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Noles News: FSU athletic director Michael Alford talks NIL changes, 2024 season, program outlook and more during Seminole Boosters town hall

Several Seminoles sports announce signing classes

By Perry Kostidakis
58 Comments / 58 New / new
Boston College v Florida State Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images
Perry Kostidakis has covered FSU football for over a decade, serving as Tomahawk Nation's Managing Editor since 2020

Seminole Boosters Town Hall

From a flop of a football season to a gameday experience that was grating enough to elicit massive outroar from fans early in the year, there’s been plenty for Florida State fans to voice complaints and concerns about in 2024.

To try and answer those concerns and offer an update on what’s going on around the program, both FSU athletic director and Seminole Boosters CEO Stephen Ponder hopped on a virtual town hall meeting on Wednesday, talking with the Florida State faithful on a few major topics, including:

  • FSU’s disappointing 2024 season. faith in head coach Mike Norvell

Alford offered a message of support to Norvell while also emphasizing that nobody is trying to normalize what’s gone down this season, emphasizing that what’s given him encouragement even after such a nightmare year has been the continued “energy” that Norvell’s brought to the table in addressing the issues.

“None of us anticipated or are very happy about where we are. But we are where we are. More importantly, what are we doing to address it?”

“Coach Norvell and I speak weekly...We have a shared vision and we’re going to work together to get this corrected. How we got here, there’s a lot of different factors that we won’t get into. But regardless of that, we should be better. We should not be in this situation.”

  • Upcoming NIL, player payment changes

“It’s really going to clean up where we’ve been in this wild west atmosphere we’ve had the last few years,” Alford said, explaining that, with athletes being paid directly from athletic budgets, that allows FSU’s NIL operation to essentially move fully in-house. Negotiations will occur with athletes when they enroll to establish what their media value is (on 1-2 year contracts, per Alford) while The Battles End will transition to a marketing arm — a paraphrasing of an example given was if Pat Payton has a big year, and Powerade reaches out, then The Battles End would handle setting that up.

He also mentioned that in anticipation of the cap, the school has been getting insight into the process from the Dallas Cowboys.

  • FSU vs. ACC lawsuit

Alford, for obvious reasons, didn’t dive too much into the details of the continued legal battles between the university and conference but emphasized that the issues loop back into revenue streams and making sure they’re at the level that he believes is necessary to keep FSU amongst the nation’s elite (as Ponder put it, a “blue blood.”)

“Florida State’s a national brand. Florida State wants to compete at the highest level. There’s not many institutions you can count on one hand that you have a program, an athletic program, that competes at this elite level across the board, and that’s something we’re very proud of.”

  • Interest in open FSU football coordinator positions

Alford touched briefly on the newly-open positions on Florida State’s coaching staff, saying the names that have expressed interest are major ones that carry plenty of expertise and weight.

“The search process has already started. The names, I can’t get to them of course, but let me say, the interest of people reaching out to us has been overwhelming, and you would recognize a lot of the names.”

“It shows the belief in coach Norvell. The people that have reached out to me or others, they know this program is going to be back...Everyone says you’re going to be right back, and that’s our anticipation. But the amount of interest to be a part of this program, and a part of this university and community has been overwhelming, and especially by the type of people and the resumes that they bring with them to be a part of this program.”

H/T to the Tallahassee Democrat, The Osceola, 247Sports for assisting in the confirmation and verification on quotes and notes

As soon as a recording of the meeting becomes available, we’ll share it.

Recruiting

Florida State Recruiting Class of 2025: Current Commitments

Football

Soccer

Basketball

Michael Rogner took a look inside the box score from Florida State’s win over the Tarleton State Texans this past weekend:

Jamir Watkins didn’t play much (18 minutes), and didn’t play particularly well, but he did get to the line 10 times. As we continue to compare his season to Toney Douglas’s 2008-09 campaign, this was Jamir’s 2nd consecutive game with 10+ FTAs. In the Ham era, Toney leads the program for most 10+ FTA games in a season with nine. Jamir has two in three games, and will likely pass nine sometime in January. Despite zero FTAs in the opener, Watkins is now 20th nationally in picking up fouls. Last year, in ACC play, he led the conference.

