Field Hockey Announces 2023 Signing Class
11/10/2022 10:04:00 AM | Field Hockey
Five Spartans set to join program next fall
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State field hockey head coach Helen Knull has announced the Spartans’ 2023 signing class, as five incoming freshmen are set to join the program in fall 2023.
Katelyn Dulin, Lyra Gavino, Serena Mailhe, Bianca Pizano and Brynn Shaffer make up the 2023 recruiting class for MSU.
Welcome to the Spartan family, Katelyn!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/BHbkACabEO
— MSU Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) November 9, 2022
Katelyn Dulin | Midfield | Barto, Pa. | Boyertown Area Senior
Knull on Dulin: “Katelyn comes to Michigan State after a successful high school career, where she was a three-year Captain, leading Scorer in each of those seasons, and the heart of her team. She is dedicated as a player and leader, respected by those around her, and I know she is going to bring these intangibles to Michigan State to only make our program better.”
Prior to MSU: Four-year varsity starter at Boyertown Area Senior High School … The team’s leading scorer as a sophomore and junior … First-team all-conference and first-team all-area as a sophomore and junior … Mercury All-Area Player of the Year as a junior … Tabbed a MAX Field Hockey Top-50 Recruit as a junior … Named to the 2022 USAToday HSSA National Player of the Year Watchlist … Three-year varsity captain … Plays club field hockey for X-Calibur Field Hockey Club ... Part of three national club championships (2018, 2021, 2022) ... Selected to compete at 2021 and 2022 USA Field Hockey Nexus Championships … Also plays softball at Boyertown Area Senior, a two-year varsity player … NFHCA All-Academic Team … Member of National Honor Society at Boyertown Area Senior.
Personal: Daughter of Joe and Kellie Dulin … Has two siblings, a brother, Joey, and sister, Kassie … Father played baseball and Ursinus College, while mother was a cheerleader at Kutztown University … Both parents are teachers … Enjoys going on walks, golfing, spending time with family and friends, watching sports and shopping … Undecided on major at MSU.
Welcome to East Lansing, Lyra!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/SZ2rWRbcCm
— MSU Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) November 9, 2022
Lyra Gavino | Goalkeeper | New Malden, England | Surbiton
Knull on Gavino: “Lyra is the newest addition to our goalkeeping unit and comes with a great deal of experience playing at Surbiton Hockey Club. Lyra is explosive and fast with solid fundamentals and good communication skills that will complement and add to Spartan Field Hockey.”
Prior to MSU: England Hockey Investec Schools National Champion in 2017 at Surbiton High School … England Hockey Investec Schools national finalist in 2016 and 2017 … Participated in the Surbiton High School Hockey Cup as a senior … Three-time England Hockey club national champion as a member of the U12, U14 and U18 teams … Three-time indoor hockey national finalist.
Personal: Daughter of Ronald and Anna Gavino … Has one brother, Rylan … Both parents are IT consultants … Enjoys playing guitar and skateboarding … Plans on majoring in economics at MSU.
Welcome to East Lansing, Serena!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/XzxxMmMqNm
— MSU Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) November 10, 2022
Serena Mailhe | Defender | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Santo Tomás de Aquino
Knull on Mailhe: “We will welcome our first Spartan from Argentina! She is a gritty defender who doesn’t give up on the play and plays with poise and purpose to control the backfield. She has great energy and passion on and off the field, which we are looking forward to adding to our team dynamic.”
Prior to MSU: Played at the Buenos Aires Games and Evita Games … Won the U18 Metropolitan Championship as a junior at Santo Tomás de Aquino High School.
Personal: Daughter of Mariano Mailhe Mistero and Marisa Laura Tuñas … Has two brothers, Leon and Lorenzo … Father is a talent acquisition manager and mother is a physical trainer … Hobbies include cooking, sewing, skating and drawing … Speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese … Undecided on major at MSU.
Welcome to East Lansing, Bianca!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/G8PE3IJCAn
— MSU Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) November 9, 2022
Bianca Pizano | Midfield | Exeter, Pa. | Wyoming Area
Knull on Pizano: “Bianca is a driven, competitive and aggressive player who is going to come in and compete in everything we do on and off the field. She is committed and dedicated to being the best she can be and has a lot of room for growth at Michigan State.”
Prior to MSU: Four-year varsity starter at Wyoming Area High School … District runner-up as a freshman, sophomore and junior … State semi-finalist as a freshman … Named to MAX Field Hockey Watch List as a sophomore … Citizens Voice All-Star and first-team all-conference as a junior … Tabbed MAX Field Hockey Pre-Season Player to Watch in Pennsylvania in 2022 … Named team captain as a senior … Plays club field hockey for Electric Surge Field Hockey Club … Selected to play at USA Field Hockey Nexus Championship … Two-time National Indoor Tournament champion ... College Connection Regional Cup U-19 champion … Also a member of the Wyoming Area track & field team, a district medalist in the 4x100 and javelin as a sophomore and junior … Wyoming Area swim & dive district qualifier as a junior … Three-time All-Academic team and a member of National Honor Society at Wyoming Area … NFHCA Academic Scholar of Distinction.
Personal: Daughter of Joseph and Rhonda Pizano … Has a brother, Rocco, and sister, Talia … Father is an athletic director and teacher … Mother is a pharmacist ... Father played football at Pittsburgh … Brother is a current football player at East Stroudsburg University … Uncle, Jim Pizano, won a national championship in football at UMass … Models for Mercury Management … Enjoys traveling and hanging out with friends … Career aspirations include becoming a dentist or orthodontist … Plans on majoring in biochemistry at MSU.
Welcome to the Spartan family, Brynn!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/jx8FHm6t7U
— MSU Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) November 10, 2022
Brynn Shaffer | Forward/Midfield | Hummelstown, Pa. | Lower Dauphin
Knull on Shaffer: “Brynn is a versatile player who is fast, athletic, smart and solid with her hockey IQ. She comes from a high school program known for its family environment and you work for the teammates standing next to you, which complements our program here at MSU. She is joining her sister Alexa at Michigan State and it is going to be fun watching them battle it out every day!”
Prior to MSU: Four-year varsity player and three-year varsity starter at Lower Dauphin High School … District champion and state runner-up as a freshman and junior … Three-time Keystone Division champion … Selected as a captain as a senior … Plays club field hockey for Nook Hockey … U16 National Indoor Tournament qualifier in 2020 … Selected to play in USA Field Hockey Nexus Championship in 2021 and 2022 … Played three years of lacrosse for Lower Dauphin and ran track & field for one year … Member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and National Math Honor Society at Lower Dauphin … Distinguished Honor Roll honoree.
Personal: Daughter of Derek and Maria Shaffer … Has three siblings, Brady Wilson and Alexa and Kenzie Shaffer … Sister, Alexa, is a current member of the Michigan State field hockey team … Brother, Brady, played basketball at DeSales University … Both parents are teachers … Hobbies include spending time with friends and family and working out … Aspires to become a nutritionist or elementary school teacher … Plans on majoring in nutrition or education at MSU.