds the GHS single season scoring record
- Two sport athlete - lacrosse and field hockey
- 2022 Class M Field Hockey State Champion
- Earned #17 ranking from US Club Lacrosse with a 12-9-3 overall record for Prime Time 2024
Klaes on Root:Â "Payton can put the ball in the back of net. She is also relied upon to feed. Payton will add to our offensive chemistry having already competed and won high school championships with her former teammate and current JMU sophomore, Maddie Epke."
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JMU Lacrosse Signing Class
Name              Pos.    Ht.      Hometown/High School
Maya Antonakas       M     5-7    Parkton, Md./Hereford
Abigail Beattie        GK    5-8    Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run
Chloe Bleckley        M     5-5      Newtown Square, Pa./Archbishop John Carroll
Reese Cuviello        D       5-8      Fairfax, Va./Woodson
Harlowe Healey         A     5-7       Beverly Farms, Mass./Deerfield Academy
Ava Main             M       5-7      Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach
Olivia Matthews        A       5-3      Bedford, N.H./Bedford
Olivia Ritter           D     5-7      Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee
Payton Root          A        5-7      Guilford, Conn./Guilford
Players Mentioned
Defender
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