Field Hockey Signs Nine for 2011 Roster
March 04, 2011 | Field Hockey
MUNCIE, Ind. - Nine student-athletes signed national letters of intent to join the Ball State field hockey program for the 2011 season.
Courtney Abbott (Cape Town, South Africa/Rustenburg), Charlie Digby (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams), Haley Fusting (Louisville, Kent./Sacred Heart), Leanne Goldblatt (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland), Jenna Rosenberry (Manheim, Pa./Elizabethtown Area), Tarel Teach (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes), Kaitlin Thompson (San Carlos, Calif./St. Francis), Bianca Velez (Virginia Beach, Va./Floyd E. Kellam) and Tori Widrick (Cazenovia, N.Y./Casenovia) will be joining the returning Cardinals next season.
"We are ecstatic about our incoming class as each one of our student athletes is committed to taking our program to the next level," head coach Beth Maddox said. "They are excellent students, have fantastic families and are tremendous athletes."
Coached by Colleen Matthews at Rustenburg, Abbott is a four-year letterwinner as a defender. She helped her team earn Western Province honors and played for the Western Province Cricket Club for four consecutive years, under the direction of Emma Southey. Abbott also played touch rugby, helping her team earn Western Province honors, and amassed 20 tries in her career with the squad.
The daughter of Robert Sonne and Bronwyn Abbott, she has two sisters, Lauren (14) and Roberta (10). Born May 7, 1992 in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Abbott intends to major in natural resources and environmental management.
"Courtney adds a new dynamic to our team," Maddox said. "She brings a great deal of skill and an incredible attitude to our program."
Coached by William Heresniak at T.C. Williams High School, Digby is a three-year letterwinner as a midfielder. As a senior, she recorded eight goals and 16 assists, led the region in assists and earned First-Team All-Patriot District, Second-Team All-Northern Region and team captain honors. During her junior season, she earned Second-Team All-Patriot honors and led the district in assists. Overall, Digby amassed 16 goals and 35 assists and helped the junior varsity team to an undefeated season in 2007.
Also at T.C. Williams, she earned the Scholar Athlete Award all four years, lettered twice in soccer, earned the 2008 coaches award and participated in Futures from 2008-11 and the Regional Rumble in 2009. Digby played for the Wags Travel Soccer team, and was the team captain from 2004-09. The daughter of Karen Digby, she was born June, 13, 1993 in London, England, and is undecided on her major.
"Charlie will add more speed to our team," Maddox said. "She has a knack for the goal and we are excited to see what she can do."
Under the direction of Liz Lewis at Sacred Heart Academy, Fusting is a four-year letterwinner as a goaltender. She helped her team win the state championships in 2008 and 2010 and earn the top national ranking, according to TopoftheCircle.com. During her senior season, Fusting recorded first-team all-state honors and a NFHCA All-American First-Team nomination. As a junior, she was the starting varsity goalie and earned Kentucky Select Second-Team and NNOR All-Star honors, in addition to earning a spot on the Apple All-Tournament Team. During her sophomore season, Fusting helped her team to an undefeated season and win the state championship, in addition to earning second-team all-tournament and second-team all-state honors as a starter.
Also at Sacred Heart, Fusting is on the honor roll and participates in the International Baccalaureate program. The daughter of Donald and Nancy Fusting, she has one brother, Carson (12). Born Jan 27, 1993 in Louisville, Kent., Fusting intends to major in nursing.
"Haley comes from a great program and knows what it takes to be successful," Maddox said. "She has a great build and knows how to command her circle."
Coached by Sharon Sarsen at Lakeland High School, Goldblatt is a four-year letter winner as a midfielder. She helped her team win the 2009-10 Class B State Championships and earn 2007 State Runner-Up. Overall, Goldblatt amassed 27 goals and 27 assists, helping the team tally a 21-0-1 record last season. As a senior, she earned all-state and regional all-american honors, in addition to collecting all-state and all-league accolades as a junior.
Goldblatt played for the Hudson Valley club team for four years as a defender/midfielder where she helped her team win the 2009 Festival Championships and the Empires 2010 Championships, in addition to earning a spot on the Empires All-Tournament team. Also at Lakeland, Goldblatt is a member of the National Honors Society. The daughter of Ronald and Janet Goldblatt, she has three sisters, Gina (25), Molly (23) and Valerie (16) and two brothers, Jesse (21) and Elias (20). Born Feb. 6, 1993 in Mount Kisco, N.Y., Goldblatt is undecided on her major.
"Leanne is a spunky one," Maddox said. "She works incredibly hard and will do whatever it takes to win."
Rosenberry played as a defender at Elizabethtown Area High School under the direction of Andy Derr, earning three letters. During her senior season, she earned LL League Second-Team All-Star honors, was a member of the LL League All-Academic Team and collected academic all-state and academic all-american accolades.
Rosenberry also played as a defender for the Sutter's Brigade club team for four years, played basketball at Elizabethtown Area for four seasons as a forward and is a member of the National Honors Society. The daughter of Dennis and Linda Rosenberry, she has one brother Shane (19), who attends Northern-Illinois University. Born May 5, 1993 in Lancaster, Pa., Rosenberry intends to major in education.
