10/22/2007

Recruits Roll In for OSU

Columbus, Ohio – This season the Ohio State University Women’s ACHA Hockey Division I club team will look to defend their ’07 CCWHA Championship and better their No. 11 national ranking by adding nine new faces to their ranks.  Eight new freshmen and one transfer student will be adding much needed depth to the Ohio State squad after the departure of last year’s heralded senior class.   

Gone from last year’s CCWHA championship team is what’s widely considered to be Ohio State’s most talented class of players.  They included the virtual backbone of Ohio State’s blue line in Cathy Georgiadis, Ashley Busa, Marie Quicksall, and Emma Brownlee.  Georgiadis was Ohio State’s first ever ACHA 1^st Team All-American, a two-time ACHA Academic All-American, and the team’s career leader in points for a defensive player.  Equally important were Busa who was team president, three-time team captain, career leader in +/- ratio and blocked shots, and gritty Quicksall, All-CCWHA as a senior and two-time ACHA Academic All-American.  Brownlee too was vitally important to last year’s team as she played the most minutes of her career in the home stretch of the team’s run to the championship.  Brownlee brought great credit to the program as she, like both Georgiadis and Quicksall, was a two-time ACHA Academic All-American. 

Also gone to graduation are forwards Brittnee Barris, a two-time ACHA All-American and owner of virtually every OSU offensive record, and Natalie Kalasky, herself a two-time All-CCWHA performer.  Last year’s Captain Rachel Walters – a junior to-be and the team’s ’06-’07 offensive MVP – is also moved on per her transfer to the new NCAA D III hockey program at Adrian College. 

The rookie class looking to fill these big shoes starts with Cleveland area native Allison Mackerty.  “Allie Mack”, as her friends call her, was Ohio State’s first commitment to the ’07-’08 class, having verbally committed during the spring of ’07 during her junior of high school.  Mackerty comes to the Buckeyes with an extremely accredited hockey resume.  Her experience includes multiple years in the supremely tough Midwest Elite Hockey League with the AAA Ohio Flames.  Mackerty played U14, U16, and U19 goalie with the Flames.  Former Buckeye captain Iris Baker (ACHA ’04-’06) also played from the Flames.  Mackerty finished youth hockey with two years of boy’s play for her high school hockey team.  She started every game as a senior at Macedonia High in the hockey-rich Cleveland, OH area.  And like returning Buckeyes Marci Falappi, Stephanie Sepsi, and Brittany Parker, Mackerty is a veteran of the respected Chicago Showcase USA Hockey all-star event.  Recent successful Ohio State teams have been backboned by Chicago Showcase attendees and Mackerty continues in that tradition.

Goalie Allie Mackerty

Amazingly, Mackerty’s academic resume exceeds her athletic accomplishments.  At Macedonia High Mackerty did it all:  She was a writer and editor for the school newspaper for four years, attended the Kent State school of journalism through a special program at her school, was a member of the Academic Challenge Team, participated in “peer mediation” to help troubled teens, was a National Honor Society member, graduated with a 3.8 GPA, and participated in the Relay For Life cancer research fundraising program.  While attending Ohio State Mackerty will be receiving the Ohio State Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship and the Trustee Scholarship – two highly valuable and sought after academic financial assistance awards.

Mackerty’s parents are Dan and Lisa and she has three siblings in Danny (age 16), Emily (13), and Thomas (9).  Nordonia, Ohio is there home. 

 Following in the Chicago Showcase-to-Ohio State tradition this year will be forward BJ Cunningham (no relation to Head Coach Jeff Cunningham.)  Cunningham cut her teeth in girl’s youth hockey with the Columbus Sting.  The Sting was formed locally approximately four years ago as the area’s only girls hockey program.  Now a member of Columbus’ CCYHA youth hockey organization, the Sting has matured to a legitimate travel hockey U19 team.  “We’re super pleased that these local Sting players see enough in our Ohio State program that they’re choosing us for their college athletic careers” says Coach Cunningham.  “They all appear to be good kids; they’re improving us as a team as well as improving our ties to the local community.”

BJ, from the Columbus suburb of Hilliard, OH, comes to the Ohio State program with six years of upper level youth hockey experience.  She spent two years with CAHA Boys Peewee and four with the U19 Sting.  Cunningham also qualified for and participated in the Chicago Showcase, having played on the same team with returning Buckeye Brittany Parker.  Says Coach Cunningham, “BJ is relatively small in stature but she’s very fit and has a hockey build to her.  If she can stay healthy she should be able to contribute.”

While attending Hilliard Davidson high school Cunningham maintained a remarkable academic record.  She graduated with a 3.9 cumulative GPA and was an honor roll student all four years.  Additionally, Cunningham was a Science Olympiad participant, was Vice President of the German Club, and a Girl Scout for twelve years.  Cunningham will study Pharmacy at Ohio State. 

BJ Cunningham

Cunningham’s parents are Dawn and Jerry.  She has a brother, Chris, who is nineteen and currently studying Architecture at Ohio State in Columbus. 

