PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Sept. 3, 2013) – The Rutgers men’s lacrosse program welcomed 16 newcomers to campus with the start of fall classes Tuesday, third-year head coach Brian Brecht announced. The class includes two attackers, eight midfielders, five defensemen and a goalkeeper. “This is an exciting week for us as we start the new school year and welcome a new group of players to our program,” said Brecht. “I am confident that this group of young men will provide our program with the balance and depth to grow when added to the returning players we have in our locker room. We will lean on our experienced older guys to be leaders and look forward to our younger players taking steps each day to help our program as we compete in the BIG EAST this spring before moving into the Big Ten Conference. “This class of freshmen and transfers have all the qualities, values, work ethic and toughness that we are looking for in a Scarlet Knight. We were excited to start classes today and can’t wait to start fall practices next week as we prepare for the upcoming season.” The Scarlet Knights bring in multiple players who have received US Lacrosse All-America honors, including DChris Groel (Los Angeles, Calif.), M Christian Mazzone (Stony Brook, N.Y.), A Connor Murphy (Clifton, Va.) and M Anderson Wheeler (Boca Raton, Fla.). The group also features two junior transfers in D Nick Capparelli (Glen Head, N.Y.), who played for Nassau CC, and D Chris Daley (Kennesaw, Ga.), who played two seasons at Onondaga CC.

The class welcomes players from eight different states, including seven from New York, two from New Jersey and Florida, and one from California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts and Virginia. 2013 Scarlet Knight Newcomers: Charlie Nicklaus, Midfield, 6-2, 190 North Palm Beach, Fla., The Benjamin School Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity lacrosse starter at the Benjamin School … Four-time first team all-district selection, three-time second team all-league honoree and named first team all-league as a senior … played in the 2013 Palm Beach County All-Star Game … posted 69 goals and 80 assists in his career … collected 136 ground balls as a senior, while netting 21 goals and tallying 14 assists … member of 2010 and 2011 state champion lacrosse teams … responsible for faceoff duties in high school … played club lacrosse for Palm Beach Storm Elite … starred on the football field as well, but missed most of his junior and senior seasons due to injury … rushed for 1,113 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore, receiving the team’s offensive MVP award, while being selectedPalm Beach Post First Team All-Area … finished his career with 20 touchdowns scored (rushing and receiving) … parents are Jack Nicklaus II and Barbara Nicklaus … has brothers Jackie and Will and sisters Christie and Casey … born on July 15, 1994. Anderson Wheeler, Midfield, 5-10, 175 (pictured above) Boca Raton, Fla., St. Andrew’s School Prior to Rutgers: US Lacrosse All-American as a senior … four-year varsity starter, playing first two seasons at Pine Crest School and final two seasons at St. Andrew’s School … two-time first team all-district, first team all-county and first team all-region honoree (sophomore and senior) … ranked second on the team with 40 goals and third on the team with 48 ground balls in 2013 … helped St. Andrew’s School to a Florida state championship as a junior … played club lacrosse for Team Florida, starting on the 2012 squad that won “Battle of the Hotbeds” … member of the Pine Crest School varsity football team as a freshman and sophomore as a cornerback and placekicker … active in community service, participating in his church’s homeless ministry over past five years, cooking and serving for those in need one Sunday per month … son of Jim and Lisa Wheeler … has two brothers, Max and Cam … born on May 17, 1994. Tom Beck, Midfield, 5-10, 170 Cross River, N.Y., John Jay HS Prior to Rutgers: Four-year member of the varsity lacrosse squad at John Jay HS … posted 48 career goals and 31 career assists for 79 points … tallied seven goals and four assists in an injury-shortened senior season … received all-league honors after notching 31 goals and 17 assists as a junior … did not play as a sophomore due to injury … recorded 10 goals and 10 assists in his initial season … member of the varsity football team for three seasons, receiving all-league honors as a sophomore and missing junior and senior seasons due to injury … son of Sue and Tom Beck … has an older brother, Drew … born July 31, 1995.   