NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Andy Shay, the Forst Family Head Coach of Yale Men's Lacrosse, welcomes 14 talented newcomers to the roster for the 2026 season, each bringing an impressive record of achievements both on and off the field.
 
Here's a closer look at the newcomers:
 
Dylan Blekicki, Attack
Warren, N.J. | Pingry

• Before Yale: All-time leading goal scorer and point scorer at Pingry School with 160 goals, 64 assists, and 224 total points…Senior Captain...2025 Skyland Conference Player of the Year...First Team All-State Non-Public A honoree…Two-time First Team All-Skyland Conference selection… Helped lead team to two Skyland Conference championships.
• Personal: Son of Gina and Doug Blekicki…Has a younger brother named Colin...Extracurriculars include coaching youth lacrosse, varsity basketball, and playing golf.
• Why Yale: "I chose Yale for its high academics along with a competitive lacrosse team."

 
Gaetano Cicotello, Defense
Washington, D.C. | Gonzaga HS

• Before Yale: Recipient of First Honors, awards for the highest academic achievement in a semester at Gonzaga High School…Plays lacrosse, football and basketball…Career statistics include 136 caused turnovers and 208 ground balls…Three-time All-WCAC…Two-time All-Met…New Balance All-American…Is a 2024 WCAC Champion, and team was ranked #2 in the country in 2022.
• Personal: Son of Thomas and Samantha Cicotello…Also plays golf and guitar…Is a volunteer at the McKenna Center (homeless shelter).
• Why Yale: "I chose Yale so I could challenge myself both on the lacrosse field and in the classroom, additionally I enjoy the gothic architecture around campus."

 
Ben Cuomo, Faceoff
Columbia, Md. | Calvert Hall College

• Before Yale: Four-year letterwinner in lacrosse at Calvert Hall College…Named an Archdiocese of Baltimore Distinguished Scholar…Career statistics include 674 faceoffs won out of 1,014, with five goals and five assists…Recognitions include USA Academic All-American, New Balance All-American, USA Mid-Atlantic Faceoff Midfielder of the Year, First Team All-State, First Team All-Metro, All-MIAA, and Peace Lacrosse Player of the Year.
• Personal: Son of Elena and Scott Cuomo…Extracurriculars include lifeguarding, teaching swim lessons, volunteer coaching, and goes yearly to Wreaths Across America.
• Why Yale: "I chose Yale because of the opportunity to grow as a student-athlete in a community of driven individuals who work together to find success for the community and world as a whole."

 
Luke DeAngelis, Defense
Holmdel, N.J. | Phillips Andover

• Before Yale: Lettered in both ice hockey and lacrosse…Was tabbed an Academic All-American in 2025…Defeated rival Phillips Exeter in the final game of his senior season.
• Personal: Son of Mark and Denise DeAngelis…Extracurriculars include being a math instructor and tutor…Is an intern for ASGA (American Saltwater Guides Association)...Father is a 1992 Yale graduate and competed in the high jump for the Yale track and field team.
• Why Yale: "I initially chose Yale purely for its phenomenal academic reputation. I'm also incredibly blessed to join a lacrosse team so committed to both intra-team camaraderie and success in competition."

 
Braydon Ellis, Midfield
Piedmont, Calif. | Choate Rosemary Hall (Colorado College)

• Before Yale: Varsity letterwinner in football and lacrosse…2022 Academic All-American (Western New England), All-New England Prep School Athletic Council Team (2022)…All-Founders League Team (2022)…2022 Choate Rosemary Hall Team Captain…2024 NSCA Strength and Conditioning All-American (Colorado College).
• Personal: Son of Jim and Missy Ellis…Has a sister Morgan who was a NCAA D1 Ski Racer for Boston College (Class of 2024).
• Why Yale: "To be around people who push me to be a better version of myself in the classroom and on the field."

 
Sean Grogan, Attack
Louisville, KY. | Culver Military Academy

• Before Yale: Varsity letterwinner at Culver Military Academy…Tallied 65 points his senior year and 63 points his junior year…Two-time First Team All-Conference honoree…New Balance All-American…Adrenaline All-American…Team highlights include four-time MSLA champion, NHSLS champion, and two-time Prep Nationals champion.
• Personal: Son of Kristen and Stephen Grogan…Father played lacrosse at Siena College and sister plays lacrosse at Ohio Wesleyan University.
• Why Yale: "I chose Yale because of the tremendous education and the connections I can create to help myself in the future."

 
Lincoln Herring, Attack
Murrieta, Calif. | Boys' Latin School of Maryland

• Before Yale: Three-time varsity letterwinner… Adrenaline All-American and U.S. Lacrosse All-American… Member of the National Honor Society… Williams Scholar… Dean's List recipient and AP Scholar.
• Personal: Son of William and Sue Ann Herring… Youth lacrosse coach… Hobbies include biking, weightlifting, cooking, and gaming… Youngest of three siblings.
• Why Yale: "I chose Yale for the one-of-a-kind opportunity to study and compete in lacrosse at one of the best academic institutions in the world."