The second new Buckeye from the Columbus Sting program is Mary Lou Ranney.  A productive player the past three years for the U19 Sting, Ranney comes to Ohio State with fewer years of experience than her freshmen peers.  And it’s that inexperience that in part excites Coach Cunningham.  “The kid’s like a blank canvas in many ways.  Her coaches with the Sting think she’s the player with the most untapped potential, that she really has tons of room to grow as a hockey player” says Cunningham.  “We’re anxious to get Mary Lou here, involve her in our systems and the Buckeye way of playing hockey, and to see what she can become as a player and what we, in turn, can become as a team along with her.”

 In addition to her on-ice interests, Ranney participated in soccer while at Marysville, having lettered two years.  She also made the boys junior varsity tennis team.

 Academically, in class of freshmen all of whom are very strong students, Ranney is superior.  As a student at local Marysville, OH high school, Ranney achieved a cumulative 4.15 GPA.  She graduated sixth of three hundred, forty-one and received multiple academic awards and notices.  Ranney will be an Ohio State Board of Regents Scholar and receive significant academic-based tuition assistance.   Of Ranney’s academic prowess Coach Cunningham says the following, “Ohio State has fielded nine ACHA Academic All Americans in the last two years – the most in the ACHA.  In addition to what she’ll add to our team socially and on the ice, we have high expectations for student athletes like Mary Lou to carry forward our program’s strong reputation in academic achievement.”  Ranney intends to major in Engineering.

 In her spare time, Ranney volunteers by tutoring second and third graders in the Marysville area.  Her parents are Debbie and Tom.  She has one older brother too, Chuck.

 Maybe the most diverse student athlete in this year’s class is Tessa McAnally, from Gibsonia, PA.  “This young woman is so, so impressive” says Coach Cunningham.  “The kid literally does it all.”  As a hockey player, McAnally’s stats the last two years with the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins travel hockey program borders on the unbelievable.  In just her senior year, McAnally registered forty-five goals and fifty-eight assists for one hundred, three points – this in just fifty-three games.  McAnally is a multi-faceted athlete too; great hockey stats are just part of the story.  Another of her athletic passions are the marital arts.  She holds two black belts, one in the Shotokan discipline and another in the Chito-Ryu discipline.  “She does all this stuff and still finds time to volunteer at Pittsburgh’s Library for the Blind” says Coach Cunningham.

Tessa McAnally during a break in play.

 McAnally is no less passionate about her academic pursuits.  Graduating with Honors from North Allegheny Senior High, McAnally registered a 3.8 cumulative GPA.  She won special distinction in this year’s Special Engineering contests, which pits top high school students from Ohio and Pennsylvania against one another in a series of engineering related academic tests.  McAnally intends to study Aerospace Engineering and Nuclear Physics at Ohio State. 

 McAnally’s parents are Susan and David.  She has three older sisters too.  Tabitha was equestrian team captain while at the University of Delaware, Tanya played varsity field hockey at Kent State, and sister Tiffany is an actress who specializes in the horror movie genre.

 Joining McAnally this fall is Amanda Robinson, a speedy defenseman from Centerville, Ohio.  A quick-footed and athletic skater, Robinson comes to Ohio State with nine years of youth hockey experience.  Robinson started her career within the Dayton Bombers youth organization, playing both Squirt and Peewee on boy’s teams.  She graduated from there to the rosters of the U19 Cincinnati Cyclones and the U19 Nashville Southern Flyers.  Of note:  returning Buckeye senior defenseman Taylor Davidson was a Cyclone.  Robinson’s U19 Nashville Southern Flyers were winners this past year of their division of the prestigious Connecticut Polar Bear Tournament.  Returning Buckeye sophomore defenseman Traci Artist and her Prince William, VA Panthers won the same Polar Bear division in ’06.  Robinson had seven goals and 6 assists for the Southern Flyers last season.  She also competed in the USA Hockey MidAm district camps for U16’s and U19’s.

Amanda Robinson

 Of Robinson, Coach Cunningham says the following, “We’re hoping Amanda is going to be another recruiting ‘sleeper’ for which our program is becoming known.  Kids like last year’s captain Rachel Walters and ’07 CCWHA MVP Hannah White.  Those two were not sought-after recruits by NCAA or ACHA teams coming out of high school and yet each has gone on to have stellar Ohio State careers.  All it takes is a committed player, someone with untapped athletic talent and a real motivation to work hard.  Robinson could be that type of player.”

 While attending Centerville High, Robinson was a member of the Octagon community service club, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and worked as an ice guard at the local Kettering Recreational Center.  Robinson plans to study Exercise Science and German while at Ohio State.  Robinson’s parents are Barb and Larry.

 The other southwestern Ohio native to join the Buckeyes this fall is Abby McAtee.  Like Robinson, McAtee played U19 girls with Cincinnati Cyclones last year.  Prior to that she played boys high school hockey Kettering Alder High and boys club at Bell Brock prior to that.  “Abby has a good base, in terms of the basic fundamentals” says Cunningham.  “She can skate with speed and start and stop.  And she really wants to be a good player, which is most important of all.  She’ll work for it and stick with it.  Abby needs time to learn the college game but when she does, she’s going to be a solid contributor.” 

