On Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, eight members of Pennridge’s 2023 PIAA 4A state championship team were recognized for committing to continue their soccer careers at the collegiate level.
“This group of seniors is a group that I will never forget,” Pennridge coach Audrey Anderson said. “I was fortunate to know these girls as they were growing up in the youth programs. They are a special group and have accomplished so much as a class, I know I say this every year, but this is really the most decorated class to be leaving the program. They have truly left a legacy behind and something for future players to reach for.”
Tori Angelo – Seton Hall University (Soccer)
Major: Nursing
Final list of colleges: Seton Hall, Saint Joseph’s
Reasons for choosing Seton Hall: “I chose Seton Hall because the players and coaches made it feel like a home.”
Coach Audrey Anderson says: “What do I say about one of the most dynamic and dangerous attackers to come through Pennridge? Tori has grown into such a dangerous attacking player over her years at Pennridge. It’s not just her speed that makes her dangerous but her fearless attitude on the field. She will run through any player to get to a ball to create a scoring opportunity. She is so fast and strong that in a playoff game the other team thought they had Tori well matched - by the middle of the first half, that player was exhausted from trying to keep up with Tori. She will take defenders to the goal line and cross the ball in, she will dribble across the field, and at any time, she can shoot a ball on frame and outside the box; it’s almost impossible to manage her as a defender because she can do so much when she has the ball. This type of player is rare, and she will be hard to replace. I’m excited to see her continue to grow at the college level.”
About Tori:
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite TV show: Grey’s Anatomy
Favorite artists: Rhianna, Rod Wave
Lindsey Balmer – West Chester University (Soccer)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: West Chester, Millersville
Reasons for choosing West Chester: “It’s close to home, they have a good soccer team, and my sister goes there.”
Coach Audrey Anderson says: “Lindsey is such a versatile player. She played half her high school career as an outside back and the other half as an attacking player. She glides down the field effortlessly and can shoot with either foot. Coaches in the league quickly learned the name of the girl with the two ponytails or two buns - she even sometimes had different color hair. It wasn’t the hair that grabbed their attention but her speed and tenacity. She was able to track back as a forward to help win a ball back for us. When she played outside back, she was able to get forward and put dangerous balls in the box for our forwards to finish. She’s another player that battled injury and illness to get back out on the field to help win another state championship.”
About Lindsey:
Favorite food: Bread
Favorite TV show: World War 2
Favorite artist: Mac Miller
Meredith Blannett – University of Albany (Soccer)
Major: Psychology
Final list of colleges: Albany, Rhode Island, Old Dominion, Vermont, Siena, Youngstown
Reasons for choosing Albany: “I chose Albany because I love the coaches, and I loved the campus and surrounding area. The team atmosphere was really positive and exactly what I wanted.”
Coach Audrey Anderson says: “I’m very excited for Meredith. She has worked extremely hard over her four years at Pennridge. Here’s an example of Meredith’s determination to win a state championship - she had hurt her ankle in the state semifinal game. At halftime, Meredith said she was fine and could go back in. As a coaching staff we decided to keep her out so she could be ready for the state championship game. Clearly, she was not happy about that. The day of the state championship game comes around and I ask her, ‘How are you feeling?’ She says, ‘Good, I can play.’ Okay, it’s a game time decision. She starts and plays the entire game. After the game, she was clearly hurting. She tells me, ‘I wanted to play and win this year.’ This is what makes this program so tough to beat - these players care more about the team than themselves. She was such a big part of the success of this team, and I’m excited to see what she does during the next chapter of her soccer career.”
About Meredith:
Favorite food: Mac ‘n Cheese
Favorite TV show: New Girl
Favorite artist: Zach Bryan
Bryn Constanzer – Lock Haven University (Soccer)
Major: Physical Therapy
Final list of colleges: Lock Haven, St. Peter’s, Virginia Wesleyan
Reasons for choosing Lock Haven: “I chose Lock Haven because I love the coaches, and the current players were super welcoming towards me.”
Coach Audrey Anderson says: “I’m am very proud of Bryn. She has worked incredibly hard all four years at Pennridge. The first time Bryn came to the high school, we were doing a finishing session. She stood out because her left foot was so dangerous. She was always willing to be coached and took the coaching points and made the best of them.”