FSU women’s basketball announced the signing of two players on Wednesday — high school prospect Mari Gerton and junior college transfer Pania Davis:

Considered one of the best combo guards in Ohio, Gerton was named the District 16 Player of the Year in 2024 after averaging 21.6 points and 3.1 assists per game for Princeton High School in Cincinnati.

Gerton notched 12 games with three or more steals and 14 games with 20 or more points as a junior. She was named to the 2024 All-Ohio Girls Basketball First Team and is currently ranked the No. 4 player in the state of Ohio 2025 class, according to Prep Girls Hoops.

As a sophomore, Gerton averaged 12.9 points per game and capped off a successful season in the 2024 Division I state semifinal game where she led the Vikings to victory with 25 points. Gerton led Princeton to the state title in 2023 and was named a special mention for the All-Ohio high school girls basketball teams for Division I.

Gerton played for renowned Ohio AAU program, Legends U. She topped off a very successful AAU career as P24 U17 National Champions in July 2024. The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report has Gerton ranked 31st nationally in the 2025 class, stating that she is an, “athletic lead-guard with confident floor game handles and attacks in transition; tough to contain, best in up-tempo; changes pace, freezes the defense and finds the rim with regularity.”

Originally from Perth, Australia, and currently playing at New Mexico Junior College, this season she is averaging 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. She will have two years of eligibility remaining after this season.

Davis was named the WJCAC Freshman of the Year in 2023-24. She started in all 32 games she played, averaging 13.6 points per game, while helping the Thunderbirds to a 27-7 record. As a freshman, Davis shot 52.2 percent from the floor, while contributing 434 points and registered six 20+ scoring games. As a rebounder, Davis tallied 318 total rebounds, averaging 9.9 per game. She also added 95 blocks and 43 steals.

Davis led the T-Birds to the ninth WJCAC title in program history in 2024 after defeating Clarendon College 100-84, where she added her 13th double-double of the season, with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Davis was named to the NJCAA All-Tournament Team.

Prior to New Mexico Junior College, Davis played for the Rockingham Flames, an NBL1 West club in Western Australia, where she shot 61.1 percent in 2022.

The team will host Samford at the Donald L. Tucker Center on Thursday at 6 p.m., the second of a four-game homestand:

The Seminoles (2-1), welcome the Bulldogs (0-3) for the first time since the 2019-20 season. FSU is 5-0 against Samford in the series history, and this will be the first meeting under head coach Brooke Wyckoff between the two teams.

The contest will honor the Seminole Heritage. The team will wear turquoise shirts in pregame warmups. The color represents harmony, friendship and fellowship throughout Native American communities and is used in tribute to Florida State University’s special friendship with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

The game will air on the ACC Network Extra and the broadcast of the Seminole Sport Network can be found on 96.5 The Spear, Seminoles.com and Sirius XM channel 161 or 194.

All Sports

Florida State softball signed the No. 3 class in the country on Wednesday. bringing in nine players that made up the best class in the ACC:

“Today, we are thrilled to welcome an exceptional 2025 signing class to the Seminole family,” said head softball coach Lonni Alameda. “This group represents the core values we hold dear at Florida State—family, competitiveness and commitment. They come to us from all over the country, bringing an incredible range of talent and experience to Tallahassee. With three strong pitchers and versatile players who can cover every position in the infield and outfield, this class is prepared to step in and make an impact as we graduate a talented senior class. Recruiting them has been such a joy, and they’ve proven themselves time and again both in high school and at the travel ball level. We can’t wait to see the legacy they create here at FSU.”

Harlie Chism | Infield | Weatherford, Oklahoma | Weatherford High School

Chism comes to Tallahassee with plenty of experience at the high school, national and international level. Chism is ranked the No. 17 overall player and the No. 5 infielder by On3 out of Weatherford, Oklahoma. Chism was selected to the U18 United States Junior National Team. Playing with current Florida State freshman Bella Ruggiero, Chism competed at the 2024 WBSC U18 World Cup Stage 1 tournament where she hit .429 (6-for-14) with one RBI and five runs scored to help Team USA punch its ticket to the 2025 WBSC World Cup Finals. In three years at Weatherford, Chism hit .456 with six home runs and 32 RBI with 17 stolen bases. Chism was also a great track athlete and a basketball player. Chism earned all-conference honorable mention for basketball in 2022 and 2023 and is a three-time track state champion. In the classroom, Chism was a top 10% academic scholar, the 2024 4A Track Academic State Champion, a member of the National Honors Society and is slated to be the class valedictorian. Harlie is the daughter of Toby and Keri Chism and has four siblings, Jordan, Hunter, Steele and Stone. Harlie is a triplet with her brothers Steele and Stone. Her sister, Jordan, played softball at Oklahoma Christian University and her brother, Hunter, played baseball at Northern Oklahoma College Enid.

