By S. Quinn DeJoy and J. Murrer

Aug. 24, 2016:  While Bronco preseason begins this week down at Chambers Field, it also begins for eleven 2016 graduates who will participate in athletics at the college level. More than half the college recruits from the class of 2016 will play lacrosse and are headed to Duke, Princeton, Bucknell, University of Vermont, University of Michigan, and Colorado College. Bronxville athletes have also been recruited for soccer, baseball, golf, swimming, and track.

Bronxville resident Reilly Walsh, a three-year starter and co-captain of the nationally ranked Brunswick School lacrosse team, headed to Duke this week, where he will join the Blue Devils. Walsh, a two-time All American who committed to Duke as a freshman, played for the Broncos his freshman year before he attended Brunswick.

"I transferred to Brunswick as a sophomore," said Walsh. "I had to prove I could play, and I had to work for a starting role." Thanks in part to Walsh's contributions this year, the Brunswick lacrosse team finished the season with a 15-3 record and a top-20 national ranking. In high school, Walsh played midfield for two years and attack during his senior year. At Duke, he will start the fall practicing at both positions and will work hard to get some playing time next spring.

Bronco faceoff specialist Ralph Chrappa fractured his wrist last spring and missed part of the season, but he still managed to win 70% of his faceoffs and earn team MVP. Chrappa, an Academic All-American, is looking forward to playing lacrosse at Princeton.

"From everything I've heard so far, I can't wait to become a part of the team and experience the strong camaraderie firsthand," said Chrappa. "It was always a dream of mine to attend and play lacrosse at Princeton, but I never thought it could actually happen."

Also headed to play lacrosse in college are Broncos Lilly Grass (University of Michigan), Jack Gelinas (Bucknell University), and Andrew Harwood (Colorado College). Andrew Horn, a Bronxville resident who attended Avon Old Farms, is headed to the University of Vermont.

The complete list of college recruits from the class of 2016 is listed below.

Connor Daly, golf, Villanova University
Joe Pepe, baseball, Dickinson College
Sean Ryan, track, SUNY Oneonta
Sam Aherne, soccer, Colgate University
Maggie O'Reilly, swimming, Rhodes College
Lilly Grass, lacrosse, University of Michigan
Reilly Walsh, lacrosse, Duke University
Ralph Chrappa, lacrosse, Princeton University
Andrew Horn, lacrosse, University of Vermont
Jack Gelinas, lacrosse, Bucknell University
Andrew Harwood, lacrosse, Colorado College

Go Broncos.

Pictured here (rotating): (L to R) Connor Daly, Andrew Harwood, Jack Gelinas, and Lilly Grass (photo by K. Peterson); Ralph Chrappa wins the faceoff (photo by Russell Tater); Reilly Walsh signs his National Letter of Intent to play lacrosse at Duke (photo courtesy Brunswick School).