June 28, 2002
Stony Brook, N.Y. -
In the wake of its first-ever America East title and appearance in the NCAA Division I tournament, Stony Brook head lacrosse coach John Espey has announced that the Seawolves have received commitments from 17 high school seniors to attend Stony Brook next year, making it the largest recruiting class in the program's history. The 2002 recruiting class consists of: Jason Cappadoro (Levittown, N.Y./MacArthur HS), Kyle Hacker (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool HS), Kevin Hershner (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright HS), Frank Hopkins (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright HS), Graham Kenney (Cedarhurst, N.Y./Lawrence HS), Fraser Kersey (Westport, Conn./Staples HS), Joe Kopito (Glen Cove, N.Y./Glen Cove HS), Billy Lowe (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport HS), Jim McNamara (Massapequa, N.Y./Kellenberg HS), Kurt McVey (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood HS), Brian Mancini (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac HS), Jack Mesa (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand HS), Mike O'Malley (Northport, N.Y./St. Anthony's), Tim Sheehan (Black River, N.Y./Carthage Central HS), Mike Vanaman (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan Academy), Collin Welsh (Cockeysville, Md./St. Paul's School), and Adam Zetzer (Baltimore, Md./Park School).
Mike Vanaman, a 5-9, 160-pound middie from Penn Yan High School, earned All-America honors this past spring for the Mustangs. The standout midfielder tallied 42 goals and 38 assists en route to a spot in the senior all-star game. A two-time all-league selection and member of the Western Empire State team, he capped a prolific career in which he recorded 174 points in three years.
Joining Vanaman next season are five other offensive freshman midfielders who will don the scarlet and grey. Adam Zetzer scored 57 goals and notched 45 assists over his career for the Park School in Brooklandville, Md. A team co-captain, he was a first-team MIAA "B" Conference selection and went on to play in the Maryland State Senior All-Star game. Mike O'Malley ran midfield for St. Anthony's in Huntington, N.Y. The 5-10, 170-pounder scored 10 goals and added 15 assists as a junior and played on the under-17 Long Island team that participated in the Vail Shootout in 2001. Billy Lowe is a 6-1, 190-pound face-off specialist who played for Fairport High School. Kyle Hacker was an honorable mention all-league selection for Liverpool High School while Brian Mancini earned all-league and all-section honorable mention honors for Mahopac High School.
Collin Welsh, is a short-stick defensive midfielder who played at the St. Paul's School in Brooklandville, Md. Long-stick middie Tim Sheehan was a three-year starter at Carthage Central High School which advanced to the Class "B" State Championship game against Comsewogue. As a senior, he was named first team All-North, second team Central New York and played in the exceptional senior all-star game.
Frank Hopkins highlights a trio of close defenseman that will join the Seawolves next year. The 6-3, 200-pound defenseman enjoyed a stellar senior season, earning first team All-County honors in additon to being named second team All-State and second team All-Metro in the Baltimore Sun. He was a finalist for the C. Markland Kelly Award which goes to the top scholastic player in the state of Maryland. Hopkins also played in the Maryland State Senior All-star game with future teammate Adam Zetzer and received an invitation to the 2003 U.S. men's lacrosse under-19 tryout to be held later this summer.
Fraser Kersey will also protect the Seawolves goal next year. A 6-4, 215-pound performer for Staples High School in Westport, Conn., he was voted team MVP last season, earned All-FCIAC honors and played in the state senior all-star game. Fellow Connecticut native Jack Mesa is a 6-3, 200-pound close defenseman out of Daniel Hand High School in Madison, Conn.
Rounding out the 2002 recruiting class are six attackmen. Jason Cappadoro, a 6-2, 190-pound attacker from MacArthur High School, is a three-year letterwinner who recorded 61 goals and 67 assists over his final two seasons. A two-time All-County selection, he was selected to play in the exceptional seniors game. An outstanding athlete, Cappadoro was also an All-County and All-Long Island quarterback for MacArthur and was selected to represent Long Island in the Outback Steakhouse All-Star Game this summer.
Kevin Hershner, a 6-0, 180-pound attackman notched 39 goals and 16 assists while scooping up 50 ground balls as a junior which earned him second-team All-County honors. A standout at C. Milton Wright High School in Bel Air, Md., he played with fellow recruit Frank Hopkins. Joe Kopito is a 5-10, 160-pound attackman who scored 72 goals in his last two seasons at Glen Cove High School. A team co-captain this year, Kopito poured in 48 goals and earn All-Conference honors. He finished fourth on the Big Red all-time goal scoring list. Graham Kenney is a two-time All-County performer from Lawrence High School. The 5-11, 190-pounder recorded 21-goals and 25 assists as a senior. Jim McNamara was a 6-2, 195-pound attackman for Kellenberg High School while Kurt McVey is a 6-0, 180-pound attackman who earned three varsity letters for Longwood High School.
The 17-member recruiting class will replace the void left by 13 seniors who graduated in May.