Nick Capparelli, Defense, 6-2, 210 Glen Head, N.Y., North Shore HS, Nassau CC Prior to Rutgers: Played two seasons at Nassau CC, being named a team captain for both seasons … helped his team to two NJCAA national runner-up finishes, while earning all-region honors in 2012 and 2013 … four-year member of the North Shore HS lacrosse team, serving as captain for two seasons … named all-county twice, while also earning all-conference and being recognized as a member of the 2012 Long Island Empire State Games Team … also starred in football and wrestling … selected as a three-year football captain, earning all-county and all-conference (twice) honors, while being named the Nassau County All-Star Game captain … wrestled for four years, captaining two seasons, being named all-county (twice) and all-conference (four times) … earned North Shore HS Athlete of the Year honors as the lacrosse, football and wrestling MVP … parents are Carmine and Kiki … has one brother, Carmine … born Jan. 21, 1993.   Chris Daley, Defense, 6-2, 210 Kennesaw, Ga., Harrison HS, Onondaga CC Prior to Rutgers: Played two seasons at Onondaga CC, winning the NJCAA National Championship both years, going 37-0 … member of the Onondaga team that broke the all-time record for lacrosse at all levels in 2013 with 70 consecutive wins … first lacrosse player from Georgia to play at Onondaga, Rutgers, or an established Division I lacrosse program … graduated from Onondaga with a 3.1 GPA in Humanities … four-year varsity letterwinner and two-time team captain at Harrison HS … one of 96 players nationwide invited to play in the 2011 US Lacrosse Champion All-American Showcase … named Harrison Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, while also being selected to the all-county team … recognized as the 2010 Harrison HS Special Teams MVP … helped Harrison to the 2011 and 2009 5A Georgia State Finals, reaching the Semifinals in 2010 and 2008 … won the Dicks Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions as a member of the Copperheads Lacrosse Club in 2010 … parents are Mark and Susan Daley … has two sisters, Camille and Michelle … uncle, Gary Lambert, played rugby for the US Eagles National Team and was a three-time team captain … cousin, Garrett Lambert, plays rugby for Life University and was a member of the 2013 national championship team … born Dec. 20, 1992.   TJ Greenhill, Goalkeeper, 5-10, 175 Huntington, N.Y., Huntington HS   Prior to Rutgers: Three-year varsity player at Huntington HS, starting for two seasons … two-time team captain … selected as an all-county member twice … tallied 198 saves with a save percentage of 71 as a senior … notched 170 saves and a save percentage of 62 as a junior … was an All-American candidate … team finished at the top of its division, second in the county and 19th in the tri-state Class B … played three years of varsity football, starting at receiver for two seasons … a first team all-county selection as a senior and first team all-division honoree as a junior … parents are Tom and Gina Greenhill … has one brother, Ryan, and one sister, Emma … brother plays lacrosse for Lynchburg College … born Oct. 10, 1994.   Alex Hatzopoulos, Midfield, 5-11, 185 Oyster Bay Cove, N.Y., Syosset HS   Prior to Rutgers: Earned three varsity letters while starting three seasons for the Syosset lacrosse team … team captain in 2013 … selected All-Nassau County, Academic All-Nassau County and the Coaches’ Award recipient as a senior … helped his team win the 2012 Class A Nassau County Championship … all-conference honoree as a junior … son of Alex and Antoinette Hatzopoulos … has a brother, Michael, and a sister Victoria … born on June 27, 1995.   Chris Groel, Defense, 6-3, 180 Los Angeles, Calif., Palisades Charter HS Prior to Rutgers: Two-time US Lacrosse All-American (2012, 2013) … played three years of varsity lacrosse at Palisades Charter HS … team captain of his high school team as both a junior and a senior … participated in the 2013 Adrenaline All-American game … selected to the Under Armour All-Star West Team in 2012 … member of the varsity footballs quad in high school, being named an all-city defensive back in 2012 … son of Penny and Rick Groel … has an older brother, Max … born on April 24, 1995.   Christian Mazzone, Midfield, 5-9, 165 Stony Brook, N.Y., Ward Melville HS Prior to Rutgers: Three-year varsity player at Ward Melville HS … named a US Lacrosse All-American as a senior … received MSG Varsity All-Tri-State First Team and Newsday All-Long Island First Team honors in 2013 … helped his team to an undefeated 22-0 senior season, earning the MVP for the Suffolk County Championship game … the squad was Suffolk County, Long Island and New York state champions in 2013 and was ranked the No. 1 high school team in the nation … member of the All-Suffolk County squad as a junior … played varsity soccer for three years, earning all-conference honors as a senior … parents are Ken and Barbara Mazzone … has four siblings: Kenny, Kristina, Will and Alex … brother Will plays lacrosse for Army … born June 19, 1995.   