MANCHESTER, N.H. — This fall, six future Penmen signed National Letters of Intent to enroll at Southern New Hampshire University and play for the men's lacrosse program, Paul Calkins, Southern New Hampshire head coach, announced. The signees include attackman Tom Schultz (Trumbull, Conn.), midfielder Joseph Mayernik (Pearl River, N.Y.), defensemen Logan Wise (Hingham, Mass.), Sal Lomedico (Harrison, N.Y.) and Zach Dunning (Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y.), and long-stick midfielder Connor Van Wie (Milford, Pa.). The players hail from Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Under head coach Jim Kammerman, Schultz has emerged as one of the top attackmen in the state of Connecticut during his time as a Trumbull High School Eagle. In his previous two seasons at the varsity level, Schultz has registered 46 goals and 25 assists for 71 points. He ranked No. 29 in the state in overall scoring a season ago, while also finishing No. 6 for junior attackmen. Schultz helped lead his club team, Team 203AA, to the Legacy Invitational and Stowe Tournament championships this past summer as he tallied 40 goals and handed out 16 assists in 20 games.
"Tom comes from a very strong high school program and is a tremendous goal scorer," said Calkins. "He has great hands and will be a welcome addition to our potent attack."
Mayernik was an All-IV-B League and All-County performer under Al Staker at Pearl River High School last season. He helped turn Al Staker's Pirates from a sub-.500 team in 2013 to an IV-B championship squad in 2014. Mayernik wrapped up his fifth season of club lacrosse for Brotherhood Lacrosse this summer under coach Brian O'Rorke and recently completed his senior season of football by garnering All-League laurels.
"Joe is a very smart midfielder that can play at both ends of the field," Calkins said. "He is a student of the game that continues to get better by seeking out ways in which he can improve."
A three-sport standout in football, wrestling, and lacrosse at Hingham High School, Wise enters his fourth season on the Harbormen's defensive unit. He helped guide John Todd's team to berth in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) state championship game a season ago and also capped off his second go-around with the Boston Laxachusetts club team during the summer of 2014. The 6-2, 200-pound Wise also excelled on the wrestling mat for Hingham as he earned a second-place individual finish in the MIAA Division II Wrestling South Sectional Championship while also leading the Harbormen to a team runner-up performance in the MIAA south sectionals.
Calking added, "Logan comes to us with all the tools that make him a very good defenseman. He has size and strength with an excellent skill set that enables him to understand his defensive responsibilities at that end of the field."
Lomedico makes his way to Manchester after anchoring the defense for former Penmen standout Jason Rabinowitz's Harrison High School Huskies. Rabinowitz was a defenseman for Calkins at SNHU from 1994-97. Lomedico has been a member of the football, track, wrestling, and lacrosse teams during his time at Harrison, and was a driving force behind the lacrosse squad's run to the Section I Class B semifinals in 2014. In the summer of 2014, he competed for Topside Lacrosse at the club level under head coach Justin Otto.
"Sal is an aggressive, takeaway defenseman with a strong skill set," Calkins said. "He is a shutdown defender who throws heavy checks and is going to be a key addition to our defense."
Dunning enters his senior season as a captain of Bruce Reitenbach's Cornwall Central High School Dragons. The 6-3 210-pound defender has helped Cornwall Central to back-to-back Section 9 Class B championships and also is a member of the Hudson Valley Express Black elite travel team under Mark Young.
"Zach has great size with very good stick skills," said Calkins. "He possesses excellent footwork and is an exceptional off-ball defender who will compete for playing time right away."
Van Wie is a four-year member of the Delaware Valley High School Warrior soccer and lacrosse teams. He played a crucial role on Jeff Krasulski's lacrosse team that generated an 18-3 overall record and posted four shutouts and a goals-against-average of less than four during the 2014 season. Van Wie was an All-Wyoming Valley Lacrosse League selection as a junior and was a vital part of the Warriors' run to the District II championship and unblemished 12-0 record in league play.
Calking added, "Connor plays much bigger than his 5-7 stature and elevates his play in crucial situations. He is a smart and tenacious wing player who's work ethic sets an example for those around him."
Southern New Hampshire opens up its 2015 men's lacrosse season on Feb. 25 with a road contest against American International College at 4 p.m.
