FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Sacred Heart University head men's lacrosse coach Jon Basti is excited to welcome 17 fresh faces for the 2022 season. The incoming class includes 15 first-years and two transfers. 
 
Sam Blakea
Hometown: Ross, Calif. 
High School: Marin Catholic
Position: Attack
 
About Blake:

• Led Marin Catholic to a Division I State Championship. 
• Earned Athlete of the Year honors as a senior. 

 
Connor Smith
Hometown: Orange, Conn.
High School: Notre Dame (West Haven)
Position: Goalkeeper
 
About Smith:

• Four-year varsity letterwinner in lacrosse and three-year letterwinner in hockey. 
• Earned First-Team All-State as a junior and senior. 
• Also earned First-Team All-League in hockey. 
• Named Notre Dame Athlete of the Year in 2021. 

 
Nicky Casano
Hometown: Southampton, N.J.
High School: St. Augustine Prep
Position: Faceoff
 
About Casano:

• Named US Lacrosse All-American. 
• Earned First-Team All-South Jersey as well as South Jersey Player of the Year. 
• First Team Press of Atlantic City, Second-Team All-Non-Public, and Third-Team All-State.
• Earned Dean's List throughout high school career. 

 
Cam Brown
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colo. 
High School: Mountain Vista
Position: Attack
 
About Brown:

• Led his high school team to a Colorado 5A State Championship in 2021. 
• Named Second-Team All-Conference in 2019 and Second-Team All-Academic in 2021. 

 
MP Thomas
Hometown: Roswell, Ga. 
High School: Roswell
Position: Faceoff
 
About Thomas:

• Led his high school team as a captain. 
• Won 71% of face-offs during high school career. 
• Named All-American and First-Team All-State. 

 
Mike Petitto
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.
High School: Wakefield Memorial
Position: Defense
 
About Petitto:

• Varsity letterwinner in lacrosse and hockey at Wakefield Memorial. 

 
Carson Reeder
Hometown: Canton, Ga.
High School: Etowah
Position: Attach
 
About Reeder:

• Varsity letterwinner at Etowah High School.
• Served as President of Eagles Connection. 

 
Luke Catolico
Hometown: East Cobb, Ga. 
High School: Pope
Position: Defense
 
About Catolico:

• Varsity letterwinner in lacrosse and football. 

 
Jake Ward
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colo.
High School: Mountain Vista
Position: Attack
 
About Ward:

• Led his team to a 5A State Championship in 2021. 
• Three-time All-Conference and two-time All-State honoree. 
• US Lacrosse and Adrenaline Lacrosse All-American.
• Recorded 77 goals and 75 assists across 41 games in high school.

 
Pressly Mead
Hometown: Westford, Mass.
High School: Westford Academy 
Position: Midfield
 
About Mead:

• Varsity letterwinner at Westford Academy. 

 
Jack Ramsay
Hometown: Bay Shore, N.Y.
High School: St. Anthony's 
Position: Defense
 
About Ramsay:

• Varsity letterwinner at St. Anthony's High School.

 
Hunter Sancetta
Hometown: Essex Falls, N.J.
High School: Seton Hall Prep
Position: Midfield
 
About Sancetta:

• Varsity letterwinner at Seton Hall Prep.

 
Matt Gruters
Hometown: Westfield, N.J.
High School: Westfield
Position: Goalkeeper
 
About Gruters:

• Three-year varsity letterwinner. 
• Named top senior in the state by NJ.com.
• Earned All-County Honorable Mention in 2021. 

 
Anthony Tropia
Hometown: Don Bosco Prep
High School: Montville, N.J.
Position: Midfield
 
About Tropia:

• Led his high school team to a New Jersey State Championship and Tournament of Champions title in 2021. 
• Member of the Under Armour Uncommitted team in 2021. 
• Earned spots on the NXT Summer All-Star team, GFW All-Stars, Gill Gibbs All-Stars, and New Jersey All-Stars. 

 
Quinn Kallio
Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 
High School: Brother Rice
Position: Defense
 
About Kallio:

• Varsity letterwinner in lacrosse, football, and wrestling. 

 
Zach Buffington
Hometown: New Fairfield, Conn.
High School: New Fairfield
Previous School: Hartford
Position: Defense
Year: Junior
 
About Buffington at Hartford: 

• Started all five games he played.
• Led the team in caused turnovers with 10, recording at least one in every appearance.
• Finished fourth in the America East in caused turnovers with 2.00 per game
• Added 11 ground balls.
• Made collegiate debut at Sacred Heart (Feb. 9), recording a season-high five ground balls and three caused turnovers.
• Caused a season-best three turnovers at St. John's (Feb. 15)
• America East Commissioner's Honor Roll (3.5+ GPA)

High School

• CHSCA All-American in 2019 
• Led the team to back-to-back CIAC Class M State Championships (2018, 2019) 
• New Fairfield went 22-0 in 2018 
• Three-time, First-Team South West Conference (SWC) All-Conference 
• Helped New Fairfield to a conference championship and a third-place finish at the CIAC Class M State Tournament 
• Also played football in high school, recording 1,000-plus rushing yards as a senior

 
 
Skylar Wilde
Hometown: Bayport, N.Y.
High School: Culver Military Academy
Previous School: Nassau Community College
Position: Attack
Year: Junior
 
About Wilde at Nassau CC:

• Appeared in 11 games, starting in 10.
• Tallied 23 goals and 14 assists across two seasons, including a career-best of four against Harford. 
• Ranked third on the team with 19 goals in 2021. 
• Helped the team post back-to-back undefeated seasons. 

High School:

• Varsity letterwinner in lacrosse and golf. 
• Helped his high school team rank top in the nation in 2017.