Head Coach Lonni Alameda: “Harlie has many tools that we are excited about to wear the Garnet and Gold. However, her ability to play the game within the game is something we really liked when recruiting Harlie. She has a good sense for the game and for our program, and we are very excited to bring that knowledge to The Plex.”

Assistant Coach Troy Cameron: “Harlie checks our core values of ‘competitive’, being that she is a triplet and has been competing with her bothers since day one! We are excited about the softball ability and skill set this Oklahoman is bringing to Tallahassee and fans will be too.”

Bella Dimitrijevic | Pitcher | Mokena, Illinois | Lincoln-Way Central High School

The 2024 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year is hoping to continue the Seminoles’ pitching legacy as she comes to Tallahassee as one of the top ranked pitchers and overall players in the 2025 class. Dimitrijevic finished last season with a 26-3 record and 0.54 ERA in 169.2 innings while striking out 354 batters. Dimitrijevic is a three-time all-state honoree and was the SWSC All Conference Red Player of the Year and the Herald-News Athlete of the Year. She is ranked the top player in Illinois, the No.8 pitcher and the No. 21 player overall by On3. Dimitrijevic competed for the Croatian National Team at the World Softball European Championships in September. Dimitrijevic pitched 21.2 innings and finished with a 2-2 record with a 2.26 ERA with 28 strikeouts which ranked seventh in the entire tournament. In the classroom, Dimitrijevic holds a 4.35 GPA and is a member of National Honors Society and the Science National Honors Society. Dimitrijevic comes from a very athletic family as her dad, Alex, played basketball at North Park University and played professionally in Europe. Her grandfather, Jim Welsh, played football at the University of Illinois. Her uncle, Eric Welsh, played baseball for Northern Illinois and played 12 years with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox organizations. Her grandmother, Nadia Maric played volleyball for the Yugoslavian National Team. Bella has one younger brother, Luka.

Head Coach Lonni Alameda: “ Bella is an elite pitcher that has numerous accolades, however, I have been so impressed with her off field character to continue to build relationships with her future teammates and coaching staff. Bella will impact this program immediately in the circle and her knowledge for growth is something I truly admire. I am very excited for our Seminole fan base to see her compete at The “Plex soon.”

Averi Dockery | Pitcher/Infield | Hilltown, Pennsylvania | Pennridge High School

Dockery is a 6-2 pitcher and infielder from Pennridge, Pennsylvania, who hopes to make an impact for the Seminoles in the circle, in the field, and at the plate. Dockery is a two-time Second Team Suburban One All-League honoree and two-time Suburban One All-League Honorable Mention. Dockery was named the 2022 Pennridge High School Defensive Player of the Year and the 2023 Pennridge High School Offensive Player of the Year. Dockery also swam in high school and is a member of the National Honors Society. Dockery plans on majoring in biology at Florida State. She is the daughter of Shannon and Timothy Dockery and her dad played professional baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds organizations.

Head Coach Lonni Alameda: “Averi is a versatile athlete that we are excited to bring on to add depth to our roster. Averi has the ability to pitch, hit and defend for this program and her desire to want to learn at a high level is something we value.”

Marlee Gaskell | Pitcher | Midlothian, Virginia | Midlothian High School

One of the best pitchers in the class is officially a Nole as Marlee Gaskell hopes to continue a long legacy of great Seminole pitchers. The 6-0 left hander from Midlothian, Virginia was named the No. 4 pitcher in the class by Extra Innings Softball and the No. 21 overall player by Line Drive Softball. Gaskell is a two time all-state, all-region, and all-metro honoree and was the Region 5C Player of the Year. Last season, Gaskell pitched 133 innings with a 1.21 ERA with 174 strikeouts compared to just 30 walks. Gaskell threw six complete shutouts and held opponents to a .168 batting average. Gaskell was also solid at the plate as she hit .408 with seven home runs and 27 RBI. Gaskell is a member of the National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honors Society, Science National Honors Society, National English Honors Society, Rho Kappa Honors Society, and the National Business Honors Society. Gaskell plans on majoring in marketing at Florida State. Marlee is the daughter of Leslie and Chris Gaskell. Chris was a center for the Wake Forest football team from 1993-97.

