Sixteen-Member Men’s Lacrosse Group Touted Among Nation’s Best; Practice Starts Monday
Colgate head coach Mike Murphy calls his Class of 2020 recruiting haul the best in program history.
It’s certainly the most decorated in Murphy’s five-year Colgate tenure, and that’s saying something since the Raiders under Murphy consistently have been among the Patriot League’s elite.
“It’s a very talented group of student-athletes joining us here at Colgate,” Murphy said. “Eleven of the 16 were either Academic All-Americans or U.S. Lacrosse All-Americans for their play on the field or in the classroom.
“Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe it’s the most decorated class Colgate’s ever had.”
Inside Lacrosse handed Colgate the No. 19 position in its annual rating of top recruiting classes, with two Raider student-athletes selected among the top 100 individually. Attack specialist Nicky Petkevich arrives as a top-25 prospect, while midfielder Griffin Brown was among the publication’s top 100 recruits.
Murphy and his staff signed 16 members for the Class of 2020. Murphy believes this group provides the perfect blend of teamwork, skill and dedication that have carried the Raiders to previous Patriot League and NCAA postseason success.
“Some of these guys have been committed to us going on two or three years,” Murphy said. “I just credit the coaching staff. Coach Mike Abbott has been with me since we started and Coach Jud Hall took over a year ago and really bolstered this class.
“We get on them early and it’s been very much a labor of love to watch these guys grow and succeed. We’re looking forward to seeing what they can do in the Maroon and White.”
Recruiting Footprint Coast to Coast
Eleven states are represented in the class, with three from New Jersey and two each from New York, North Carolina and Virginia. There are single representatives from California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota and Oregon.
“This class is very much a national class, with 11 states represented,” Murphy said. “That just shows you that Colgate is a nationally recognized institution of higher learning, and we’re following the same path as our recruiting footprint goes coast to coast.”
The Raiders produced Patriot League regular season titles in 2012 and 2015 under Murphy, and also took home the tournament championship and ultimate hardware in 2015. Colgate has earned two NCAA tournament bids with Murphy on the sideline, including an at-large selection in 2012.
They used that ticket to upset top-seeded Massachusetts and advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
Colgate has been participating in skill sessions since classes began Aug. 25, but actual fall practice gets underway Monday.
“It’s an exciting time for any freshman,” Murphy said. “You’re experiencing new things as a college student and as a student-athlete. They’ve been a great group. They come from great families and they are really excited to get their careers started here at Colgate.”
On tap for the Raiders again this fall is the Fourth Annual “Faceoff for a Cause” benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project. RPI is this year’s host Oct. 9, with Colgate set for a pair of exhibition games. The Raiders wraps their fall slate Oct. 23 with the Maroon & White Game.
Parker Baddley
5-11, 180
Before Colgate: Attended Battlefield High School…Tallied 20 goals, 11 assists, 128 groundballs and 81 caused turnovers during his senior season…Served as captain of the squad during his final season…Totaled 40 goals, 31 assists, 311 groundballs and 223 caused turnovers over the course of his career at Battlefield…Helped his team win three Cedar Run Conference Championships (2013, 2015, 2016)…Member of the 2013 6A South Regional Champion team…Earned Second Team All-Conference honors in 2014 and First Team honors in 2015 and 2016…Named Cedar Run Conference Player of the Year in his senior season…Took home First Team All-Region accolades in 2016 and earned honorable mention All-Region in 2015…Named First Team All-State and US Lacrosse All-American in his senior season…Earned a spot on the Under Armor Underclass Team in Washington, D.C. in 2015…Named honorable mention by The Washington Post All-Met in his junior and senior seasons…Earned Team MVP in his senior season…Took home the Frederick L. Potter Scholarship in his final campaign…Also lettered in football.
Personal: Full name is Parker Howard Baddley…Parents are Brian and Kathleen Baddley of Haymarket, Va….Has one sister…Born in Fairfax, Va.
Cooper Belanger
Attack
5-10, 170
Before Colgate: Attended Detroit Country Day School…Notched 59 goals, 42 assists, and 73 groundballs during his senior campaign…Served as captain of the team during his senior year…Helped his team become State Champions in the 2014 season…Recorded 168 goals and 149 assists throughout his career…During his sophomore season, he was named Second Team All-State and All-Midwest honorable mention…Earned First Team All-State accolades, First Team All-Midwest honors, and was named a US Lacrosse All-American during his junior and senior seasons…Holds the school record for most points in a season with 103 and with most points all-time with 317…Also lettered in soccer…Was a member of the Fine Arts Conservatory.
Personal: Full name is Cooper James Belanger…Parents are Richard and Kathleen Belanger of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.…Has one brother and one sister…Born in Southfield, Mich.
