SPARKS, Md. — The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, a program of USA Lacrosse, announces the addition of eight new inductees as the members of the Class of 2024.
The 2024 inductees are: Carol Cantele, John Grant Jr., Kristen Kjellman Marshall, Brodie Merrill, Patti Klecha-Porter, Paul Rabil, Betsy Meng Ramsey, and Vin LoBello (posthumous).
The newest members will be officially inducted during a dinner ceremony at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel on January 11, 2025. Tickets for the event will be available online beginning October 21.
The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame was established in 1957 to honor men and women who by their deeds as players, coaches, officials and/or contributors, and by the example of their lives, personify the great contribution of lacrosse to our way of life.
Over 450 lacrosse greats are honored in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, which is located alongside the National Lacrosse Museum at the USA Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, Maryland.
More information about this year’s inductees (alpha order) is listed below:
Carol Cantele
Being inducted as a truly great coach, Cantele retired in 2022 following 34 years on the collegiate sidelines, including 30 seasons at Gettysburg College, where she captured three Division III women’s national championships (2011, 2017, 2018). Cantele retired with a 451-134 career record, making her the second all-time winningest coach in Division III history. She led Gettysburg to 21 NCAA tournament appearances and eight final fours during her tenure, in addition to 13 conference championships. Cantele was named national coach of the year four times (2006, 2011, 2017, 2018) and produced 69 All-America players and 117 all-region selectees. She also served as head coach of the U.S. Developmental Team and served as an assistant coach with the 2013 U.S. National Team that won the world championship. She was a 2021 inductee into the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
John Grant, Jr.
Grant, Jr. is being inducted as a truly great player. A native of Canada, Grant was a two-time collegiate All-American at Delaware before becoming one of the greatest professional lacrosse players of all time. As a collegiate senior, he won the USILA’s Enners Award as the Division I player of the year after leading the nation in scoring with 56 goals and 110 points. He then embarked on a 17-year professional career in the National Lacrosse League, finishing second in league history with 668 goals and third in points with 1,446. He was twice named MVP of the league (2007, 2012). Grant Jr. also played 19 seasons in Major League Lacrosse and the Premier Lacrosse League, earning two more MVP honors (2007, 2008) and winning five championships. As an international player, he led Team Canada to three world indoor championships (2003, 2007, 2011) and played on four Team Canada field squads, earning All-World honors three times (2002, 2006, 2010) and a gold medal in 2006. Grant Jr. was inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame in 2021 and was a member of the inaugural class of the Pro Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2022.
Vin LoBello
LoBello is being inducted, posthumously, as a truly great official. He served for 30 years (1962-1992) as the chief referee for New England, and worked games at the high school, collegiate, post-collegiate club, and international levels during his career. In addition, he served as the assignor for all high school and college games in New England. LoBello officiated three North/South College All-Star Games, and many of the top collegiate games in the 1960s and ‘70s, including Ivy league match-ups and Army-Navy rivalry games. He also served as president of the USILA for five years. In recognition of his longtime service to the game, a sportsmanship award was created in his honor in 1980 and is presented annually to a deserving college team. As a three-sport athlete in college, LoBello was inducted to the Nichols College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978 and was inducted to the USA Lacrosse New England Chapter Hall of fame in 1997. LoBello passed away in 1992.
Kristen Kjellman Marshall
Being inducted as a truly great player, Marshall was a three-time first team All-American at Northwestern University and the first four-time All-American in school history. She was also one of the key players to help kick-start the Wildcats’ dynasty with three straight NCAA championships (2005, 2006, 2007). Marshall was a two-time winner of the Tewaaraton Trophy (2006, 2007), becoming the first player, male or female, to receive the award in back-to-back years. She was also selected as the IWLCA’s national midfielder of the year three times. Kjellman concluded her four-year collegiate career as Northwestern’s all-time leader in goals scored (250) and points (349). As a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, Marshall helped the USA capture the world championship in 2009 while being selected to the All-World team. She was previously inducted into the Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012 and the USA Lacrosse Eastern Massachusetts Chapter Hall of Fame in 2017.