"Jenna has a great build and is a solid player with exceptional fundamentals," Maddox said. "She is an excellent student and her hard work in the classroom clearly carries over to her play on the field."
Coached by Elizabeth Sharpe at Ocean Lakes High School, Teach earned three letters in field hockey as a forward. As a senior, she tallied 13 goals and six assists and earned second-team all-district honors. During her junior season, she collected first-team all-district and second-team all-region accolades after recording 21 goals and six assists.
Teach also played as a forward for the Beach Premier/Icoyo club team for two years, under the direction of Theresa Platte and Sandy Szilassy, where the team went to the National Hockey Festival/NITS. The daughter of John and Kelly Teach, she has three sisters, Rashel (27), who attended Longwood University, Theran (25), who attended Ball State, and Emy (13). Born Dec. 6, 1992 in Lakeside, Ariz., Teach is undecided on her major.
"Tarel is a tough competitor and is willing to put in the extra work to succeed," Maddox said. "She is graceful on the field while still having a bit of an edge."
Thompson played as a forward at St. Francis High School under the direction of Kathy Lincoln, earning three letters. During her senior season, she earned first-team all-league, the coach's award and MVP honors, while collecting CCS Honorable Mention, second-team all-league and Best Offensive Player accolades as a junior. During her sophomore year, she earned Most Improved Player. Thompson also played as a forward for the San Jose Fly club team for three years, under the direction of Jordan Steele.
A two-year member of the soccer team at St. Francis during her freshman and sophomore seasons, she played as a midfielder and forward. Thompson is a four year Scholar Athlete and has earned High Honors for three years. The daughter of Dennis and Sue Thompson, she has one sister, Laurel (20) and one brother, Jack (14). Born July 22, 1993 in Redwood City, Calif., Thompson intends to major in speech pathology.
"Kaitlin has a great enthusiasm for the school and our program," Maddox said. "She works very hard and her relentless attitude will hopefully carry over to her teammates."
Coached by Kelly Turner and Katie Staples at Floyd E. Kellam High School, Velez earned four letters in field hockey as a forward/defender. During her senior season, she recorded two goals, six assists and six defensive saves as a defender, to earn First-Team All-Beach District, first-team all-region and Second-Team All-Tidewater honors. As a forward during her junior year, Velez led the team in goals (6) and assists (5), to earn Second-Team All-Beach District accolades. During her sophomore season, she collected a team-leading five goals and four assists as a forward.
Velez also played for the Beach Premier club team for four years, where the squad earned the Festival Championship title during the 2009-10 seasons. The daughter of Hiram and Helen Velez, she has two sisters, Danielle (21) and Adriana (28) and one brother, Alex (16). Born Oct. 26, 1992 in Chesapeake, Va., Velez is undecided on her major.
"Bianca is extremely athletic and will undoubtedly push everyone around her to be better," Maddox said. "She brings a good attitude and has a real go-getter personality."
Widrick played as a forward/midfielder at Cazenovia High School under the direction of Lorraine Schefic, earning four letters. Overall, she tallied 65 goals and 54 assists, helping the team tally a 21-2 record last season. As a senior, Widrick recorded 31 goals and 20 assists to earn USA Field Hockey Futures Elite and Futures Level I, NFHCA All-Region All-Star, NYS All-State All-Star, NYS All-Section III All-Star, NYS Section III OHCL All-League All-Star honors and a spot on the Final Four All-Tournament Team.
During her junior season, she earned USA Field Hockey Futures Level I, NYS All-State All-Star, NYS All-Section III All-Star, NYS Section III OHSL All-League All-Star, All-Star Team at Northeast Showcase and Rome Tournament and Camden Tournament Team accolades, after tallying 15 goals and 18 assists. As a sophomore, Widrick collected 16 goals and 15 assists to earn NYS All-Section III All-Star and NYS Section III OHSL All-League All-Star honors, in addition to Cazenovia's Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year.
As a freshman, she earned NYS Section III OHSL Honorable Mention and Cazenovia's Rookie of the Year honors with five goals and one assist. She helped the Lakers win the NYS Class C Championships for four consecutive years, the OHSL League Championships and Section III Class C Championships from 2007-10, the 2010 Regional Class C/D Championships and the Believe to Achieve Award from the Syracuse Sports Corporation.
Widrick also played for the BC Cyclones/Futures club team for three years, under the direction of Michael Young, where she earned 2010 Futures Elite and 2009-10 NFC honors and earned one letter for participating in track (1500m), where the squad recorded a 17-0 mark and won the OHSL All-League Championship and the 2010 Section III Championship.
Widrick is a member of the honor roll and National Society of High School Scholars. The daughter of Todd, who played baseball at Le Moyne College, and Sherry Widrick, she has one brother Trent (20). Born Aug. 26, 1993 in Syracuse, N.Y., Widrick intends to major in fashion.
"Tori brings a great deal of speed," Maddox said. "She works hard on her skills and she is aggressive by nature."
