Simmons Inks with San Diego State for lacrosse

Katherine Simmons (center) signs her national letter of intent to play lacrosse while parents Bill and Maureen Simmons, principal Tim Hamer (back left) and head coach Rick Sofield (back right) look on.

Bishop Ireton senior Katherine Simmons became the second girls’ lacrosse player to sign a national letter of intent (NLI) this year to play NCAA Division I lacrosse when she committed to play for San Diego State next year during a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. She joins Sarah Rupp who will head to UC, Davis to play college lacrosse next year.

Simmons, a four-year varsity player, current team co-captain, and a returning first-team all WCAC defender last spring, is one of more than 20 players nationally who were signed by first-year Aztec coach, Kylee White. The former Canadian national player will debut the SDSU program next year when the Aztecs will square off in their first game ever against Coach White’s alma mater, Ohio State, in a February 2012 gathering of teams at Stanford.

Like Rupp, Simmons played two summers for the elite Capital Blue 2011 club team under the direction of former Ireton assistant coach Katie McLaughlin. The two also played for St Stephens/St Agnes coach, Kathy Jenkins, in 2009 at the Prague Cup as part of the World Cup girls lacrosse festivities that summer in the Czech Republic. She played youth lacrosse in the Fort Hunt program in Alexandria, Virginia.

A 3.5 gpa student at Bishop Ireton, she is the daughter of Bill and Maureen Simmons of Alexandria.

“I am so excited about this opportunity. I really liked Coach White, San Diego State, and the opportunity to play in a new program, helping develop the traditions and things that hopefully will be part of a great program.” said the Cardinal senior of her selection of the Aztecs. “I received so much support from my coaches, my family and friends, I will always appreciate that. Going to San Diego is going to be great!”

The signing marks the 4th consecutive year where two or more players graduated from the Cardinals’ program to play college lacrosse, including 7 from the class of 2009.