Recruitment Class of 32 Athletes Ready to Make Their Mark as Ramblers

With a new class of 32 recruits, the anticipation for the 2024-25 Loyola Athletics calendar is building. New Ramblers joining the ranks of seven sports signed their letters of intent to play at Loyola Nov. 8-9. 

Men’s Basketball 

Joining head coach Drew Valentine and men’s basketball recruits Jack Turner and Brayden Young. 

Turner is a 6’3” guard out of St. John Bosco High School in Temecula, California. 

“We were looking for someone that can create offense on their own as a ball handler and Jack fits that mold,” Valentine said. “He’s a tough, slippery and shifty shot creator that can also facilitate offense and has a good feel for the game.” 

Young is a 6’9’’ forward from Cy Falls High School in Houston, Texas. 

“He’s a fast twitch athlete at his size with speed, vertical pop and lateral quickness,” Valentine said. “But not only is he impressive physically, he has good ball skills as well as natural touch finishing and shooting.”

Women’s Basketball

Head coach Allison Guth is bringing a large class of six new recruits to the hardwood. Joining the Ramblers are Holly Dolny, Roison Grandberry, Kendall Hendrix, Alexa Kinas, Yasmyn Palmer and Brooklyn Vaughn.

Dolny, a 5 ‘8’’ forward from Heathdale Christian College in Werribee, Australia, is the only international player to sign a letter of intent for Loyola in the November signing window. 

“Holly is a skilled basketball player who values assisting her teammates, while also carrying a scoring edge,” Guth said.

Grandberry, a 6 ‘4 center from Rolling Meadows, Illinois, is ranked No. 74 by 2024 Recruiting Rankings. 

“We are eager to utilize her ability to put the ball in the hoop and create opportunities for her teammates with her special skill set as a tremendous post passer,” Guth said.  

Hendrix is a 5 ’11’’ wing from West Bloomfield High School in Michigan. Kendall looks to fit right into Guth’s system as she prepares for the 24-25 season. 

“Kendall will immediately impact us with her motor, basketball IQ, lock down defensive talent and ability to score the ball,” Guth said. 

Hailing from Kaukauna High School in Wisconsin is Kinas. The 5 ‘8 point guard played with the Wisconsin Flight Elite, a team in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League. 

“Alexa is a highly skilled point guard who values setting the table while also being a multi-level scorer,” Guth said.

Palmer, a 6 ‘2 power forward from Cranbrook Kingswood in Southfield, Michigan, is an exciting new pickup, according to Guth. 

“Yasmyn is a physical and skilled post player who values rebounds and exposing her opponents with her strength and doing the work early,” Guth said.  

Rounding out the recruiting class for women’s basketball is Vaughn. The 6’0 forward out of Central Catholic High School in Maumee, Ohio boasts an impressive record and was even named D-II First Team All-Ohio. 

“Brooklyn is a skilled basketball player who values rebounds and alters her opponents’ shots with a competitive edge on the defensive end,” Guth said.

Women’s Volleyball

Head coach Amanda Berkley has recruited five new additions to the team from all over the nation. 

Sam Falk is a 5’6 libero from Mother Mcauley in Chicago, Illinois who helped her team, 1st Alliance VBC, go to nationals and earn fifth place in 2022. 

“Sam is an elite level passer and defender who comes from a very high-level club,” Berkley said. “She is someone we have been excited about for some time to be a Rambler and know she will contribute early on and challenge for that libero position.”

Kate Maley is a six foot outside hitter from Legacy VBC 18-1 Adidas in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She was team and floor captain at Skyline in 2023 and reached 1,000 kills throughout her career. 

“She had an impressive club campaign, filling different roles, playing on the right side, outside, and all the way around,” Berkley said. 

Jae Fitting is a 5’7 libero from Milwaukee Gold Sting in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Fitting held No. one dig ranking and No. 36 in the nation. Through her highschool career she played 357 sets, 313 assists, 162 aces and 1,692 digs. 

“She brings a ton of energy to the court and is a great passer and defender,” Berkley said. “We are excited to see what Jae can do for the Ramblers.”

Kaitlyn Burke is a 5’11 outside hitter from Pohaku VBC in Shawnee, Kansas. She ended her highschool career with 682 kills and 496 digs. 

“Kaitlyn is a versatile hitter who has a very long reach and will be able to swing at a very high level,” Berkley said. “She is a natural leader and will be someone who will challenge for the starting outside hitter position right away.”

Finally is Chloe Morgan, a six-foot middle blocker from Xcel 18 Adidas in Mont Belvieu, Texas. Through her highschool career she had 254 blocks and 643 kills. She was awarded Newcomer of the Year, Academic All-District and Under Armour All-American in 2022. 

“She is very quick laterally and explosive off the ground,” Berkley said. “We see her making an impact right away with her work ethic, ability to be always available to the setter and be an effective middle blocker.”

Women’s Soccer 

Packed to the brim with talent, women’s soccer recruited eight new athletes in this year’s signing window. Joining the Ramblers are Zoey Bohemer, Catherine Cline, Roos van Roekel, Stella Kohl, Olivia Anderson, Lydia Case, Alex Gib and Jocelyn Leigh. 

Bohemer is a goalkeeper from Wheaton North in Wheaton, Illinois. Bohemer earned All-State, All-Conference, Dukane Goalkeeper of the Year and Shaw Media All-Area.

“Zoey is a very solid goalkeeper that makes difficult saves look routine with her reading of the game and solid footwork,” head coach Barry Bimbi said.

Cline is a defender from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. Cline is a two-time All-City Soccer Team selection, All-District Team Honoree, 2022 All-State Pick and 2023 All-USA Central Indiana Super Team. 

