Club Staff & Administration

Jenna Ries, Co-Founder & Executive Director

Coach Ries has more than 20 years of coaching and athlete development experience that has ignited change and impacted girls’ lacrosse in Montgomery County. In 2003, she founded the first travel lacrosse club in the county and is the co-founder of MC Elite.  Both were created to develop and mentor female youth athletes by raising the quality of performance and opportunities for female athletes.  She has tenured success in both Montgomery County Public Schools and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. Ries has been recognized three times as a Washington Post All-Met selection, is the first person to be named All-Met as both a player (1988) and a coach (2001, 2012).  Through her relentless focus on guiding players to achieve athletic benchmarks and involvement in the coaching community, Ries has helped more than 200 athletes play lacrosse at the collegiate level. 

Greg Danto, Director of High School Development, former Varsity Lacrosse Coach at Holy Cross

This position has been created to facilitate the skills progression, technical benchmarks, and game knowledge of every player in MC’s high school program. In addition to monitoring practice plans, and supporting coaches, Danto will work closely with the Middle School Program Director to transition our 8th grade players through their final year of MS play, preparing them for the transition to high school.

Director of Youth and Middle School Development, Shelby Samperton – Varsity Lacrosse Coach and Middle School Coach at Holy Child
The foundation of our middle school development model is based on players mastering skill set benchmarks as they progress through the 3-8th grade years. This position has been created to support consistent implementation of MC’s development model during the course of the year. This includes practice planning, monitoring player development, supporting elementary and middle school team coaches, and overseeing scheduling.

Lauren Burke, Operational Strategy Director, Varsity Lacrosse Coach at Langley High School

Lauren Burke will oversee all club operations including coaching/staff contracts, certification and training of coaches, development and management of MC’s player recruiting database, etc.

Goalie Trainers, Gary Morgan (Varsity Goalie Coach at Stone Ridge) & Jackie Branthover, Assistant Varsity Lacrosse Coach at Holy Child

Goalie Coaches will provide weekly goalie training as well as additional goalie training support and weekly practices.

Club Administrator, Claire Slabaugh  

  

 Coaching Staff

Nicole Caffrey (Lacey) (2024 Midnight Head Coach)

  • Played for George Washington University (2009-2013) Attacker & Draw Control Specialist
  • Ranked 15th in NCAA Division 1 for 3 years
  • Led her team to the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament (2012, 2013) Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team Selection
  • Named Lacrosse.com Rookie of the Week
  • Set records for GW’s single season, single game and career Draw Controls Graduated from Marriotts Ridge High School
  • 2009 US Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American 2009 US Lacrosse Academic All-American
  • Two-time first team All-Howard County
  • 2009 Honorable Mention All-Met Washington Post Digital Sports Second Team All-Baltimore Metro
  • Led Marriotts Ridge in goals and points for 2 seasons Previously coached for Pride Lacrosse Club
  • Played for Hero’s Lacrosse

 

Lindsey DiAntonio (2024 Midnight Asst Head Coach)

  • Plays for Baltimore-based Lady Bohs Lacrosse Team (Women’s Mid-Atlantic Club Lacrosse League)
  • Certified High School lacrosse official for the Central Maryland Officials Association Played for George Washington University (2010-2014)
  • Defender & Midfielder
  • Named team’s most valuable midfielder for the 2013 and 2014 seasons
  • Graduated from Marriotts Ridge High School
  • Named 2010 First Team All-Howard County. 2010 US Lacrosse Academic All-American
  • All-County distance runner for Marriotts Ridge cross country & indoor track & field teams

 

Greg Danto (2025 Midnight Head Coach)

  • Varsity Lacrosse Coach Holy Cross (2021-2022)
  • Former Women’s Offensive Lacrosse Coach & Recruiting Coordinator at George Mason University
  • Former Head Lacrosse Coach at M&D Lacrosse Played Club Lacrosse at University of Michigan
  • Former Asst Coach, Offensive Strategist & Scouting Coordinator at Mt. Hebron High School Graduated from The Bullis School
    • Top men’s lacrosse Midfielder

 

Shannon Holliday (2025 Carolina Head Coach)

