On Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, Abington seniors Mikki Raymond, Emma Garg and Kirstin Pedicone were recognized for committing to play lacrosse at the collegiate level. To view photos of the event, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Emma Garg – Kutztown University (Lacrosse)
Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Final list of colleges: Kutztown, Methodist University, High Point
Reasons for choosing Kutztown: “I really liked the coach and team, and they all had a winning attitude. They’re known to be the underdog, so that’s pretty cool because there’s a lot to be done.”
What was the progression that led you to playing lacrosse at the collegiate level? “It was really neck in neck forever between lacrosse and volleyball. I played club volleyball for a little bit, and I played club lacrosse, and I was just getting more from lacrosse.”
Coach Amanda Kammes says: “Emma is a dynamic middie. She’s fast, she has a great stick and a great lax IQ. Honestly, I think she flies under the radar a little bit – she’s unassuming, but she can score and she’s a great defender. She’s going to Kutztown, and I think she’s a kid that could make an immediate impact there as a freshman. Kutztown really got a steal with her.”
Former Abington assistant coach Jason McGee: “Emma is one of the best pure athletes I think I’ve ever coached. She is a quick study, a vicious competitor and has first-step speed that most people don’t have. She had a setback her sophomore year with a torn ACL, and because of her hard work, she was able to come back by her junior year and really was a complement to our team and provided that transition game that we needed.”
About Emma:
Favorite food: Mac ‘N Cheese
Favorite movie: James Bond Movies
Favorite music: Rap
Kirstin Pedicone – Millersville University (Lacrosse)
Major: Biology
Final list of colleges: Millersville, West Chester, Arcadia
Reasons for choosing Millersville: “They had a really nice campus, and the coach was really nice and so were all the team members.”
What was the progression that led you to playing lacrosse at the collegiate level? “In ninth grade, I started playing club, and that made a more open field for me. I just started thinking about it more, and my mom and dad encouraged me.”
Coach Amanda Kammes says: “Kirstin is one of those kids who also is a little bit unassuming. Her strength is her lax IQ. She understands what’s going on on the field and why you would want to do something. Defensively, she understands that back side ‘D’ and when to slide and when not to slide. She’s disciplined, she has a pretty good stick right and left, and she should be an impact player for Millersville as a freshman.”
Former Abington assistant coach Jason McGee: “Kirstin got an unsung hero award (last season), and that sums Kirsten up. She’s a quiet defender that doesn’t get the credit she deserves. She is the calming force on defense, and that really helped us a lot when the chips were down and we were scrambling to get back in the game. She’s just always there and plays the same way whether we were winning or losing. She has just incredible dedication and hard work.”
About Kirstin:
Favorite food: Green Apples
Favorite movie: Pitch Perfect
Favorite music: Pandora
Mikki Raymond – La Salle University (Lacrosse)
Major: Special Education
Final list of colleges: La Salle, Duquesne, Drexel, Temple
Reasons for choosing La Salle: “The coaching staff and just how friendly everybody was.”
What was the progression that led you to playing lacrosse at the collegiate level? “When I was eight years old, I knew I wanted to play in college. I just looked up to people that played lacrosse. I had a lot of figures in my life that played lacrosse, and I was in awe of them. That really shaped me into who I am today.”
Coach Amanda Kammes says: “Mikki is one of those long, lanky kids. She’s also a midfielder, and she just gets the job done. It’s not going to be polished and pretty by the recipe. It’s going to be gritty and on her terms and unconventional, and that’s what makes her great. That’s what makes her hard to defend because she is unconventional. She’s great at defense – she always gets those knockdowns, she’s effective on the circle with her reach, so she’s a person to contend with on the draws, and she can score goals. Her playing style is what makes her a sleeper, and she’s going to fit right in with La Salle’s gritty, no-nonsense style, and I think it’s a great fit for her.”
Former Abington assistant Jason McGee: “Mikki is a special kid. In addition to being a great offensive and defensive player, she’s always what we call a glue guy. Coaches use that term to describe a kid that’s the glue of the team, the fabric of the team. She’s a kid that even through the tough times and hard work, she keeps everybody upbeat and positive. Some of the kids were coming to practice just to see Mikki because she’s such a good teammate and person.
“I’ve known Mikki for a long time, and her house close is close to the street. Early on, she was practicing on the side of her house. Then she got a backstop, and you could drive by anytime, and she would be bouncing the ball off the backstop. It was just her love of the game and her love of competing that really did it for her.”
About Mikki:
Favorite food: Buffalo Chicken
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite music: Anything Johnny Cash
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