BOONE, N.C. – App State field hockey head coach
Meghan Dawson and her coaching staff are excited to announce the addition of four future student-athletes to the 2020 signing class.
The Mountaineers sign Grace Ball, Leah Hurwitz, Peyton Ritchey and Talayna Viscuso. The signing class comprises two forwards, a midfielder and a goalkeeper. Three of the four signees come from Pennsylvania, while Hurwitz chose to stay in-state to join the Mountaineers.
"I'm extremely excited to get our 2020 class signed and closer to getting them on our beautiful campus," Dawson said. "All four signees bring hustle, heart and intensity, and they're going to challenge our current group to get better and more competitive as a unit. They're all hard workers, and that will gel nicely with our team's core values."
Grace Ball | 5'4 | Midfielder | Blue Bell, Pa. | Wissahickon High School
A talented midfielder that averaged almost two goals per game as a senior, Ball played high school field hockey for head coach Lucia Gil at Wissahickon High School. Ball capped off her impressive career at Wissahickon with 32 goals and 16 assists in just 18 games as a senior. The Pennsylvania native earned field hockey all-league honors all four years while notching all-state honors as a junior and as a senior. Ball's on-field accomplishments resulted in her being named her high school team's best offensive player, best all-around player and most valuable player. Ball also played club field hockey for X-Calibur under head coach Brian Hope, helping the team place second in the National Club Championship in 2018 and 2019. Born on June 6, 2002, Ball is the daughter of Vicki and Bob Ball. The future Mountaineer also has two younger siblings, Robert and Riley. Her mother is a former softball and field hockey player who played collegiately at La Salle, while her father played baseball in college at La Salle. Her hobbies include photography, art and writing.
Leah Hurwitz | 5'0 | Forward | Chapel Hill, N.C. | East Chapel Hill High School
A standout goal scorer that played high school field hockey at East Chapel Hill High School, Hurwitz will remain in North Carolina to join the App State program. In four years under head coach Carlos Melendez, Hurwitz was named to the East/West All-Star Team in 2017 and 2018, the NCFHA Second Team in 2017 and the NCFHA First Team in 2018. The North Carolina native also earned all-state second team honors in 2018 before garnering all-state first team honors in 2019. Hurwitz played club field hockey for the Carolina All-Stars under head coach Grant Fulton. Hurwitz was born on March 4, 2002, and has one older sister, Zoe, who is currently a junior at App State. Hurwitz plans to study health science or political science once she arrives at App State.
Peyton Ritchey | 5'4 | Forward | Langhorne, Pa. | Neshaminy High School
A leading point scorer for head coach Jamie Pinto at Neshaminy High School over the past three years, Ritchey adds another goal-scoring threat to the App State roster. The Pennsylvania native amassed 66 goals and 54 assists over four high school seasons, leading the league in total points as a junior and as a senior. Ritchey earned first team all-state honors as a junior and all-league honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. Ritchey became a team captain and was named Neshaminy's Rookie of the Year as a freshman. The forward also played club field hockey for Mystx under head coach Tina Reinprecht, helping the club win the USA Field Hockey U16 championship and the U16 National Hockey Festival championship. Off the field, the future Mountaineer was also named to the all-state academic team as a junior. Born on May 15, 2002, Ritchey is the daughter of Bill and Kathleen Ritchey. Ritchey has one older brother, Billy. She plans to major in interior design when she arrives at App State.
Talayna Viscuso | 5'2 | Goalkeeper | Birdsboro, Pa. | Twin Valley High School
A lockdown goalkeeper that posted 13 shutouts as a senior, Viscuso played high school field hockey for head coach Kim Walsh at Twin Valley High School. Viscuso sported a .961 save percentage and made 276 saves as a senior, helping her earn Twin Valley's MVP award in her final high school season. The Pennsylvania native was also named the team's co-MVP as a junior. The future Mountaineer garnered Berks All-Division honors as a junior and as a senior. Along with Grace Ball, another 2020 signee, Viscuso played club field hockey for Brian Hope with X-Calibur. Viscuso helped X-Calibur finish second in both the Regional Club Championship and the National Club Championship in 2019. The club team was also crowned the Junior Premier Outdoor League champions in 2019. Born on Aug. 14, 2002, Viscuso is the daughter of Michael Viscuso and Tabathe Osbeck. She has three younger siblings, Mikey, Isabella and Jullian.
