Ella Calise and Ellie Siegert have yet to play a game for any of Belmont High School’s athletic teams, but there’s reason for Marauder fans to look forward to their matriculation, especially in lacrosse.
The Belmont High School rising freshmen were among the five residents selected to participate in their respective graduating class year’s game at the All-America lacrosse games. Three prep school attendees — juniors Avery Schneider (Noble and Greenough School), Quincy Treisman
(The Rivers School) and rising senior Maggie Keyes (Dexter Southfield School) — rounded out the Belmont quintet. All five players began their lacrosse careers with Belmont Youth Lacrosse. Siegert’s father, Clay, serves as the Girls Coordinator.
“The girls were really nice,” Calise said. “It was a really great, supportive team. I enjoyed the competitive part of it.”
In late July, they played in the All-America Games in Baltimore. Participants in the non-senior, underclassmen games represent 12 different regions: Baltimore, Connecticut-New York, Long Island, Midwest, New England, New Jersey, Philadelphia, South, Southwest, Upstate New York, Washington, D.C. and West. All of Belmont’s players represented New England except for Treisman, who represented the Midwest, where her extended family lives.
For a smaller town like Belmont, fielding a quintet of All-America participants is an impressive feat.
“The (Belmont) youth program is really solid, especially the younger grades,” Siegert said. “The community is attracting more kids.”
Keyes, the oldest of the Belmont group, is no stranger to playing on a big stage. The Dartmouth College commit represents Czechia on the international circuit alongside her older sister, Izzy, who will begin her college career at Brown University this fall. The 6-foot midfielder also plays field hockey.
Schneider, a 6-foot defender who also plays field hockey, and Treisman, a 5-foot-8 attacker who has played soccer in the fall and basketball in the winter, previously attended Belmont Day School together.
Calise is a goalkeeper. Siegert is a midfielder. The team New England’s age group went 2-3 over the All-America weekend, beating the Southwest squad. Calise wore No. 21, Siegert rocked No. 22. Selected for the game following a local day-long tryout process in Lancaster, they traveled separately to the event. Their club coach, Stacey Freda, from the Bay State Bullets, ran the squad.
“On this team, we only knew a couple of kids, so it was really hard to pick up each other’s play type and work together,” Siegert said. “But it’s also interesting to play against other regions because it’s the best kids from all over the country.”
One of two goalies on the New England team, Calise locked in on the opponents’ main goal scorers and their approach to the net. What did she watch for?
“Mainly the way they shoot and also if they get a pass or [run] straight to the goal,” Calise said.
Before Calise and Siegert join the Marauders’ girls lacrosse program next spring, they’ll debut at the high school level in other sports. Calise also plays field hockey and will dive at Belmont High School; Siegert also plays basketball. Her sister, Ruth, a rising junior at Belmont, plays lacrosse and runs track for the Marauders.
Calise started lacrosse in first grade, Siegert before kindergarten. Both tried out for similar events in the past and didn’t make it. They were pumped to make this one. Each hopes to make an impact at the varsity level next spring and eventually play in college.
