Top Tier Elite Academy Recap: Curriculum Overview & All-Showcase Teams Presented by Gait Lacrosse

The inaugural Top Tier Elite Academy made an immediate statement this past Saturday, bringing together over 160 elite players from the Class of 2028 and 2029 for a premier development and exposure experience. Athletes traveled in from across the country to compete in a highly competitive environment designed to challenge players while elevate their growth. From the opening whistle, the pace and intensity reflected the high level of talent in attendance, with players consistently showcasing advanced stick skills, lacrosse IQ, and positional versatility. Brooke Magnuson, Founder of Top-Tier Recruiting transformed the traditional showcase experience into one filled with joy, energy, and value for both the players and all parents in attendance. Learn more about one of the best girls showcase experiences of the winter below.

A major highlight of the event was the presence of numerous top Division I college coaches, who were actively engaged on the field throughout the day. Rather than simply observing, coaches worked hands-on with athletes, teaching position-specific techniques, emphasizing decision-making, and providing direct feedback through college-level drill environments.  The Long Island Lacrosse Journal was on site all day, delivering live updates, video highlights, and photo coverage while closely evaluating talent across both classes. Recapping this year’s Top Tier Elite Academy, let’s live into the curriculum and players that impressed!

Curriculum

Player Development The morning opened with college-level drill environments led by Division I coaches, allowing players to refine technical details while learning how their roles fit into larger team concepts. Odd-man build-up drills challenged athletes to read space, communicate, and make quick, efficient decisions under pressure, reinforcing offensive creativity and defensive recovery. On the defensive side, players worked through situational and team-based drills that emphasized approach angles, slide timing, and off-ball awareness. All sessions were run in a fast-paced environment, pushing players to adapt on the fly, process information quickly, and elevate their lacrosse IQ, giving participants a clear look at what it takes to succeed at the next level. Small Sided Games Following the station work players transitioned into sided games in the bubble starting with the 2028s while the 2029s made their way upstairs for a recruiting talk led by Top Tier Recruiting Coordinator Brooke Magnuson and a panel of college coaches. After an hour of gameplay for 28s and an hour of recruiting talk for the 29s the two grades switched for the final hour of the morning. 7s Tournament  After lunch the day concluded with a highly competitive 7s tournament between the six teams in the 2028 pool and the six teams in the 2029 pool. Each mini-game included specific constraints designed to test creativity, teamwork, and adaptability under pressure. Point systems were changed game to game, forcing players to be adaptable and emphasize key principles of play. The format encouraged quick decision-making, smart ball movement, and team-first play—mirroring the modern college game. Every team played a total of 5 games, competing against ever team. The top team in the 2028 pool and the top team in the 2029 pool were awarded Championship tee shirts presented by Top-Tier Recruiting.

2028 All-Showcase Team

Paige Bamburowski – Midfield – Eagle Stix 2028 Blue Abigail Bauer – Midfield – Yellow Jackets Kidd/Carannante Bryce Birkholz – Midfield – Eagle Stix 2028 Blue Charlotte Cavalone – Defense – Yellow Jackets Maget/Bertolone Theresa Codispoti – Goalie – Long Island Legacy Emma Cregan – Attack – BBL Luca Diehl – Midfield – Eagle Stix 2028 Blue Fabiana Gallagher – Attack – Yellow Jackets Maget/Bertolone Lila Gilbart – Attack – Prime Time Lizzy Hagopian – Defense – Yellow Jackets Maget/Bertolone Kathleen Hardy – Midfield – Lacrosse Monkey / Team One Juliet Johnson – Goalie – Yellow Jackets Maget/Bertolone Lily Kavanagh – Defense – LI Liberty Taylor Martin – Attack – Coppermine Black 2028 Caitlin McAleenan – Midfield – Capital Blue 2028 Lorelei McGorty – Midfield – STEPS Elite Tess McGuire – Defense – Jesters Black Biko McNeil – Defense – BBL Ryan Milim – Midfield – Sound Sydney Millett – Goalie – Yellow Jackets Napolitano/Chamberlain Katie Murphy – Attack – Yellow Jackets Maget/Bertolone Maddie Quinlan – Defense – Top Guns Black Addison Quinn – Midfield – STEPS Elite Jordin Rosga – Attack – Yellow Jackets Maget/Bertolone Tiergan Rowe – Goalie – Team NorCal / ADVNC Girls NDP Hazel Shively – Attack – Eagle Stix 2028 Blue Dempsey Smith – Defense – Yellow Jackets Kidd/Carannante Vivienne Stramara – Defense – STEPS Elite Ava Von Kleeck – Midfield – Prime Time Kate Wood – Attack – HHH Philly Natalie Yoo – Attack – Yellow Jackets Maget/Bertolone

2029 All-Showcase Team

Annabella Agarwal – Goalie – STEPS Elite Navy Payton Brzeski – Defense – Yellow Jackets Friedman Sophia Caramico – Attack – Igloo Sophia Enea – Midfield – Yellow Jackets Friedman Taylor Errante – Defense – Yellow Jackets Friedman Phoebe Fisher – Defense – Yellow Jackets North Addison Fox – Attack – Team 91 Roar Lainie Friedman – Attack – Yellow Jackets Friedman Lily Gentile – Goalie – Team 91 Roar Emma Glick – Defense – Yellow Jackets Friedman Michaela Grever – Attack – Team 91 Roar Sophie Kasouf – Midfield – Team 91 Roar Harper Kleet – Defense – Yellow Jackets Friedman Ellery Kraus – Midfield – CT Grizzlies Olivia Leopardi – Midfield – Yellow Jackets Friedman Olivia Leslie – Midfield – CT Grizzlies Nicole Manolakes – Attack – Yellow Jackets Friedman Jaidyn Marchitto – Midfield – Team 91 Roar Brogan Marsh – Midfield – Yellow Jackets / Lacrosse Monkey Molly McNamara – Midfield – Yellow Jackets Friedman Ali Melchiorre – Midfield – STEPS Elite Navy Avery Needle – Attack – Yellow Jackets Friedman Kodikay Neuhauser – Midfield – 3D Georgia Vanessa Novelli – Defense – Team 91 Roar Shannon O’Shea – Midfield – Jesters Pirreca Sarah Paci – Midfield – Yellow Jackets Friedman Sloane Shalhoub – Defense – CT Grizzlies Holly Sullivan – Midfield – Top Guns Black Eleanor Taglienti – Midfield – Eagle Stix 2029 Blue Natalie Takacs – Attack – Yellow Jackets Friedman

Young Guns that Impressed

Julia Babst – Attack – Yellow Jackets Babst Ava Ciofrone – Midfield – Yellow Jackets Babst Kenzie Klammer – Midfield – Yellow Jackets Babst Avah Robinson – Midfield – Team 91 Roar