  • MC Elite Alumna
  • Impact lacrosse player at Longwood University
  • Graduated from Quince Orchard High School in 2007
  • All County lacrosse player and State Champion Field Hockey player
  • Coaching youth lacrosse since 2012
  • Experience includes Jackals Lacrosse, MC Elite 2018, 2023 and 2024 teams
  • Varsity Head Coach at Wootton High School (2014-2016)
  • Varsity coach at Wheaton High School (2017-2020)
  • Currently works as a High School Counselor at Wheaton High School

 

 

Shelby Samperton (2026 Midnight Head Coach)

 

 

Katie Bertrand (2026 Carolina Head Coach)

  • Head JV Lacrosse and Field Hockey Coach at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
  • Played field hockey for Catholic University
  • Impact Varsity Lacrosse and Field Hockey Player at Clarksburg High School
  • Three-time Landmark Conference Champion
  • 4 NCAA appearances and an Elite 8 appearance
  • Teacher at Bethesda Elementary and holds a Masters of Arts in Education

 

Jenna Ries (2027 Midnight Head Coach & Club Director)

Ries has more than 25 years of coaching and athlete development experience that has ignited change and impacted girls lacrosse in Montgomery County. In 2002, she founded the first travel lacrosse club in the county and is the co-founder of MC Elite. Both were created to develop and mentor female youth athletes by raising the quality of performance and opportunities for female athletes. Ries has tenured success in both Montgomery County Public Schools and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. Ries has been recognized three times as a Washington Post All-Met selection, is the first person to be named All-Met as both a player (1988) and a coach (2001, 2012). Through her relentless focus on guiding players to achieve athletic benchmarks and involvement in the coaching community, Ries has helped more than 250 athletes play lacrosse at the collegiate level.

 

Paige Reese (2027 Carolina Head Coach)

  • Standout Howard County athlete for the Glenelg Gladiators
  • 2017 Maryland State Champion
  • Baltimore Sun Player of the year
  • 3 consecutive Howard County Championships in 2014, ’15 and ’16. ’16 and ’14
  • Regional Champion, First Team All-State selection, All State Player of the Year Finalist. 2017 Howard County Player of the Year
  • First Team Mid-Atlantic honoree
  • First Team Baltimore All-Metro in 2016 and 2017
  • First Team All-County
  • Played lacrosse for M&D and Hero’s
  • Played field hockey at Towson
  • Senior Year Captain and versatile powerhouse for the Towson Tigers

 

 

Jill Marks (2028 Midnight Head Coach)

  • Involved with lacrosse as a player, referee and coach for over 20 years
  • 10 years as Varsity Coach and 2 years as JV Coach at Stone Ridge
  • Former Stone Ridge Athletic Director
  • Former Coach at Rockville Girls Lacrosse Club
  • Former player for the Washington Women’s Club Team
  • Played Club Lacrosse for Siena College
  • Upper School Math Teacher and Chair of Mathematics Department at Stone Ridge

 

Olivia Boudreau (2029 Midnight Head Coach)

  • Played Division 1 lacrosse at George Washington University
  • Graduated in 2016
  • Ranks fifth all-time at GW with 51 career assists
  • Selected All-Rookie Team Freshman year after helping GW to second straight conference championship appearance
  • 2x captain (Junior & Senior Year)
  • Marketing & Sports Management Major at GW
  • Works for Deloitte in Project Management

 

Ally Hall (2029 Carolina Head Coach)

  • Played Division 1 Lacrosse at University of Louisville
  • Graduated in 2021
  • 11th player on U of L history to achieve a career-high 100 goals
  • 4-year Varsity starter at Severn School, scoring 132 goals and 35 assists
  • Named Capital Gazette 2nd Team All-County 2015, 2016 and 2017
  • Selected to Washington DC Brine All- American Team 2014
  • Played club lacrosse for MD United East
  • Currently works as a Consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton

 

Shelby Samperton (2030 Midnight Head Coach)

 

 

Katie Bitonti (2030 Carolina Head Coach)

  • Whitman Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach (2012-2020)
    • 2 Regional Championships
    • 2 State Semi-Final Championships
  • MCPS Head Coach of the Year 2019
  • MCPS Head Coach of the Year 2018
  • Starting Midfielder for Catholic University (2006-2009)
  • Team Captain
  • Second Team All-Landmark Conference
  • Played Club Lacrosse for Georgetown University (2004-2006)
  • Graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel
  • 3-time Team MVP Team Captain
  • Honorable Mention All-Met Academic All-American
  • 1st team All-Gazette
  • Played for M&D Lacrosse