“Catherine has a physical presence on the field defensively, has the ability to score goals, and can play multiple positions at the college level,” Bimbi said. 

Roekel is a defender from Barrington, Illinois. Playing a crucial role in her 2023 season she helped lead her team to a state runner-up finish. 

“Roos came onto our radar late in the process and has shown to be a proven winner at the club and high school levels. She can play anywhere along the backline which is a valuable asset,” Bimbi said. 

Kohl is a defender from York high school in Elmhurst, IL. Kohl earned All-Conference honors during her high school season.

“Stella has the versatility to play different positions at the college level because of her tactical awareness and technical skill,” Bimbi said. 

Olivia Anderson is a midfielder from Central high school in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Anderson was named a 2023 Elites Club National League Player to Watch while also earning three All-Conference Honors. 

“Olivia is a tough midfielder that can break up any attack but also has a nose for goal in the final third of the field,” Bimbi said. 

Case is a midfielder from St. Ursula Academy in Sylvania, Ohio. Case was named 2022 Tri-River Athletic Conference Player of the Year and earned All-Conference, All-State and All-Region honors.  

“Lydia is a crafty midfielder that sees the game at a high level and makes the players around better,” Bimbi said.

Gib out of Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia is a dual threat in her positions as she plays midfielder and forward. She earned four-time All-Region and three-time All-State selections. 

“Alex covers a ton of ground in the midfield and has the ability to break down defenses off the dribble,” Bimbi said. 

Rounding out the recruits for Loyola women’s soccer is Leigh. The forward from Evanston Township in Illinois, has earned All-State honors, All-Conference honors, and MVP honors while also scoring 51 goals and 17 assists over her last two seasons. 

“Jocelyn is a proven goal scorer at the club and high school levels. She has the composure and competitive attributes that will translate nicely to the college game,” Bimbi said.

Women’s Softball 

Head coach Alicia Abbot recruited six new athletes — Addy Borg, Abby Johnson, Addyson Jones, Allison Pawlowicz, Kayci Rigby and Averi Vander Woude. 

Borg is an infielder from Basha High School in San Tan Valley, Arizona who played for the Arizona Storm Westover 18U travel squad. 

“Addy is kind, hard-working and always striving to be the best version of herself, both on and off the field,” Abbot said. “She will bring power to our line-up and smooth hands at the corners of our infields.”

Johnson is from Providence Catholic in Mokena, Illinois. She earned All-Conference and MVP honors as a second-year.

“She is a true utility player who can play just about anywhere on the field, and she will play any of those positions well,” Abbot said. 

Jones is an outfielder from Lafayette in Wildwood, Missouri. She earned All-Conference, All-District and All-Region honors. Jones was also a four-time Academic All-State selection. 

“She brings a bat to our lineup that knows consistency and how to get on base but is always striving to be a little better than she was yesterday,” Abbot said. 

Allison Pawlowicz is an infielder and outfielder from Lemont in Woodridge, Illinois. She earned sportsmanship awards and also picked up All-Conference honors as a third-year. 

“She knows what it takes to compete at a high level, how to win and how to enjoy the experience along the way,” Abbot said. 

Rigby is an infielder from Ballard Huxley, Iowa who was used as a utility player for the Iowa Premier Fast-Pitch. She is also a four-year honor roll member and was named the DMACC Dean’s list. 

“Kayci is dedicated to always getting better, a great teammate and knows how to play and win at a level that is made up of the best of the best,” Abbot said. 

Vander Woude is an outfielder from Lincoln-Way East in Frankford, Illinois who also played volleyball in her first and second years. 

“Averi is passionate about softball, trusts the process of doing things the right way, and is the first teammate to step up if anyone around her wants someone to get better with or needs someone to talk to,” Abbot said.

Men’s Golf

Men’s golf added three new players to the team who are staying close to home, as all three recruits hail from Illinois. Joining the team for the 2024-25 season are Clay Heilmen, Alex Rasmussen and Connor Woodwin.

Heilman, a three time All-Conference player, comes from St. Charles North High School in South Elgin, Illinois. 

“Clay has always been one of the highest ranked players in the state for his class,” head coach Erick Hoops said. “His golf swing, his demeanor and his strive to succeed were all very impressive. We just had to show him that we are the right type of program to help him reach his goals both on and off the course.”

Rasmussen comes from Hinsdale Central High School and with him he brings All-State honors for a top 10 finish in the Illinois 3A State Championship. 

“Alex had one of the most impressive academic profiles I have ever seen in my years of coaching,” Hoops said. “So it was obvious that he would be a good fit for our program on that front.”

Woodwin comes from Buffalo Grove High School and is a two time winner of the Buffalo Grove Invitational, a city-wide tournament. 

“He did not take much time after visiting to let me know that he wanted to join our program, and after committing had an amazing high school season where he really separated himself as one of the best juniors in the Chicagoland area,” Hoops said.

Women’s Golf 

Head coach Brandy Johnston brings in two impressive out-of-state athletes with Madison Haugen and Grace Hui.

Haugen comes from East Brookfield High School in Wisconsin and boasts an impressive resume, one of her feats being a fourth place finish at the WPGA Junior Championship. 

“She has the drive, competitiveness and the work ethic to be a very successful college player, and I can’t wait to see what she can accomplish in the next 4 years,” Johnston said.

Out of Archbishop Mitty in San Jose, California is two-time West Coast Athletic League All-League first team member Hui.

“What I like about Grace is that she’s an athlete and a competitor,” Johnston said. “She has the ability to make an instant impact on our program, both on the golf course and in the classroom.”

This story was written by Colin Kennedy and Cristina Del Llano

Featured image by D’Niya Little-Segers | The Phoenix