Connor Murphy, Attack, 5-11, 170 Clifton, Va., Paul VI Catholic HS Prior to Rutgers: US Lacrosse All-American in 2013 … four year varsity starter at Paul VI … tallied 69 goals and 30 assists as a senior … earned first team all-state honors three times … two-time First Team Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) selection … received First team All-Met accolades as a senior … participated in two years of varsity soccer, winning one state championship … academic honor roll member all four years … son of Ken and Katie Murphy … has one brother, James, and one sister, Elizabeth … born on June 30, 1995. Christopher Peters, Defense, 6-2, 185 Chatham, N.J., Chatham HS Prior to Rutgers: Three-year varsity letterwinner at Chatham HS, helping the squad to back-to-back Group 2 State Championship titles (2012, 2013) … team captain during senior year … named second team all-conference and Second Team All-Group 2 as a senior … selected as the Chatham’s Defensive MVP in 2013 … also lettered two years in football, earning all-county honors, Chatham Offensive MVP and being named a captain as a senior … parents are Richard and Cecilia … has sister named Megan … born March 18, 1995.   Jack Phelan, Defense, 6-3, 185 Yorktown, N.Y., Yorktown HS Prior to Rutgers: Played four years of varsity lacrosse at Yorktown HS, helping his team to three Section 1 Championships … caused 36 turnovers and scooped up 25 ground balls as a senior … took home Section 1 All-Section honors in 2013 … named to the 2012 Empire State Cup All-Tournament Team … starred on the football field as well, earning all-league honors and taking home the Leadership Award in 2013 … played one season of basketball and was named a team captain … excelled in the classroom as a member of the National Honor Society … also received the Male Scholar-Athlete Award in 2013 … son of Jim and Eileen Phelan … has two brothers, Jimmy and Joey, and one sister, Kaitlyn … born on April 10, 1995.   Collin Scarpello, Attack, 6-1, 215 Madison, N.J., Madison HS Prior to Rutgers: Four-year member of the varsity lacrosse team at Madison HS … registered 51 goals and 44 assists for 95 points as a senior … finished career with 79 goals, 66 assists, 145 points and 102 ground balls … earned first team all-state, First Team All-Daily Record, and First Team All-Waterman Conference in 2013 … played two years of varsity football at tight end and defensive end … helped the football team to a 24-0 record in two seasons, winning consecutive Group 2 State Championships … earned first team all-conference, Second Team All-Morris County and Second Team All-Group 2 honors as a senior … teammate of Rutgers football player Justin Goodwin … parents are Patrick Scarpello and Kimberly Saunders … has two brothers, Codi and Christian … father Pat has coached lacrosse for more than 20 years, including head coach at Farleigh Dickinson University in Madison for the past 12 years after assisting at the University of Delaware and being the head coach at Cabrini College … born March 15, 1995.   Jack Sullivan, Midfield, 5-9, 185 Duxbury, Mass., Duxbury HS Prior to Rutgers: Member of Thayer Academy, playing varsity lacrosse for one season before participating in two years of varsity lacrosse at Duxbury HS … named Duxbury’s Rookie of the Year in 2012 … selected as the Duxbury Offensive MVP in 2013, earning All-Patriot League honors at midfield … helped his team to a 2012 Massachusetts State Championship … four-year member of the varsity football squad … recognized as an all-state and all-league receiver after 12 touchdowns and over 500 receiving yards as a senior … also started at strong safety, helping the team to a 10-0 regular season in 2012 … parents are John and Jennifer … has two siblings, Casey and Shane … born on Oct. 26, 1994.   Christian Trasolini, Midfield, 6-2, 190 New Hyde Park, N.Y., New Hyde Park Memorial HS Prior to Rutgers: Three-year varsity member of the New Hyde Park Memorial lacrosse team … captain of the squad as a senior, being named team MVP … two-time Long Island Brine All-American and a member of the Brine All-American All-Star team … posted 57 goals and 35 assists as a senior and tallied 48 goals and 27 assists as a junior … an all-county and academic all-conference selection as a junior and senior … participated in the 2012 Empire State Cup, being named to the Empire State Cup All-Tournament team … also a three-year varsity basketball player … successful in the classroom as a member of the National Honor Society, Foreign Language Honor Society and Business Honor Society … was also a scholar-athlete, conflict mediator and marching band drum major … parents are Angela and Valentino Trasolini … has a brother, Robert, and a sister, Cynthia … brother Robert played lacrosse at Colgate University from 2002-06 … born Oct. 3, 1995.   Peter Trunk, Midfield, 5-11, 185 Arlington Heights, Ill., Saint Viator HS Prior to Rutgers: Three-year member of the varsity lacrosse squad at Saint Viator …posted 87 points as a senior in 2013 … three-time ESCC All-Conference honoree, once at attack and twice at midfield … led the state in assists by a midfielder as a junior and senior … named MVP of his varsity team as a junior … a three-time True Lacrosse State Team all-star … member of the Midwest Select all-star team in the 2013 Vail Lacrosse Shootout … named to the honor roll in last six semesters of high school … attended the same high school as teammate Brian Goss … parents are Bud and Flo Trunk … has three older siblings (Kakie, Will, Jane) and two younger siblings (Matt, Charlie) … born on June 7, 1995.