Head Coach Lonni Alameda: “Marlee is another quiet competitor that has a huge upside once she gets on campus. I know she will take advantage of all our support staff has to offer. Marlee and her family are all in for the team. I am excited for her ability to continue to grow daily here in Tallahassee. She will add another look from the left side and create quality depth for the Noles in the circle.”

Assistant Coach Travis Wilson: “Marlee is going to be a fantastic addition to our team. Just being around this young lady and her family is a joy. She is a hard worker who loves the opportunity to compete. Her ability to spin the ball and change speeds will be huge for our pitching staff. She has a calm presence on the mound and will be the type of player that all teammates and coaches appreciate. I’m really looking forward to watching her continued development under Coach Alameda.”

Hayley Griggs | Infield | Perrysburg, Ohio | Perrysburg High School

Griggs comes to Florida State as one of the best middle infielders in the country. Griggs has battled her way back to prominence after suffering an ACL injury which caused her to miss her entire freshman season of high school softball as well as the travel ball season in the summer. Since that moment, Griggs has been phenomenal as she was a two-time All-Ohio honoree and a two time all-district. Griggs was one of 20 players in the 2025 class to play in the PGF Futures All-American Game where she was named the MVP following her performance. Griggs is also a standout basketball player for Perrysburg and has earned all-district honors twice. Griggs was ranked No. 6 overall in the 2025 class and was ranked No. 2 at her position by Softball America. Off the field, Griggs has earned high honor roll in all three years of high school. She plans to major in business upon arriving in Tallahassee. She is the daughter of Lindsay Dwornik and Cory Griggs and has two sisters, Kylie Griggs and Torrie Purcell. Kylie is currently a senior for the Pitt Panthers softball team.

Head Coach Lonni Alameda: “When we go out recruiting, we are always looking for skills that can compete on the field to raise the game for the Seminoles. We also value the person that is going to wear the uniform and when you are able to bring in that combination of high-level skills with leadership abilities it is a homerun for the Noles. Hayley has the grit and glue that we are pumped to get on campus in the fall of 2025.”

Assistant Coach Travis Wilson: “Hayley is a versatile infielder with exceptional instincts on the bases, and her resilience and growth over the past few years have been inspiring, especially as she’s come back strong from injury. Her drive, adaptability and intelligence on the field make her a perfect fit for our style of play, and we can’t wait to see her impact as a part of our team.”

Marin Heller | Infield | West Des Moines, Iowa | West Des Moines Valley High School

Heller hails from West Des Moines, Iowa, and was one of the top players in the state at the 5A level. Heller was a First Team All-State honoree in Iowa last season as she led all of Class 5A in RBI. Heller helped West Des Moines Valley to the Class 5A State Championship Game where they fell just short. Heller was also a First Team all-conference honoree and was a member of the all-tournament team for the 5A Iowa State Tournament. Heller also was a member of her high school basketball team her freshman and sophomore season. Off the field, Heller holds a 4.0 GPA, has earned academic honors and was on the honor roll in her first three years of high school. She plans on majoring in sport management. Heller is the daughter of Linda and Chris Heller and has one sister, Audrey.

Head Coach Lonni Alameda: “Marin is a quiet competitor that loves the little things about the game. Marin has a quiet confidence in her softball skill sets but also loves the challenges of winning as a team. Marin and her family are passionate for sport, and we are very lucky that they have joining our family.”

Assistant Coach Travis Wilson: Marin is an exceptional middle infielder from Iowa, known for her high-level understanding of the game and her ability to be in the right spots defensively. She’s a true student of the sport, bringing a no-nonsense attitude that perfectly aligns with our team’s competitiveness. Florida State fans will really enjoy Marin’s approach to the game. Marin’s presence up the middle will make an immediate impact, and we can’t wait to see her excel in our program in all areas.”

