We’ve been documenting the recruiting success of Penn State University in the tristate region. Now, we venture Beyond the Northeast for news of the Nittany Lions’ latest verbal.
It comes from Jack Rusbuldt, a talented goaltender for the Collegiate School in Richmond, Va., a decision first reported by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider premium coverage section.
The 5-foot-10, 155-pound Rusbuldt, a righty, is an athletic player who also plays football and basketball for Collegiate. He plays travel lacrosse for Amped Lax, which is made up mostly of players throughout Virginia.
You can watch his highlight reel here.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Jack on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
When I visited Penn State in the late winter, I just fell in love with everything about it. I really wanted to go to a school with a strong overall athletic program and I definitely found it in Penn State.
When I met the team, everyone was super nice and seemed like guys I would want to be teammates with (Penn State) Coach (Jeff) Tambroni and his staff obviously had a lot to do with it as well…you really can’t find a better coach than him.
Also, the academics at Penn State were a major attraction for me. You are not going to find many places with such great academics, people and sports programs. In the end, it felt like the perfect fit because not only did I know what Penn State had to offer, but I also feel confident that we will compete for a national championship every year while I’m there.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I visited Notre Dame, Princeton, Cornell and a few others before visiting Penn State.
What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I think I have really quick hands, have good vision and good passing in the transition game and command my defense well.
What area of your game do you need to work on?
I think I need to work on making myself bigger in the cage.
How did you get introduced to lacrosse?
I was introduced to lacrosse from a very young age since my older brother and dad play it. I started playing at my local league, Geronimo, when I was in kindergarten. I actually didn’t start playing goalie full time until sixth grade. Before that, I played a little bit of everything but really liked playing attack.
What showcase events did you participate in?
I have attended Maverik Showtime, Nike Blue Chip, Philly Showcase and other showcase events.
With club teams, I have attended tournaments like Crabfeast, King of the Hill, Gait Cup, Champ Camp and others.
Any final thoughts?
I would like to thank my family and friends for all the support they showed toward me throughout the long process, especially my mom and dad for coming with me on every visit and being extra supportive.
I would also like to thank my high school coach, Andrew Stanley, for all he has done whether it was calling a coach on my behalf or helping me become a better lacrosse player.
I want to thank the rest of the Collegiate coaching staff for all they have done, especially Coach (Mike) Leahy who coaches me in Amped as well.
And lastly, I would like to thank my goalie coaches over the years: Matt Chriss, Rodney Rullman and James Ireland. Without them, I would have never had this opportunity.
* Beyond the Northeast story archive
Have a recruiting commitment to report? Send an email to info@laxlessons.com, contact Joe Lombardi directly at joe@laxlessons.com or send a Tweet to @Joe_Lombardi or @LaxLessons.
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Posted In: Beyond the Northeast, Recruiting Rundown, Virginia lacrosse