Griffin Brown
Midfield
6-0, 170
Before Colgate: Attended the Landon School…Tallied 41 goals and 23 assists during his senior campaign…Served as captain of the squad in his senior season…Totaled 69 goals and 36 assists over the course of his career at Landon…Helped his team win the IAC Championship during his junior year…Member of team ranked second in the nation by USA Today…Ranked by Inside Lacrosse as a Top 100 recruit … Named First Team All-IAC…Earned First Team All-Met honors…Took home the US LacrosseBob Scott Award…Finalist for the Kelly Award…Named Team MVP…Member of Chinese Club and was an Ivymount Volunteer…Also lettered in football and wrestling.
Personal: Full name is Griffin Darius Brown…Parents are Darius and Stephanie Brown of McLean, Va….Has three sisters and one brother…Born in Fairfax, Va.
Holden Catlett
Midfield
5-10, 170
Before Colgate: Attended Lakeridge High School…Served as captain of the squad during his junior and senior seasons…Tallied 53 goals and 30 assists during his senior campaign…Totaled 128 goals and 66 assists over his tenure at Lakeridge…Helped his team capture three consecutive Oregon Lacrosse State Championships…Earned OHSLA First Team All-State accolades in his sophomore year…Named First Team All-American in 2015 and 2016…Also lettered in football.
Personal: Full name is Holden LaRue Catlett…Parents are Benjamin and Pamela Catlett of Lake Oswego, Ore….Has one brother…Born in Pasadena, Calif.
Gareth Cunniff
Defense
6-4, 210
Before Colgate: Attended The Lawrenceville School…Two-year starter, including at close defense as senior…Helped Big Red to New Jersey Prep “A” state championship…Also member of Lawrenceville squad that won state championship and MAPL title during sophomore season…Twice played in semifinal of INTERAC Challenge (Philadelphia-area schools)…Also lettered in football…Member of First Tee of Greater Trenton.
Personal: Full name is Gareth Jackson Wehle Cunniff…Parents are Jonathan and Hilary Cunniff…Relatives who attended Colgate include Richard T. Cunniff (grandfather), Jonathan Wehle (father), Jeanne Foussard (aunt), Dan Foussard (cousin, played rugby) and Claire Foussard…Born in New York City.
John Donohue
Defense
6-4, 220
Before Colgate: Attended Charlotte Country Day School…Tallied 66 groundballs, caused 52 loose balls, scored three goals and tacked on four assists during his senior season…Served as captain of the team during his junior and senior years…Collected 325 groundballs, caused 201 loose balls, scored 10 goals and added 11 assists throughout his career…Earned the title of US Lacrosse All-American in his junior and senior seasons…Took home All-State accolades in junior and senior seasons as well…Three-time All-Conference NCISAA selection…Earned the title of co-MVP in his junior and senior seasons…Also lettered in football…Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters and USO Military Appreciation Club.
Personal: Full name is John Robert Donohue…Parents are Paul and Carolyn Donohue of Charlotte, N.C….Has one brother and one sister…Born in Greenwich,Conn.
Malcolm Feeney
5-11, 185
Before Colgate: Attended Summit High School…Had a .670 faceoff percentage during his senior season…Helped his team become Group 2 State Champions in his junior year…During his senior season, he helped his team win the Fitch-Pitt Division…Earned First Team All-State honors…Took home Second Team All-Fitch-Pitt accolades…Was selected to participate in the Gill Gibbs All-Star Game…Also lettered in soccer…Was a member of Quintessence Literary Magazine and Key Club.
Personal: Full name is Malcolm McElligot Feeney…Parents are Peter and Kathleen Feeney of Summit, N.J….Has one brother…Born in South Orange, N.J.
Josh Karp
Defense
6-0, 195
Before Colgate: Attended Newark Academy…Served as team captain during his senior campaign…Notched seven goals, 11 assists, and 119 groundballs throughout his career…Earned First Team All-Essex County honors…Named First Team All-Kimber Conference…Member of National Honor Society, Jewish Club, Cancer Awareness Club, and was president of the Ski Club…Also lettered in football and soccer…Helped his soccer team win the2015 NJ Non-Public B Soccer State Championship.
Personal: Full name is Joshua Henry Karp…Parents are Scott and Marlo Karp of Towaco, N.J….Has one sister…Born in Livingston, N.J.
Lewis Langford
Midfield
5-10, 170
Before Colgate: Attended the Maclay School…Notched 28 goals, 11 assists and 20 groundballs during his senior campaign…Served as team captain in the 2016 season…Totaled 83 goals, 52 assists and 140 groundballs throughout his tenure at Maclay…Named Second Team All-Big Bend after his freshman season…Three-time First Team All-Big Bend selection…Took home Under Armor South Underclass All-American honors in 2015…Earned US Lacrosse Academic All-American accolades in his senior season…Held the highest GPA on his team during the 2016 season and earned the Hustle, Effort, Attitude and Determination Award in the 2015 season…Member of National Honor Society, Cum Laude, Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish Honor Society and Red Cross Club…Also lettered in soccer.
Personal: Full name is Daniel Lewis Langford…Parents are Rob and Jennifer Langford…Has one brother and one sister…Born and raised in Tallahassee, Fla.
