Men's Lacrosse Inks 10 Signees to Letters of Intent

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Dec. 2, 2004

Charlottesville, Va. – University of Virginia men’s lacrosse coach Dom Starsia announces the signing of 10 student-athletes to national letters of intent to play lacrosse at UVa beginning with the 2005-06 academic year.

“It is very much my pleasure to introduce the lacrosse Class of 2009,” said Starsia. “We have `covered the continent’ bringing one of our strongest classes to Charlottesville. There are outstanding student-athletes at every position and any number will be making early, strong, and dramatic contributions to the program. Fans of the University of Virginia lacrosse program are truly going to enjoy getting to know these young men.”

The recruiting class features two attackmen–Garrett Billings, a 6-1, 175-pounder from RE Mountain Secondary School in Langley, British Columbia, and Gavin Gill, a 5-11, 180-pounder who is the third lacrosse playing member of his family to matriculate at UVa.

“The two attackmen bring very different backgrounds and strengths to the program. Billings is a box player–a scorer–who led the Burnaby Lakers to Canada’s Junior A National Championship. He has played some field lacrosse and brings a scorer’s touch to the play around the goal,” according to Starsia. “Gill led St Paul’s to the 2004 MIAA championship and sees the field like his older brothers, Conor (UVa class of 2002 and current UVa assistant coach), and Brendan, a senior on this year’s squad. Gavin’s presence next season ensures a Gill in the Cavalier locker room for 11 consecutive years.”

Danny Glading and Steve Giannone are versatile offensive players who can play either attack or midfield. Glading is a 6-2, 185-pounder from Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, Md. His brother, Billy, was an All-American midfielder on UVa’s 2003 national championship squad. Giannone is 6-1, 185 pounds from Wilton, Conn., and attends Millbrook School in Millbrook, N.Y.

“Danny Glading may be the nation’s most highly-regarded player. His 45 assists from the midfield as a junior speak to his `point guard’s approach’ to the game,” notes Starsia. “Steve may have been the best offensive player on the field in a game this past summer between his Connecticut All-Star team and the Long Island Empire team.”

The Cavaliers also signed two players from schools that have produced outstanding players on UVa’s last two national championship teams. Max Pomper, a 6-1, 200-pound native of Huntington, N.Y., attends St. Anthony’s, alma mater of senior attackman Joe Yevoli. Joe Dewey is a 5-10, 180-pounder from Upper Arlington H.S. in Columbus, Ohio. He follows Upper Arlington alums Mark Koontz (1999-2002) and Brett Hughes (2001-04) to UVa.

“It may or may not be ironic that the two middies in the class are both all-conference defensive backs for outstanding high school football programs,” noted Starsia. “Max Pomper and Joe Dewey are both fast, strong and athletic two-way middies. Max is a little bigger version, but look for both these young men to contribute all over the field.”

Three athletic defensemen, who are all multi-sport athletes, signed with Starsia’s Cavaliers. Mike Britt, a 6-1, 195-pounder from Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Va., and Matt Kelly, a 6-2, 215-pounder from New Trier High School in Kenilworth, Ill., are standouts on the football field. Chris Conlon, a 6-3, 200-pounder from Summit, N.J., plays on the Summit H.S. basketball team. Kelly was named a first-team All-State football player this fall and is the program’s first recruit from Illinois.

“The three defensemen all bring size and speed to the backline,” said Starsia. “Kelly is a `Big Ten football’ caliber athlete who will impact our program early in his college lacrosse career. Conlon is a tall, rangy lefthander with strong potential, while Britt is a creative and aggressive defenseman who could play behind or up top.”

Mark Wade, a 6-2, 200-pounder from Lake Braddock High School in Fairfax Station, Va., is the lone goalie to sign with Virginia. Like Britt, he earned All-American honors as a junior last spring. “I first saw Mark as a freshman in the goal playing in front of one of the defensemen on this year’s Cavalier squad, Patrick Buchanan. Mark has grown consistently in size and confidence throughout his high school career,” said Starsia.