About Bryn:
Favorite food: Mac and Cheese
Favorite movie: 10 Things I Hate About You
Favorite artist: Coldplay
Anna Croyle – Syracuse University (Soccer)
Major: Sports Management
Final list of colleges: Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Xavier, Dartmouth, Loyola Maryland
Reasons for choosing Syracuse: “I chose Syracuse because I think it is the perfect fit. I know I will get a great education, and the campus is beautiful. I felt an immediate connection to the coaching staff and the players, and the sense of community is so exciting. I can’t wait to play in the ACC.”
Coach Audrey Anderson says: “Anna has been such a big part of this program for the past four years. She started as a freshman at center back and won a state championship and did it again her senior year. Anna has been so generous with her time over the years with the youth in our community. I would hear stories of how high Anna jumped and headed the ball in the goal. She has inspired the younger players to win balls out of the air, not something that little kids are excited to do until they watched her! The program will miss her discipline and hard work. She has shown how much hard work and dedication can pay off and set the standard for all who come after her. Syracuse got a great one. I’m so proud of Anna. Personal note - when I coached her in her younger days, she was one of the first players to head a ball off a keeper punt instead of allowing it to bounce first.”
About Anna:
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite TV show: Friends
Favorite artist/genre: Morgan Wallen/Christian
Olivia Grenda – University of Dayton (Soccer)
Major: Engineering
Final list of colleges: Dayton, UMass Amherst, VCU, William & Mary
Reasons for choosing Dayton: “Great engineering program and top of the Atlantic 10 while playing ACC and Big 10 schools and a chance to make the NCAA Tournament.
Coach Audrey Anderson says: “Olivia has played a couple different positions over her time here at Pennridge. She has shown what it means to be a good teammate by playing those roles even though it may not have been her first choice. When Liv was on the field, good thing were going to happen. Liv has definitely left her stamp on this program. There will be a lot of players coming into the program wanting to be Liv Grenda! She will be missed. She has an incredible work ethic and drive. She will do great things at Dayton. I will enjoy watching her play in the A-10.”
About Olivia:
Favorite food: Crab
Favorite movie: The Hangover
Favorite music: Country music
Ava Kiwak – Drexel University (Soccer)
Major: Pre-med
Final list of colleges: Drexel, Davidson, Longwood, Winthrop
Reasons for choosing Drexel: “I like the city of Philadelphia. The coaches and team were the right fit for me, and it’s a good school academically.”
Coach Audrey Anderson says: “Ava has shown over the past four years that if you want something bad enough YOU WILL find a way to make it happen. She has dealt with adversity early on in her high school years. She tore her ACL her sophomore year after earning a starting position in the midfield. The next season she came back and was ready to play, she was strong and determined. I’m sure there were some moments of fear, but you would never know. Her junior year we played Neshaminy on the one-year anniversary of her injury. The Neshaminy coach came up to me after the game and said, ‘Your midfielder was incredible - she was good in the air, and physical.’ When I told him that it was the one-year anniversary of her injury, he couldn't believe it. He said she didn’t play like she was just coming back from such a tough injury. Her toughness and determination are a big reason why she will have a successful college career at Drexel. I will enjoy watching her play at Drexel.”
About Ava:
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite movies: All Rocky movies
Favorite artists: Drake & Zach Bryan
Casey Malone – College of Charleston (Soccer)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: Charleston, Baylor, North Carolina State, Colorado State, Loyola
Reasons for choosing Charleston: “I chose the College of Charleston for the team culture, coaching staff and for the city. Charleston has the beach and has a gorgeous campus.”
Coach Audrey Anderson says: Don’t be fooled by Casey’s quietness. When she feels something is important and it will help us win, she will speak up. When Casey speaks, the team listens. There are two kinds of leaders - vocal and visual, Casey’s hard work and commitment to the game and team made her into a leader that her teammates respected and appreciated. She was hard to beat on the outside and dangerous when she went forward in the attack. Casey showed this season what it takes to come back from an injury - it’s a marathon not a sprint. Although she had a great season, she played her best soccer at the end of the season. She was fierce in the state championship game and a huge piece of our success this season. She will impact her team at the next level for sure. She is not just fast, she’s determined.”
About Casey:
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite movie: Mama Mia
Favorite artist: Sza
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