Reed Junkin ‘15 was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year to conclude a standout debut season as the starting goaltender on the University of Pennsylvania’s Men’s Lacrosse team.
As a freshman, Reed started all fifteen games of the season and led the Quakers to an 8-7 record and a final ranking as a Top-25 Division I team. For the first time in Ivy League history, the Rookie of the Year title was given to two players; Reed shared the honor with teammate Simon Mathais.
Reed beat out three teammates for the position of starting goalie during training in the fall, winter, and pre-season. “I knew coming in there were four fantastic goalies, so I knew I had to work to win the spot,” he said. “By the end of the season, it was narrowed down to me and a senior. After winter break, I started playing a little better and getting in a groove and feeling more confident, which the coaches noticed.” Additionally named to Second Team All-Ivy, Reed was a four-time Ivy League Rookie of the Week, as well as winning Ivy League Player of the Week in late March.
Reed was a four-year letter winner on the Belmont Hill lacrosse team, rotating games as backup with classmate CJ Layton during their freshman season while they split the starting position the final three years, during which they claimed two ISL Championships and one ISL runner-up. In the classroom, he was a High Honors student on the Hill and winner of the Goodband Biology Prize his sophomore year. Reed had the opportunity to play against several of his former Belmont Hill teammates, such as Alex Santangelo ‘15 and Max Gustafson ‘14 (Brown), Charlie Durbin ‘15 (Princeton), and Danny Seibel ‘14 (Villanova).“Seeing my past teammates on the sidelines or playing in the game was a totally different experience. If anything, it made me play a little harder. It made me want to win that much more.”
He noted that the transition from high school to Division I lacrosse was a challenge he was ready to conquer. “The shots are much faster here and every kid (on the team) was the best kid on their high school team.” His work ethic and love for the game helped him succeed his freshman year. “I like working hard for my team and my coaches. I’ve been supported by everyone on the team that made the transition easier.”
His position as goaltender requires confidence and leadership, traits Reed credits to BH for helping him foster. “From Belmont Hill, I learned how to work hard and be efficient to balance my schoolwork and sports. There was a great group of guys on the team that helped me with leadership skills.”