Anna Hinde | Infielder/Catcher | Charlotte, North Carolina | Charlotte Christian School

Hinde is one of the top players in the 2025 class as she was ranked the No. 1 overall prospect by Legacy & Legends Softball, the No. 2 overall player in the class by MaxPreps, Extra Inning Softball and Line Drive Media. She was ranked the top infielder in the class by Extra Inning Softball. Hinde was a 2024 finalist for the the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year and earned NFCA Second Team All-Region in 2024. Hinde was also selected as a 2024 PGF Futures All-American, joining future teammates Hayley Griggs and Bella Dimitrijevic. Hinde has been dominant for Charlotte Christian School over the course of her career. In 78 high school games, Hinde is hitting .570 with 37 home runs, 126 RBI, 122 runs scored, 77 walks and a 1.261 slugging percentage. Hinde broke the single-season home run record for Charlotte Christian as a freshman with 13 home runs. Hinde helped Charlotte Christian to the school’s first 4A State Championships as they took home the title in 2022 and 2023. Hinde is just as impressive off the field as she holds a 4.356 GPA and is a member of the National Honors Society. Hinde is a four-time National High School Coaches Association First Team Academic All-American and was the Charlotte Observer’s Girls Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2022 and 2023. Hinde plans on majoring in criminology once she arrives on campus. Hinde is the daughter of Kevin and Donna Hinde. Her dad, Kevin, played baseball at Clemson. Anna has one brother, Cameron.

Head Coach Lonni Alameda: “Since the day we met Anna and her family, we clicked on all our core values. They are family through and through and care about this sport at a high level. Anna is a competitor on the field but the ultimate teammate off the field. We are elated for Anna to join our team.”

Assistant Coach Travis Wilson: “We’re thrilled to sign Anna who is one of the best players in her class and a true standout both on and off the field. Anna brings exceptional skill as a catcher and third baseman, paired with a relentless work ethic and commitment to the game. She’s not only a dedicated athlete but an incredible teammate whose positive impact is felt throughout her teams. She has been a pleasure to watch during the recruiting process, and we’re excited to see how Anna will continue to elevate our program and inspire those around her”

Danika Spinogatti | Catcher/Infield | Winter Garden, Florida | Montverde Academy

Spinogatti hails from the prestigious Montverde Academy where she turned herself into one of the top prospects in the country. Spinogatti is the No. 26 overall player by Extra Innings Softball and is a five-time Florida Class 3A All-State honoree. She was a PGF All-American Finalist in 2022 and 2023 and was selected to the USSSA Select 30 All-Star Game in 2021 and 2022 and the Triple Crown All-Star Game in 2023. She was also the Montverde Academy Athlete of the Year and became just the 10th female athlete in school’s history to win the award. Spinogatti helped Montverde Academy to its first-ever state title last season. In her career, Spinogatti holds a .395 batting average with eight home runs, 28 doubles and 79 RBI. Spinogatti played for the U18 Italian National Team and is currently in the process of earning Italian dual citizenship. Off the field, Spinogatti earned Highest Honors, is a member of the National Honors Society, Rho Kappa, National Spanish Honors Society and National Science Honors Society. She is the daughter of Dean and Camille Spinogatti and has one brother Zachary. Her father played basketball at Montclair State University.

Head Coach Lonni Alameda: “Danika has a desire to contribute to the on and off field for this program. She is going to add quality depth behind the plate.”

Assistant Coach Travis Wilson: “Danika was a late pick up for the Noles. She is a solid defender behind the plate and a patient hitter in the box. She will add some depth and a strong left-handed bat to our program. We are excited to have her and her family join our program.”

Makenna Sturgis | Infield | Tampa, Florida | Alonso High School .

Out of Tampa, Sturgis will bring some speed and toughness to the Florida State softball program. At Alonso High School, Sturgis holds a .518 batting average with 16 home runs and 60 RBI in 56 games. In those 56 games, Sturgis has recorded 47 stolen bases. Sturgis is also a standout flag football player for Alonzo High School. Sturgis was also selected to the U17 Team USA Flag Football Team where they won gold in 2023. Off the field, Sturgis holds a 3.9 GPA and is the senior class president. Sturgis is also a member of the National Honors Society, Rho Kappa, and Blue Crew. She is the daughter of Valerie Burke-Sturgis and Lance Sturgis and has one sister, Ashling.

