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Cornell has its first Class of 2016 commit and it comes from the Garden State.

Cooper Telesco, a rising sophomore midfielder at Ridgewood High School (N.J.), committed to the admissions pricess at Cornell on Aug. 15, a verbal first reported when it was made by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider special coverage section.

Telesco is the first college commit for the newly launched New Jersey Riot Lacrosse travel team.

Telesco’s brother, Tripp, a former Ridgewood standout, is a sophomore defenseman at Lehigh University.

The 6-foot, 185-pound Cooper Telesco, a right-hander, is a two-way player who loves to push the ball in transition and set up teammatess. He is also effective at coming away with groundballs.

A three-sport standout for the Maroons, Telesco also excels in football and hockey.

Now, here’s a Q&A with Cooper on his commitment.

What were the main factors in your decision?
It all seemed to happen really fast, but I always knew I wanted to go some place that was the best fit for me academically as well as athletically.

(Cornell Head) Coach (Ben) DeLuca was a huge influence for me as well. When I went up to Cornell to meet with him, he not only showed me how great a school Cornell was, but also gave me confidence that playing lacrosse for him would be the best.

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I visited UVa and Harvard and those were the two schools I was considering most. I was also in contact with the UNC coaches.

What area of your game do you need to work on?
When I take the ball to the net myself, I like being able to utilize both hands, but I can certainly work on my offhand.

I have always worked hard to improve my speed and my strength, but I will continue to work on those aspects of the game into the future.

How did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
My older brother was always a role model for me especially in the sports I had an interest in from a young age. I grew up playing baseball, ice hockey, lacrosse, football and golf and could never really choose which I loved most.

As a three-sport athlete in high school, at this point, I can say lacrosse is my favorite.

What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
This past summer I played for NJ Riot and Maroons Lacrosse Club (MLC). I attended Top 205 and Nike Blue Chip as individual showcases.

Any final thoughts?
First off, I wouldn’t be anywhere without my mom and dad who have dedicated their lives to supporting me and my siblings. They worked really hard to make sure I got the exposure they thought I deserved and were there for me every step of the way through this process.

I would also like to thank (Ridgewood Head) Coach (Mike) Pounds, my high school coach, for all of his help this past year.