RDA Celebrates Latest Class of Graduates
May 11, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
As another competitive season for the Riverhounds Development Academy approaches its end, the players who make up the Academy's Class of 2022 gathered and were recognized in a ceremony April 25 at Highmark Stadium.
The RDA graduation had become an annual tradition since the first ceremony was held in 2016, but the pandemic interrupted the in-person celebrations. This year allowed for a return to normal activity, with a signing ceremony, dinner for the players and their families and some short speeches and presentations by the RDA coaches.
There was certainly much to celebrate in the Class of 2022, with 51 players completing their time playing for the Riverhounds. For most players, the end of their RDA tenure signals the start of a college playing career, including 14 players who will are joining NCAA Division I teams for the 2022-23 season. Another 31 are advancing to varsity teams in the Division II, Division II and NAIA ranks, while others elected to pursue academics or other goals and chose to step away from competitive soccer.
At the graduation event, some of the RDA's players took the time to talk about their academy experiences. Three of the longest-tenured players on the girls' side, Jessica Molitoris, Sydney Lindeman and Tatum Gretz - all of whom will be playing college soccer next year - spoke about how their time in the academy has them ready for that next step.
Another group of graduating players, Bubby Towns, Matt Lucas and Sam Farner, reflected on their favorite RDA memories and looked back on some of the major ECNL events and national showcases across the country where they have participated wearing the Yellow-Black-Yellow of the Hounds Academy.
With 2022-23 tryouts beginning this week and new classes of players ready to step into the program, the coaches and staff of the Hounds Academy salute their Class of 2022, thank them for their hard work, and wish them the best in all their future endeavors, both on and off the field.
2022 Riverhounds Development Academy graduates
Girls
Anastasia Crisante - Miami (Ohio)
Tessa Dellarose - North Carolina
Jurnee Durrett-Finney - Point Park
Nicole Fortes - Vermont
Lily Gaston - Johns Hopkins
Claire Gerard - West Virginia Wesleyan
Tatum Gretz - Villanova
Gabrielle Hill-Junke - Bates
Mary Kate Lape - Kent State
Sydney Lindeman - Towson
Olivia Mark - Western Ontario
Halle Marsalis - Chatham
Natalie Matthews - Purdue
Azalea Mihailovich - North Carolina-Asheville
Jessica Molitoris - Seton Hill
Kameryn Nelson - Wooster
Lindsay Pawlawski - Ohio Northern
Makenna Sansotta - Clarion
Jayden Sharpless - Georgia State
Alena Taladay - Westminster
Jade Tau - California (Pa.)
Aleena Ulke - Syracuse
Maria Veiga - Pitt-Johnstown
Brooklyn Watts - Glenville State
Ava Wert - Messiah
Sydney Williams - Susquehanna
Bethany Winnor - New Hampshire
Boys
Ethan Bowser - Washington & Jefferson
Caden Carpender - West Virginia Wesleyan
Tyler Chernisky - Washington & Jefferson
Christopher Conrad - Savannah College of Art & Design
Severin Dengel - John Carroll
Johnny Dragisich - Duquesne
Ryan Edwards - Florida Gulf Coast
Sam Farner - Liberty
DD Flowers - Cybersecurity Certification Online
Ethan Gregory - Messiah
Bailey Holbert - Waynesburg
Nick Kristian - Thiel
Nathan Lambert - Penn State Behrend
Matt Lucas - Radford
Niko Manos - Pitt-Greensburg
Nate Merritt - Penn State Altoona
Connor Oeschlin - Gardner-Webb
Ayden Payne - Mount Union
Kameron Rock - Saint Vincent
Tyler Rosborough - Marietta
Adam Stefl - Marywood
Bubby Towns - Radford
Jeremy Uher - Slippery Rock
Anthony Valerio - La Roche
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