Head Coach Lonni Alameda: Makenna is an elite athlete that has us excited to watch her run the bases for Team 43. Makenna is a hard-working softball player and can play many positions on the field, so her versatility will be exciting to watch flourish in our environment.”

Assistant Coach Travis Wilson: “Makenna is a dynamic player—fast, tough, and aggressive, both at the plate and on the bases. With her international softball experience with Team Ireland and standout flag football background, she brings a unique athleticism that FSU fans will love. We’re looking forward to watching her drive balls into the gaps, steal bases and make big defensive plays at JoAnne Graf Field.”

FSU volleyball added four players of its own — Victoria David, Nenu Kpea, Ava Lambert and Ryan Murphy:

Victoria David | Outside Hitter | 6-1 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Colégio Anglo Americano

David will come to Florida State as a very talented outside hitter who will bring international experience to Tallahassee. David had great success as a young player as she was a two-time South American Club Champion, a two-time Brazilian Superliga Club Champion, and two-time World Club Champion over the course of the last two years. David was named the best athlete in youth volleyball for the Minas Tênis Clube in 2023 and was the most improved player for the club in 2022. David has also been a huge advocate for the sport of volleyball. David represented over 150 female volleyball players to improve resources for the club as well as addressing current concerns with the club. Off the court, David has been very successful in the classroom as she was a top 10 student in her class throughout high school. David is the daughter of José and Cristina David. Victoria will become the first collegiate athlete of her family tree.

Head Coach Chris Poole: ”Victoria has been playing and training at a high level in Brazil. She is a very dedicated volleyball player and well skilled as a full rotation player. Her experience will allow her to be successful in our gym and within the ACC.”

Nenu Kpea | Middle Blocker | 6-2 | Melissa, Texas | Melissa High School

Kpea will come to Florida State from the state of Texas and hopes to be the next great Seminole middle blocker. The 6-2 star from Melissa, Texas was named the 2024 District 13 Blocker of the Year at the 5A level. Kpea was also named the Offensive Player of the Year at Melissa High School and earned all-tournament team status at the 2024 Glen Rose Tournament and the Sawyer Camilla Memorial Tournament. Kpea competed in basketball and was also a high jumper and ran the 200m dash in high school. Kpea is the daughter of Dornu Kpea and has three sisters, Duura, Ledisi and Nornu. Ledisi currently plays volleyball at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Head Coach Chris Poole: “Nenu is one of the best athletes in the country for the 2025 class. She possesses great athleticism and jump and has potential to play at the highest level. We have had extremely athletic middles at Florida State, and we see this within Nenu. We expect Nenu to contribute early in her career.”

Ava Lambert | Libero | 5-9 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Horizon High School

Lambert will come in and add a great defensive presence for the Seminoles. Lambert was rated a top 25 player by PrepVolleyball.com. She is a two-time 5A State Champion and was named the 2023 5A Region Defensive Player of the Year. She earned first team all-region honors as well as second team all-conference honors in 2023. Lambert has recorded over 1,000 digs for Horizon High School and has also recorded over 140 aces in her high school career. Ava is the daughter of Mike and Kim Lambert and has an older sister Lexi who is a setter at Biola University.

Head Coach Chris Poole: ”Ava caught our eye this summer at the National Championship tournament and has played at a high level both in high school and club in Arizona. She is a taller libero and has great range and speed in getting to the ball.”

Ryan Murphy | Setter | 6-1 | Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida | Ponte Vedra High School

Murphy is staying in the Sunshine State and is one of the top players and setters in the state. Murphy is ranked the No. 4 player in the state of Florida and has recorded over 1,700 assists in three seasons with Ponte Vedra High School. As a 6-1 setter, Murphy has recorded 63 blocks in 181 sets. Murphy has also been great behind the service line recording 35 aces in 66 sets so far this season. Murphy was also an AAU National Champion and was named the MVP and was also selected for the National Team Development Program in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2023. In the classroom, Murphy is an honor roll student and a member of the National Honors Society. She plans on majoring in business at Florida State.

Head Coach Chris Poole: ”Ryan has excellent height for a setter, and we are excited to get one of the top setters in the state of Florida working with our hitters. She is capable of running a good tempo offense and works hard to put her hitters in a great position to attack.”

