Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Sign Four For 2007
4/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
April 24, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana field hockey program and head coach Amy Robertson have announced the signing of four players to National Letters of Intent on April 24. Katie Griswold (Solana Beach, Calif./Torrey Pines), Brenna Moeljadi (Culver City, Calif./Harvard-Westlake), Kelsey Kiper (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart Academy) and Lena Grote (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy) will join a group of 15 returnees that wrapped up the 2006 campaign No. 16 in the nation.
"The 2007 incoming freshman class is truly special in many ways," Robertson said. "They all share a deep love for the sport of field hockey, a very strong work ethic and a propensity for greatness. They will be very exciting to watch and will be a very fun group of people to coach. Our program will benefit immediately from the positive energy that these four will bring. This class is destined to be a part of some extraordinary things during their four year-tenure at Indiana."
Griswold will join the Hoosiers after being a three-year starter and letterwinner at Torrey Pines. The first player in school history to be named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) West Region Team in 2006, Griswold was also the Palomar League and the North County Times Player of the Year that season. She earned San Diego Sierra Tournament Most Outstanding Offensive Player honors as a senior and was an all-tournament selection twice, while also earning first team All-San Diego section, All-Palomar League, Union Tribune and North County Times honors two times during her career. She totaled 67 goals for her career, good for seventh place in the San Diego record book in that category. Griswold also participated in the National Futures Program in 2005 and 2006, including being selected to the San Diego Regional Team and the Futures Elite program in 2006. In addition to her success in field hockey, Griswold was a two-year starter in lacrosse and was a two time San Diego Section second team honoree.
"You can't teach the things that Katie will bring to our program," Robertson said. "She possesses an abundance of positive energy combined with a passion for field hockey and learning. Katie is a very creative player who has dynamic skill and speed. She will have an immediate impact on our team and should contribute greatly to our team scoring on the forward line."
Moeljadi, a three-year letterwinner at Harvard-Westlake, was a member of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIF-SS) championship team in 2005. A team captain for one season, she earned CIF-SS All-Tournament Team honors in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons as well as being named the CIF-SS Most Valuable Player as a senior. A National Futures Tournament participant in 2004, 2005 and 2006, Moeljadi was a member of the Futures Elite program in 2006 as well as a Junior Olympics participant in 2004 and 2006. Her club team, Hollywood, won the National Festival Tournament in 2006 and was club champion in 2005.
"Brenna is a very mature player who has great leadership abilities as well as more composure than most players her age," Robertson said. "We expect her to make an immediate impact as a central defender who can outlet the ball on attack and organize her teammates in the defense. She may be called on to step into an important role very early in her career."
Kiper, the younger sister of current Hoosier Katie Kiper, was a member of a successful program at Sacred Heart Academy. A member of the undefeated Kentucky state champions as a senior, Kiper also won two Apple Tournament championships and two Gateway Classic titles while at Sacred Heart. An academic all-state honorable mention honoree each year of her high school career, Kiper was also a member of the Duke Field Hockey Camp All-Star team in 2005. A member of the International Field Hockey Club of Kentucky from 2003-07, she was also a regional Futures participant from 2004-07 and participated in the national Futures program in 2005 and 2006.
"Kelsey knows what it takes to be a champion," Robertson said. "This past season, her Sacred Heart squad had a perfect season capped off with a state championship. Kelsey is a strong athlete who will give us speed in our midfield along with an aggressive mentality. She will give us depth in our midfield and will work hard to become the best player that she can be."
Joining those three will be Grote, who earned four varsity letters at Saint Ursula and spent two seasons as a team captain. An All-Ohio selection for two seasons, Grote earned Southwest Ohio Field Hockey all-league first team honors as a sophomore, junior and a senior. She was a second team selection as a freshman. The Saint Ursula Academy Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, junior and senior, Grote was also the Southwest Ohio Field Hockey League Offensive Player of the Year and the Ohio High Magazine Field Hockey Player of the Year as a senior. A Futures program participant on both the regional and national levels, Grote played in the AAU Junior Olympics in 2005 as well as at the National Field Hockey Festival in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Grote is also a member of the Cincinnati Centurions Field Hockey Club.
"Lena is extremely coachable and brings great energy and passion to the hockey field," Robertson said. "She stands out in a game because she is always around the ball and always working hard to make positive things happen for her team. She will be fun to watch as a spark and will push her teammates with her effort and spirit."