 
Henry Hughes, Attack
Waccabuc, N.Y. | The Taft School

• Before Yale: Three-year varsity letterwinner in lacrosse…First-Team All-League (CHSAA) in 2022…Founders League Champion (2023) and CHSAA Champion (2022).
• Personal: Son of Keith and Cheryl Hughes…Father played hockey in college…Has three younger brothers.
• Why Yale: "I chose Yale for its culture of hard work and excellence in both academics and athletics."

 
Flynn Leonard, Midfield
Louisville, Colo. | Monarch

• Before Yale: Four-year varsity letterwinner…Career stats include 190 points, 132 goals, and 58 assists…USA Lacrosse All-American, USA Academic All-American, Colorado 5A First-Team All-State, Colorado 5A First-Team All-Conference, and two-year varsity captain.
• Personal: Son of Mike and Tracy Leonard…Has two sisters, Tenley and Emerson…Father played lacrosse at Lehigh.
• Why Yale: "I chose Yale because I wanted to be part of a community where everyone is pushing themselves and each other to be their best. Between the incredible professors, resources, and support for both students and athletes, it felt like the perfect fit. And with Yale's lacrosse program being one of the best in the country, becoming a Bulldog was an opportunity I couldn't pass up."

 
Oliver Nappi, Attack
Orange, Conn. | Choate Rosemary Hall

• Before Yale: Three-year varsity letterwinner in lacrosse…Team captain…Four-Star Inside Lacrosse recruit…2025 USA Lacrosse Magazine Northeast All-Region Team…2025 All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention…2025 The Robert Berry Lacrosse Award Honorable Mention (team award)…2024 All-New England West Division I Honorable Mention.
• Personal: Son of Alisha and Sean Nappi…Extracurriculars include playing guitar, performing with the Choate Rosemary Hall Maiyeros Acapella Group, and singing in Chorale.
• Why Yale: "I chose Yale because not only to challenge myself in an intensive team environment, but also to receive a world-class education and continue refining skills that will lead towards long-term success. At Yale, it was clear I didn't have to make a choice of being strictly an athlete or a student; I could compete in my sport at the highest level while pursuing my academic interests authentically. At Yale, you are surrounded by likeminded people with goals who will push and inspire you to create—and achieve—your own."

 
Aidan Olazabal, Goalkeeper
McLean, Va. | Phillips Exeter Academy

• Before Yale: Four-year varsity letterwinner…Played club/travel lacrosse for Team 91 Maryland…NLF four-star recruit…Inside Lacrosse four-star recruit…Two-time First Team All-NEPSAC Class A…Two-time US Lacrosse All-American…Two-time Phillips Exeter Team MVP…Four-time All-New England Region honoree…Recipient of the Robert W. Kesler '47 Lacrosse Award…Phillips Exeter team captain…Competed with the Korea National U20 Team.
• Personal: Son of Joshua and Suzie Olazabal…Brother currently attends Columbia, and sister is at Duke…Hobbies include golf, squash, surfing, hiking, and biking.
• Why Yale: "I chose Yale because of the amazing mix of top-tier academics and athletics. The variety of courses available to students and the professors are fantastic, and the Yale lacrosse culture is absolutely historic; there is no place I'd rather be. Additionally, the residential college system creates a very tight-knit community with the other students."

 
Danny Van Camp, Defense
Lake Forest, Ill. | Lake Forest

• Before Yale: Four-year varsity letterwinner in lacrosse…Two-time All-Conference…Two-time All-State…Senior captain, First-Team All-Midwest (2025), and All-American (2025)…Team highlights include two-time Illinois Lacrosse State Championships (2024 and 2025).
• Personal: Son of Jason and Jennifer Van Camp…Extracurricular activities include volunteering, attending prayer workshops and groups, biking, and playing intramural sports.
• Why Yale: "The academics are top-of-the-line, and this lacrosse program is so driven and focused on perfecting all aspects of being a winning lacrosse team."

 
Colin Zeller, Attack
Greenwich, Conn. | Greenwich

• Before Yale: Four-year varsity letterwinner…Career totals include 127 goals, 43 assists, and 170 points…Two-time varsity captain…All-American selection…Three-time Connecticut All-State selection…Three-time All-FCIAC selection.
• Personal: Son of Brian and Colleen Zeller…Father played lacrosse at Maryland, where he was a team captain and All-American…Has a twin brother, Brady, who will attend Northeastern, and a younger brother, Liam.
• Why Yale: "I chose Yale because I want to be part of the high-achieving culture on and off the field that defines the Yale athletic community. The lacrosse coaching staff and athletes, the campus atmosphere, and the chance to compete at the highest level while receiving an unparalleled education made Yale the right place for me."

 
Asher Ziv, Midfield
Warren, N.J. | Pingry | The Taft School

• Before Yale: Four-year letterwinner…Tallied 205 career points at Pingry and 48 points in PG season at Taft… At Pingry, he was senior captain, two-time First Team All-State, two-time First-Team All-Conference, and the 2024 Skyland Player of the Year…At Taft, he was named to the All-NEPSAC Team.
• Personal: Son of Dotan and Lisa Ziv…Enjoys golf, caddying, and coaching youth lacrosse players.
• Why Yale: "The balance between academics and athletics, amazing community/people, amazing opportunity to grow as a student-athlete."