 McAtee was an honor roll student at Kettering Alder, having experienced fantastic successes in BPA and DECA statewide business marketing competitions; she was in fact named Jr. Marketing Student of the Year.  McAtee will follow up that experience by pursuing a business degree at Ohio State.  Besides hockey and academic activities, McAtee played four years of varsity soccer and participated in the Rebuilding Dayton community enhancement program.  The McAtee family is also activity in their community church, Peace Lutheran located in the Riverside, OH area.

 McAtee’s parents are Diane and Randy McAtee.  She has one older brother, Josh.

Abby McAtee

 Bolstering Ohio State’s blue line will be freshman defenseman Meredith Motz from Concord, NH.  Motz went un-recruited by Ohio State’s coaching staff and made the team via open tryout.  “We’re thrilled to have Meredith with us” says Coach Cunningham.  “She provides much needed depth at a position we were lacking.  And she can play…. She’s going to help the squad.  Meredith is an athletic kid who, I believe, has big-time upside.  Her academics are terrific too.”  Concord spent her youth hockey days with her Concord high school boy’s team and the U19 Seacoast Lightening, based out of New Hampshire.  With Meredith’s help the Lightening won the USA Hockey national bound New Hampshire states and the Bay States regionals both her junior and senior years.  Says Cunningham, “Meredith comes from a background of winning – we look forward to greater infusion of that attitude in our locker room.”

Meredith Motz

 In addition to hockey Motz is an accomplished equestrian athlete.  She rides show horses competitively and participates within the USEA’s (United States Eventing Association) highest levels.  Motz will ride competitively at Ohio State, too. 

 Academically Motz was a leader at Concord High.  She earned a 3.7 GPA and was the recipient of several academic awards, including the Silver Key State of New Hampshire art award.  Motz will study Zoology and Bio Chemistry at Ohio State.  Motz’s family includes mother Vicki and father Victor, who himself holds a graduate degree for Ohio State.

 The last member of this year’s new crop of Buckeyes might be it's most sought after.  It was over two years ago that Coach David Girard, head women’s hockey coach at Culver Military Academy, mentioned Amanda Keeton’s name to the Ohio State Club coaching staff.  Keeton was, at the time, a remarkable young senior at LaPorte High School in LaPorte, IN.  Keeton’s academic record was near tops in her large high school (3.9 GPA, National Honor Society.)  Her hockey career was just beginning to bud, too.  Culver had attempted to recruit Keeton to their program and while unsuccessful, Keeton left a lasting enough impression to warrant recommendation from Girard. 

 Ohio State too would initially be unsuccessful in luring Keeton to its school and hockey program.  Keeton ended up choosing Indiana’s Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology as her first college choice.  Says Cunningham, “Amanda’s academics out of high school were just so superior….   and Rose Hulman is just a terrifically accredited engineering school.  While I was sure Ohio State would serve her well, I guess I couldn’t blame Amanda for choosing Rose, either.”  Luckily for Ohio State – and unfortunately for Rose Hulman – Amanda soon found herself longing for the ice, for hockey, and for an opportunity that might soon be missed.  After finishing her freshman year, Amanda transferred this fall to Ohio State. 

Amanda Keeton in Action

 Keeton played mostly boys hockey through the youth systems in and around South Bend, IN.  As a hearing impaired athlete, Keeton competed with the AHIHA (American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association) winning the association’s Nicholas Wehrling Award for Courage, Desire, and Character her junior year and the South Bend Tribune’s Blue Ribbon Award her senior year.  During her one year at Rose Hulman Keeton played competitive adult women’s hockey with the Circle City Sirens of Indianapolis. 

Academically, Keeton was an active member of the French club in high school.  She tutored younger students in Math in her spare time and volunteered at a local autism camp each summer.  Keeton began her college studies at Rose Hulman in biomedical engineering.  She may continue with engineering here at Ohio State too and if she does, she’ll have ready-made study partners in junior Marci Falappi and freshman Tessa McAnally. 

Keeton’s parents are Joe and Maria Keeton.  She has one older sister, Rebekah.

 The Buckeyes began the ’07-’08 season impressively at last weekend’s Great Lakes Women’s College Showcase, going 2-2 for the weekend and advancing to the championship game.  Ohio State opened the weekend Friday night with a  4-2 win over long-time Big Ten rival and ’06-’07 national tournament qualifier Penn State University.  Saturday’s first game  was also a Buckeye victory, 9-2, over new ACHA and CCWHA member Grand Valley State.  Ohio State’s first loss of the young season came at the hands of preenial powerhouse Michigan State, 0-6.  Sunday’s championship game called for a rematch between the Buckeyes and Michigan State; the Spartans were again victorious over the Buckeyes but this time in much more evenly  matched game, with the final outcome registering 1-2.