And rounding things out, Florida State women’s lacrosse inked the first signees in program history:

Emily Barnette | Midfield | 5-8 | Jacksonville, Fla. | Bartram Trail High SchoolUnder Armour 150 All-American and Under Armour 150 All-Star…helped lead Bartram Trail to back-to-back 2A state championships in 2023 and 2024…scored 101 goals with 40 assists over sophomore and junior seasons…earned All-First Coast and North Florida National Team recognition both years…named to National Cup All-Tournament Team…played for Florida Shine club team…parents are John and Stephanie Barnette…dad played basketball at Anderson University and older sister, Katie, was cheerleader at Florida State.

Amelia Brite | Midfield | 5-5 | Commack, N.Y. | Commack High SchoolNamed among Newsday’s Top 100 lacrosse players on Long Island…competed for Long Island Yellow Jackets, No. 1-ranked club team in America…scored 142 career goals…three-time all-county selection…also played soccer for Commack…first freshman to make varsity team…served as team captain senior season and was named among Newsday’s Top 100 soccer players on Long Island…three-time all-county soccer selection…earned all-state honors…voted senior class Vice President…National Honor Society member…parents are Mathew and Natalia Brite.

Mackenzie Conversano | Defense | 5-7 | Huntington, N.Y. | Harborfields High SchoolFour-year varsity lacrosse team member…earned all-division recognition in 2023 and 2024…National Honor Society member…also played field hockey and was team captain during senior year…earned all-county recognition in 2023 and played for county championship team in freshman season…played for Long Island Top Guns club team…parents are Chris and Robin Conversano…mom played lacrosse and field hockey at Hofstra University…brother, Matthew, played lacrosse at Western Connecticut University…sister, Jordan, plays lacrosse at Johns Hopkins University.

Charlise Cox | Midfield | 5-10 | Norwell, Mass. | Norwell High SchoolTwo-time South Shore League All-Star…2023 and 2024 Eastern Massachusetts Girls all-star honorable mention…selected for 2025 Nike American Select Team…2022 US Lacrosse National Tournament Team for Massachusetts and Rhode Island…2024 Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic Team…helped lead Norwell to semifinal round of Division 4 state playoffs her junior year…helped Clippers advance to Division 3 state championship game during sophomore season and state quarterfinals freshman year…played for MASS Elite club team…also played volleyball at Norwell…parents are Dan and Lisa Cox…sister, Danielle, plays lacrosse at University of Tampa.

Annie Devine | Midfield | 5-9 | Chicago, Ill. | Loyola AcademyTwo-time All-American…helped lead Loyola Academy to state championships in 2023 and 2024…scored 23 goals with eight assists during 2024 state championship season…contributed to Ramblers earning 43 wins during two state title years…played for Lakeshore and Lacrosse Monkeys club teams…parents are Matthew and Nora Devine.

Anna Ellis | Midfield | 5-5 | Chapel Hill, N.C. | East Chapel Hill High SchoolFirst-team all-state performer…two-time all-conference selection…has totaled 255 points behind 168 goals and 87 assists…scored 66 goals with 32 assists in 2024 as East Chapel Hill advanced to second round of 4A state playoffs…registered 71 goals and 38 assists to lead Wildcats to second round of 2023 state playoffs…scored 31 goals and recorded 17 assists in 2022 to help East Chapel Hill reach quarterfinal round of state playoffs…played for Ultimate Lacrosse club team…also played volleyball for East Chapel Hill and earned honorable mention all-conference honors…parents are Kevin and Beth Ellis…mom played lacrosse at Hobart and William Smith…sister, Riley, plays lacrosse at George Mason.

Caroline Kelly | Goalie | 5-7 | Baltimore, Md. | Archbishop Spalding High SchoolThree-time CSE All-America Class of 2025 standout…helped lead Archbishop Spalding to semifinal round of 2024 state playoffs and quarterfinal round her sophomore season…National Honor Society member…played in 2023 CSE All-America Games…played for Lacrosse Monkey club team…also competed in ice hockey, field hockey, basketball and track and field…parents are Stephen and Stephanie Kelly…mom played soccer at William and Mary.