Matt Lupinacci
Midfield
6-1, 170
Before Colgate: Attended John Jay High School…Notched 34 goals, 28 assists and 52 groundballs during his senior season…Served as team captain during his senior campaign…Totaled 98 goals and 79 assists over the course of his career…Earned U.S. Lacrosse All-American status in 2016…Named All-Section and All-League in his junior and senior years…Member of National Honor Society…Also lettered in football.
Personal: Full name is Matthew Lawrence Lupinacci…Parents are Ernest and Liz Lupinacci of Cross River, N.Y….Has one brother…Born in Mount Kisco, N.Y.
Brendon Luu
5-10, 205
Before Colgate: Attended Chaminade High School…During his senior season, he recorded a .740 faceoff percentage…Helped lead his team to a CHSAAA Championship in 2015…Won 274 of 374 faceoffs over the course of his career…Earned CHSAAA All-League honors during his junior season…Was named a Under Armor underclassmen All-American…Chosen as the 2015 CHSAAA Championship MVP…Member of National Honor Society.
Personal: Full name is Brendon Van Luu…Parents are Van Luu and Hoa Luu of Bay Shore, N.Y….Has two brothers…Born in West Islip, N.Y.
John Marple
Midfield
6-0, 180
Before Colgate: Attended Edina High School…Tallied 38 points on 31 goals and seven assists during his senior campaign…Served as captain of the squad during both his junior and senior years…Totaled 84 goals and 21 assists over the course of his career…Earned three All-Conference nods as well as two First Team All-Section selections…Named Second Team All-State…Took home All-Metro Team accolades during his career…Named an Academic All-American and an Adrenaline All-America…Was nominated for Mr. Lacrosse…Earned Offensive MVP…Was an Edina Scholar and an Edina Scholar Athlete.
Personal: Full name is John Sutherland Marple…Parents are David and Janet Marple of Edina, Minn….Has one brother…Mother, Janet, graduated from Colgate in 1989…Father, David, graduated from Colgate in 1988…Born in New York City.
Nicky Petkevich
Attack
5-9, 190
Before Colgate: Attended Bullis School…Served as captain in his final season…Notched 62 goals and 24 assists in his senior season…Tallied 137 goals and 59 assists over the course of his career…Helped lead his team to a 2016 IAC LacrosseChampionship…In his senior season, he was named Under Armor All-American, USLacrosse All-American, All-IAC, and All-Met First Team…Ranked by Inside Lacrosseas a Top 25 recruit … He earned the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Award and the Ensign. C. Markland Kelly Award for Private School South…Named Epoch/LacrosseMagazine National Player of the Week (April 20/May 25) and Epoch/LacrosseMagazine Mid-Atlantic Player of the Week (April 20/May 25)…In his junior season, he earned All-IAC, All-Gazette Second Team, and All-Met Honorable Mention…Also lettered in soccer.
Personal: Full name is Nicholas Silby Petkevich…Parents are John Misa Petkevich and Elisabeth Petkevich of Bethesda, Md….Has one brother and one sister…Born in San Francisco, Calif.
Jack Pierrepont
Goalie
5-11, 160
Before Colgate: Attended The Thacher School … Two-year captain … Named U.S. Lacrosse All-American in 2015-16 after posting 72 percent save percentage … Career save percentage of 78 percent … Three-time team MVP … Also lettered incross country and soccer … Helped cross country squad to state finals … Member of Cheese Club, Environmental Action Committee, Head Prefect of Junior and Senior Boys, Head Tour Guide.
Personal: Full name is Jack Rainer Pierrepont … Parents are Jay and Lisa Pierrepont … Has one sister. Born in San Francisco.
Nick Piselli
Defense
6-1, 205
Before Colgate: Attended Community School of Davidson…Served as captain of the squad for all four years of high school…Earned U.S. Lacrosse All-American honors, the only athlete at the Community School of Davidson to ever earn All-American status…Named All-State twice in his career…Took home three All-Region accolades…Earned four All-Conference nods during his high school career…Was a member of National Honor Society, Wounded Warriors Project Club, and Hueys Helpers Service Club…Also lettered in football.
Personal: Full name is Nicholas Harris Piselli…Parents are Rich and Terri Piselli…Has one brother…Born in Cornelius, N.C.
Jesse Rosenblatt
Attack
6-0, 175
High School: Attended Dawson School…Tallied 93 points during his senior campaign, coming from 57 goals and 36 assists…Served as captain of the squad during his junior and senior seasons…Totaled 133 goals and 76 assists over the course of his career at Dawson…Helped his team to the 2016 4A State Championship game, where they finished as Runner-ups…Three-time All-Conference selection…Earned All-Region and All-State honors during his junior and senior seasons…Named an Academic All-American in his senior year…Member of the Speech and Debate team…Also lettered in soccer.
Personal: Full name is Jesse Myles Rosenblatt…Parents are Mark Rosenblatt and Alice Messinger of Boulder, Colo….Has one brother and one sister…Born in Philadelphia.