Nielsen Signs Eight to 2021 Class
11/11/2020 3:00:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan women's lacrosse head coach Hannah Nielsen announced Wednesday (Nov. 11) the signing of its eight-person 2021 recruiting class to National Letters of Intent.
The 2021 class includes four midfielders, one attacker, two defenders and one goalie. The class hails from five different states with two groups of players spending time competing on the same club programs.
"We are so excited to welcome this talented group into our Michigan family," said Nielsen. "The coaching staff has worked incredibly hard to formulate this class of multi-sport athletes from all over the country. These young women will make an immediate impact on our program. We are excited to finally make it official today!"
The class of 2021 includes Kaylee Dyer (Elkin Park, Pa.), Jane Fetterolf (North Salem, N.Y.), Katharine Merrifield (Denver, Colo.), Erin O'Grady (Massapequa, N.Y.), Haley Polk (Street, Md.), Maya Rutherford (Denver, Colo.), Julia Schwabe (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.), Jill Smith (Farmington Hills, Mich.).
Kaylee Dyer | Attacker | 5-7 | Elkin Park, Pa. | Club: Big 4 HHH
- Prepped at William Penn Charter School where she is a two-year letterwinner with her junior season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Is a two-time All-Inter-AC honoree
- Led her team in goals in both her freshman and sophomore seasons
- Scored 40 goals or more in both seasons
- Is a member of high honor roll, is a PC Quaker Crew captain
- Also a PC Ambassadors Clerk, a member of the yearbook and a school news anchor
- Also lettered in basketball, track, and field hockey
- Plays club lacrosse for Big 4 HHH
Jane Fetterolf | Midfielder | 5-7 | North Salem, N.Y. | Club: Prime Time
- Prepped at North Salem High School where she was a two-year letterwinner with her junior season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Was a two-time all-league selection
- Earned all-section as a sophomore
- Reached 100 career draw-control wins and 100 career goals in her sophomore season
- Is a member of English Honors Society and International Club
- Also lettered in soccer and basketball
- Plays club lacrosse for Prime Time with teammate Julia Schwabe
Katharine Merrifield | Midfielder | 5-8 | Denver, Colo. | Club: Denver Summit Elite 2021
- Prepped at Colorado Academy where she was a two-year letterwinner with her junior season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Helped her team to the school's fourth and fifth straight state championships in 2018 and 2019
- Ranked first in goals (59) and third in points (74) in the Metro League in her sophomore season
- Led all scorers in the state semifinals as a sophomore
- Was a player to consider for Player of the Month for the West Region in US Lacrosse Magazine as a sophomore
- Led all freshman in the state of Colorado in goals (48) and ranked second in points (59)
- Elected team captain in her sophomore and junior seasons
- Lettered in field hockey and was named Player of the Month by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association
- Earned all-state honors after leading her team to a state championship with a state-best in goals and points
- Named Sportswomen of the Year in Colorado in the 2020 season for field hockey
- Plays club lacrosse for Denver Summit Elite 2021, which was ranked as high as No. 9 in the country, with teammate Maya Rutherford
Erin O'Grady | Goalie | 5-7 | Massapequa, N.Y. | Club: Team Elevate
- Prepped at St. Anthony's High School where she was a two-year letterwinner with her junior season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Named to the Top 50 Juniors on Long Island (No. 18), Top Ten Parochial Players on Long Island, and Newsday's Top 100 before her junior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Helped her team to a Varsity League Championship in her sophomore season where she was named MVP
- Named the St. Anthony Rookie of the Year as a sophomore
- Notched GOAT All-Long Island Player in her second season
- Is a member of the National Honor Society
- Earned the Saint Bonaventure Award all three years for students with a 94.5 average and above
- Plays club lacrosse for Team Elevate and helped the team to a Northern Rise Tournament Championship and was named team MVP in 2019.
Haley Polk | Defender | 5-11 | Street, Md. | Club: SkyWalkers 2021 Blue
- Prepped at Gerstell Academy where she is a two-year letterwinner with her junior season being canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic
- Named Under Armour All-American Uncommitted Team in her sophomore season
- Was a Carroll County Times Player to Watch as a sophomore
- Named Under Armour All-America Underclass Baltimore Command Team as a freshman
- Is a member of National Honor Society, Math National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society and Social Studies National Honor Society
- Earned Academic 1st Honors and is a member of Spirit Club
- Earned the Presidential Award
- Also earned varsity letters in basketball and soccer
- Plays club lacrosse for SkyWalkers 2021 Blue, which has been ranked as the No. 1 club lacrosse team
Maya Rutherford | Defender | 6-0 | Denver, Colo. | Club: Denver Summit Elite 2021
- Prepped at Colorado Academy where she was a two-year letterwinner with her junior season being canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic
- Named to the U.S. Lacrosse 25 High School Lacrosse Players to Watch in 2020 list as well as the Adrenaline All-American Watch List
- Helped her team to back-to-back state championships in her freshman and sophomore seasons
- Named honorable mention all-league as a sophomore after helping her team to a 19-0 undefeated season and a state championship
- Led the defense as a freshman and sophomore in ground balls and takeaways
- Earned second team all-league and honorable mention all-state as a freshman
- Lettered in field hockey and helped the team to a state championship
- Also plays AA club ice hockey and helped the team to a state championship runner-up finish
- Plays club lacrosse for Summit Elite 2021, which was ranked as high as No. 9 in the country, with teammate Katharine Merrifield
- Was a 2021 Adrenaline All-American and was named to the UA All-America West Regional All-Star team
Julia Schwabe | Midfielder | 5-11 | Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. | Club: Prime Time
- Prepped at Dobbs Ferry High School where she was a three-year letterwinner with her junior season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Was a member of the varsity program as an eighth grader
- Is a three-time NYS Section I All-League honoree
- Is a three-time The Riverton Enterprise – All-Riverton Lacrosse team honoree
- Is a two-time all-section honorable mention honoree
- Nominated team captain for her senior season
- Earned the Dobbs Ferry High School Coaches NYSPHAA Scholar-Athlete Team Award
- Is a member of National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society
- Is a member of high honor roll
- Named the president of Dobbs Ferry Media Club and is a member of the Mindfulness and Meditation Club as well as a DFHS Activities Brand Grade Advisor and Music Appreciation Club
- Lettered in soccer and basketball
- Named basketball team captain for three seasons and was named all-state as a junior
- Garnered all-league and all-section honors as both a sophomore and a junior
- Scored 1,000 points in her career
- Plays club lacrosse for Prime Time with teammate Jane Fetterolf
Jill Smith | Midfielder | 5-8 | Farmington Hills, Mich. | Club: Triumph/Lakeshore
- Prepped at Mercy High School where she was a two-year letterwinner with her junior season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Earned All-American honors in her sophomore season
- Was a finalist for Lacrosse Player of the Year as a sophomore
- Is a two-time first team all-state honoree and All-Catholic honoree
- Named team MVP as both a freshman and sophomore
- Set 16 records as a freshman and 12 as a sophomore in the state of Michigan
- Holds the Michigan high school record for most points in a single game (15 -- 12 goals, three assists)
- Also set the Michigan high school individual scoring record average of 9.07 goals per game
- Is the leader of the Fishbowl Club
- Plays club lacrosse for Triumph/Lakeshore where she was named an Under Armour All-American Midwest
- Also an Under Armour 150 Selection
- Named a National Lacrosse Classic All-American and an All-Star Team-Selection