Danica King | Attack | 5-7 | Franktown, Colo. | Ponderosa High SchoolUnder Armour 150 MVP…twice earned all-conference recognition playing for Chaparral High School…scored 65 goals with 25 assists through first three seasons…helped Wolverines reach 5A state playoffs in sophomore season…played for Team 180 club team…played flag football at Ponderosa…led team in rushing, receiving and touchdowns in 2024…earned first-team all-conference honors at defensive flex position and second-team recognition at running back…team captain for lacrosse and flag football…first-team academic all-conference honoree…parents are Mark and Laura King…dad was on wrestling team at Marquette.

Brynn Perkins | Midfield | 5-2 | Tustin, Calif. | Foothill High School2024 Orange County Player of the Year…four-year varsity starter and two-time team captain…helped lead Foothill High School to back-to-back CIF championships…scored 109 goals with 45 assists…totaled 96 points during junior year, courtesy of 69 goals and 27 assists, as Knights reached CIF Division I championship game…scored 14 goals and added nine assists on championship team her sophomore campaign…scored 26 goals with nine assists during freshman year as Foothill finished 2021 as No. 1-ranked team in California and No. 9 team nationally…played for Mad Dog club team…parents are Paul and Megan Perkins.

Paige Peters | Midfield | 5-6 | Orange County, Calif. | Santa Margarita Catholic High SchoolTwo-time USA All-American…back-to-back Trinity League MVP…scored 217 goals and 61 assists in 55 games played…recorded 77 goals with 26 assists while helping lead Santa Margarita Catholic to Division I state playoffs in 2024…registered 72 goals and 24 assists during sophomore season…scored 68 goals with 11 assists for 18-win team in 2022…USA Academic All-American and National Honor Society member…played for LaxSmith and Mad Dog club teams…also played for state champion soccer team at Santa Margarita Catholic…parents are Greg and Naomi Peters…dad played football and baseball at Tufts University.

Katherine Rathjen | Attack | 5-8 | Head of the Harbor, N.Y. | St. Anthony’s High SchoolHelped lead St. Anthony’s to three straight state championships…Friars currently are nation’s No. 1-ranked team…competed for Long Island Yellow Jackets, No. 1-ranked club team in America…contributed to St. Anthony’s perfect 19-0 record in junior season as Friars outscored opponents 242-75…National Honor Society member…parents are Mark and Janice Rathjen…dad played lacrosse and mom played volleyball at St. Bonaventure…sister, Samantha, competed on rowing team at Villanova.

Hannah Toole | Attack | 5-3 | Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. | Ponte Vedra High SchoolUnder Armour All-American…2024 All-First Coast honoree…named to US Lacrosse North Florida National Team in 2022, 2023 and 2024…2023 American Select Florida Regional Team…led Ponte Vedra in assists during freshman, sophomore and junior seasons…scored 39 goals with 52 assists in 2024 to help Sharks reach regional final round of 1A state playoffs…recorded 40 assists and 18 goals in sophomore year as Ponte Vedra advanced to semifinal round of state playoffs and finished as No. 4-ranked team in Florida and No. 9 team nationally…accounted for 33 points with 16 goals and 17 assists during freshman season when Sharks reached regional final round of 2A state playoffs…played for Florida Shine club team…parents are Dan and Brianne Toole…sisters Emma and Lily play lacrosse at Anderson University and Furman University, respectively.

Peyton West | Attack | 6-0 | Great Falls, Va. | Langley High SchoolEarned first-team all-region and first-team all-district honors…team captain…USA Academic All-American and National Honor Society member…helped lead Langley to Class 6 Region D playoffs…played for Capital Lacrosse club team…also was team captain on field hockey team, helping Saxons reach playoffs in 2023 and 2024…earned first-team all-district and second-team all-region…parents are Mark and Robin West…dad played basketball and mom was on swim team at Johns Hopkins.

Brogan Wiles | Midfield | 5-6 | Upper Arlington, Ohio | Upper Arlington High School2023 state champion…scored 18 goals with 19 assists in two seasons…recorded 15 goals with 13 assists during junior season while helping lead Upper Arlington to 2024 state championship game…registered six assists and three goals for Division I state championship team in sophomore year…played for Impact Lacrosse club team…also played soccer for Upper Arlington, helping Grizzlies win district title and advance to regional final round of state playoffs in 2023 and 2024…parents are Jamie and Cheri Wiles…dad played football and lacrosse at Ohio Wesleyan and hockey at Miami University.

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