Breaking Down the American Select MVPs

American Select up just wrapped up an incredible year. There was so much talent across four grades and each region fought valiantly to claim their status as the best in each class. It was Best In Class’ 3rd year on site as lead evaluators, helping to pull together notes on standout players and teams. Upstate 2028s and Long Island 2029s completed their 3-peats, Long Island 2030s rolled to a championship, and Maryland 2031s earned Maryland's first ASL title since 2022. 

Breaking down the MVPs of each Championship Game at American Select:

2028 MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER:

GRACE MARQUARDT | NY UPSTATE BLUE | ATTACK | SKANEATELES | MONSTER

Our Most Outstanding Performance in the 2028 class came from Marquardt. An elite attacker and draw taker, she was a major factor across both days, making plays both offensively and from the draw circle. She consistently won draws to herself to give her team possessions, and her hockey background is evident by her balance and quick hands on the draw as well as overall field IQ. Marquardt dazzled with three goals in the finals, including a slick backhanded shovel shot and an inside roll move to help lead NY Upstate to their 3rd straight ASL title. Marquardt will be busy come September. 

2028 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME MVP:

RYANN MURPHY | NY UPSTATE BLUE | MIDFIELD | CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY | MONSTER

College coaches are sure to be clamoring for Murphy after American Select. She's an electric midfielder who is an offensive threat, workhorse between the 30s and can hold her own defensively. A true two-way midfielder, Murphy was a major factor in NY Upstate's title win with her ability to make plays all over the field. Her most influential play in the finals was a right-handed goal down the alley where she showcased her elite speed before finishing for a massive goal. Murphy's ability to impact the game in the middle of the field on both ends and without the ball will be why her name will come up a lot come September.

2029 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME CO-MVPS: 

PIPER BRAWLEY | LONG ISLAND BLACK | MIDFIELD | CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY | LI YELLOW JACKETS

JULIET DIORIO | LONG ISLAND BLACK | MIDFIELD | SOUTHSIDE | TEAM 91 ROAR

Like NY Upstate in the 2028 class, Long Island also completed the 3-peat for the 2029 class, and these two players are a huge reason why. Diorio took home championship game MVP two years ago, when Long Island won their first title for this age group. Brawley took it home last year when Long Island repeated. This year, they teamed up to share the honors with their impact all over the field.

Brawley controlled the draw circle all event, winning it to herself or placing it forward or backward with precision and finesse for a teammate to secure. She also showed she can win her matchup off the dodge knifing to the cage and she created a couple of assist opportunities that showcased her field vision. Heading into a big recruiting year out of Charlotte, she's a name to watch.

Diorio is as fast as they come in the 2029 class. With several draw controls on the day teaming up with Brawley, she displayed a high motor and the ability to kickstart the offense herself with her fearlessness driving to the net. Her speed shows up constantly in transition and her presence between the 30s was felt all tournament.

Two players, two different skill sets, same result: three straight titles for Long Island.

2030 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME MVP:

VIVIENNE SPEIDELL | LONG ISLAND BLACK | MIDFIELD | WARD MELVILLE | LI YELLOW JACKETS

Long Island Black dominated the 2030 bracket from top to bottom, and there were a few players who could have taken home this award. But Speidell stood out with a hat trick in the title game as well as forcing turnovers on the defensive end and was overall the most consistent player on the field for a team that didn't have many weak spots.

Out of Ward Melville, what jumped out about Speidell's game was her toughness. Gritty off the dodge, she took contact more than once and kept playing her game unfazed. Equipped with high lacrosse IQ and smooth with her stick, Speidell is someone we'll be talking about again as a midfielder that punched her ticket to our next Best in Class Summer event.

2031 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME MVP:

DAPHNE HOVERMAN | MARYLAND RED | MIDFIELD | MCDONOGH | HERO'S

Maryland won their first title in the rising 8th grader group since 2022, and Hoverman was the engine behind it all in the finals She got things going early with a couple of draw controls, added a slick sidearm goal on the run, and made her presence felt defensively, too. A classic two-way midfielder, she plays with a level of energy that's contagious for a team and was evident in the way the rest of the team played. For a 2031, the incoming McDonogh product is a player worth keeping an eye on over the next few years. Hoverman punched her ticket to BIC Spark this fall, our new 2031 event.

Congrats to all of our championship game MVPs. Best In Class and American Select are excited keep producing these moments, and I'm already looking forward to next year.

- Coach Class