Basti Adds 17 to 2022 Roster
10/6/2021 10:37:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
15 first-years and two transfers join the Pioneers
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:
Connor Smith
Hometown: Orange, Conn.
High School: Notre Dame (West Haven)
Position: Goalkeeper
About Smith:
Nicky Casano
Hometown: Southampton, N.J.
High School: St. Augustine Prep
Position: Faceoff
About Casano:
Cam Brown
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colo.
High School: Mountain Vista
Position: Attack
About Brown:
MP Thomas
Hometown: Roswell, Ga.
High School: Roswell
Position: Faceoff
About Thomas:
Mike Petitto
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.
High School: Wakefield Memorial
Position: Defense
About Petitto:
Carson Reeder
Hometown: Canton, Ga.
High School: Etowah
Position: Attach
About Reeder:
Luke Catolico
Hometown: East Cobb, Ga.
High School: Pope
Position: Defense
About Catolico:
Jake Ward
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colo.
High School: Mountain Vista
Position: Attack
About Ward:
Pressly Mead
Hometown: Westford, Mass.
High School: Westford Academy
Position: Midfield
About Mead:
Jack Ramsay
Hometown: Bay Shore, N.Y.
High School: St. Anthony's
Position: Defense
About Ramsay:
Hunter Sancetta
Hometown: Essex Falls, N.J.
High School: Seton Hall Prep
Position: Midfield
About Sancetta:
Matt Gruters
Hometown: Westfield, N.J.
High School: Westfield
Position: Goalkeeper
About Gruters:
Anthony Tropia
Hometown: Don Bosco Prep
High School: Montville, N.J.
Position: Midfield
About Tropia:
Quinn Kallio
Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
High School: Brother Rice
Position: Defense
About Kallio:
Zach Buffington
Hometown: New Fairfield, Conn.
High School: New Fairfield
Previous School: Hartford
Position: Defense
Year: Junior
About Buffington at Hartford:
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:
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)
- 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.
- Varsity letterwinner in lacrosse and golf.
- Helped his high school team rank top in the nation in 2017.
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