Brodie Merrill
Being inducted as a truly great player, Merrill is regarded as one of the greatest defensemen in the history of professional lacrosse. A native of Canada, he was a two-time All-American at Georgetown University who was also recognized as the national defenseman of the year as a senior in 2005. He then became a perennial all-star in both the MLL and NLL, earning All-Pro honors nine times in the NLL across 17 seasons. He is the NLL’s all-time leader in loose ball recoveries (2,778) and ranks third all-time in caused turnovers (257). Merrill also played 16 professional seasons in the MLL and PLL, earning all-star recognition 10 times and being selected as the defensive player of the year six times. Having revolutionized the long stick midfielder position, the PLL's LSM of the Year Award is named in his honor. Internationally, Merrill played on three Team Canada squads (2006, 2010, 2014) and earned All-World honors each time. He was also selected as the World Games’ outstanding defenseman in 2006 & 2010.
Patti Klecha-Porter
Still active, Klecha-Porter has been officiating women’s lacrosse since 1984 and working at the elite national and international level since 1991. She has been on the field for 33 NCAA championship and semifinal games, as well as six World Cup championships and semifinals (2001, 2005, 2009). Additionally, Klecha-Porter has served as the head umpire six times for NCAA championships. Off the field, Klecha-Porter has been active in leadership positions within the Collegiate Women's Lacrosse Officiating Association (CWLOA), including service as the high school chair in Connecticut for 15 years and as chair of the Northeast Region. She was the CWLOA’s umpire of the year in Connecticut in 2022, and was recipient of the organization’s Founders Award in 2017. Klecha-Porter has been previously inducted into four Halls of Fame, including the USA Lacrosse Connecticut Chapter Hall of Fame in 2007.
Paul Rabil
As one of the most impactful lacrosse figures of the past two decades, Rabil is being inducted as a truly great player. He was a four-time All-American at Johns Hopkins who was the national midfielder of the year in 2007 and a two-time national champion. He then played five professional indoor seasons in the NLL and 13 outdoor seasons in the MLL and the PLL, the league he co-founded in 2019. Rabil was a seven-time all-star in Major League Lacrosse and selected as the league’s MVP twice and its offensive player of the year three times. He also won MLL championships in 2011 & 2015. Rabil retired in 2021 as the all-time scoring leader in pro field lacrosse with 657 career points. Internationally, Rabil played on three U.S. Men’s National Teams (2010, 2014, 2018), twice winning gold. He was also selected to the All-World Team in 2010 & 2014 and named as the most outstanding midfielder in both of those championships. Rabil has been previously inducted into the USA Lacrosse Potomac Chapter and USA Lacrosse Baltimore Chapter Halls of Fame.
Betsy Meng Ramsey
Ramsey is being inducted as a truly great coach. After a standout playing career at Ursinus College, a decorated club career, and four years as a member of the USA program (1977-1980), Ramsey embarked on a successful high school and college coaching career in 1980. She began at St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, where she led her team to the league championship. She then returned to Ursinus, serving initially as an assistant coach before moving to head coach from 1984-1989. During that time, she piloted the Bears to the 1984 USWLA Collegiate National Championship as well as NCAA Division III national championships in 1986 & 1989. Ramsey amassed 81 wins and a 72% winning percentage in six seasons and was twice named the IWLCA Coach of the Year (1984 & 1986). She concluded her coaching career at Agnes Irwin School from 1992-2001, winning the league championship in just her second season. She was previously inducted into the Ursinus College Hall of Fame in 1995 and the USA Lacrosse Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter Hall of Fame in 2015.
The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame selection process is managed and maintained by USA Lacrosse, with an annual voting system utilized to select inductees. The voting group is comprised of current Hall of Fame members, current or former U.S. National Team players and coaches, elite level high school or college coaches, elite members of the officiating community, and individuals that have contributed to the growth of the sport on a national or international level. Final approval of the selectees is provided by USA Lacrosse’s Board of Directors. Full details are available online at
usalacrosse.com/national-lacrosse-hall-fame-process.
About USA Lacrosse
USA Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is a Recognized Sports Organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. As the governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse in the United States, USA Lacrosse leads the U.S. National Teams Program and establishes universal standards. With more than 400,000 members across the country, USA Lacrosse unites the community of players, coaches, officials, parents, and program leaders. Working together, we inspire participation, enrich the athlete experience, and support the growth of the sport.
