Lynn’s Lacrosse Team Adds Players Ahead of 2015 Season

Head men’s lacrosse coach Brian Kingsbury was proud to announce the addition of 11 players for the 2015 season on Friday. He has brought in one attack, seven midfielders and three defensemen to help the Fighting Knights in the second season of their program’s history.

Sam Turner, the only attack added for 2015, comes to Lynn from Burnsville, Min. Turner played four years of varsity lacrosse at the Academy of Holy Angels where he was named the team’s Rookie of the Year his freshman season and team captain as a junior and senior. He has scored 32 goals with 16 assists to date in his high school career.

“Coming down from Minnesota to the Sunshine State, Sam [Turner] is a hard working team player who has exceptional leadership qualities,” said Kingsbury. “He is crafty around the cage who can feed and score.”

Jacob and Jordon VanLeenen, twin brothers from Warren, N.J., will wrap up their high school careers at Immaculata this spring. Jacob, a 5-foot-11 midfielder, has played two seasons of varsity lacrosse alongside his brother. He was named Top-80 in the Under Armour All-American tryouts and was a Georgetown Lacrosse Camp All-Star. Jordon, a 5-foot-10 defender, played two seasons for the Spartans at Immactulata anchoring the team’s defense.

“Jacob [VanLeenen] is a solid two-way midfielder who can shake and bake with both hands. He will have a great career at Lynn University,” said Kingsbury. “Jordon [VanLeenen] is a patient, strong, smart defenseman who gets the job done. He knows the game and is excited to learn more as he matures as a defenseman.”

Nick Bellinato, Bjorn Bjornsson, Wilder Rumpf, Tom Sharp, Gabe Torres and Zach Williams will be the core group of midfielders next season. Bellinato, a 5-foot-9 native of Bohemia, N.Y., has represented Connetquot during his high school career.  Bjornsson, another New Yorker, stands six-feet tall and will graduate from Division Avenue High School this spring.

Rumpf will be looked to as a unique face-off specialist for the Blue & White. He won 83 percent of his face-offs in his junior year for the John Jay Patriots and was named All-League as a junior and NYSHSAA Section I Honorable Mention. Sharp, a two-time All-League selection out of Suffern High School in Suffern, N.Y., will see a lot of the field in his career at Lynn University.

“Standing at 6-foot-3, Tom [Sharpe] is a downhill dodger who knows the game and thrives for competition,” said Kingsbury of the three-sport high school athlete.

Torres is a 5-foot-9 Florida native who played lacrosse at Creekside High School in St. Johns. He has earned four varsity letters for the Knights and has been a member of the Jacksonville Lacrosse Club for four years.

“Gabe is a fast, athletic, strong midfielder who is excited and motivated to do well at Lynn,” stated Kingsbury. “He has an accurate and fast righty shot, and will play both sides of the ball.”

Williams, a long stick midfielder who comes from St. Mary’s High School in Annapolis, Md., has played two years for the Saints. He has been a member of the Annapolis Hawks Lacrosse Club since 2006 standing at 5-foot-11 with the ability to also play defense.

“Zach [Williams] has the speed and ability to pick the ball off the ground,” said Kingsbury. “Coming from a storied lacrosse program in the most competitive high school conference, the MIAA, in the country, he will bring a wealth of knowledge and competitive sprint to Lynn University.”

On defense, Kingsbury will turn to Caleb Cerf and Rashaad Wise. Cerf is an experienced ball player with a solid base, good footwork and stick handling skills. He is an Arvada, Colo., native and has played two seasons of varsity lacrosse at Ralston Valley High School. He was a First Team All-State and All-Conference player his junior year as well as a Second Team All-Conference selection as a sophomore. He helped lead Ralston Valley to a 4A State Championship while being named Defenseman of the Year in the Jeffco Conference. Wise stands at six-feet tall and has an extensive athletic background. He has earned varsity letters in lacrosse, football and wrestling for the Bulldogs at The Bullis School in Potomac, Md.

“Rashaad [Wise] comes from a strong lacrosse background,” said Kingsbury. “He is very patient and strong. He knows the game of lacrosse and has a bright future in front of him here at Lynn University.”