Ellie Traggio ’22 has been named to the 2021 USA Select Under-18 women’s lacrosse team.

She joins only 21 other players on the elite team, which will compete for the United States next month at the Brogden Cup in Maryland. The tournament features teams from the US, Canada, and the Iroquois Nation.

“We had a tremendous pool of players competing in our National Team Development Program this year. Our coaches and evaluators had a difficult task in naming these teams, but we’re excited to recognize these talented players and continue to work with them,” said Natalie Wills, senior manager of the National Team Development Program in a release on the program’s website.

For Traggio, the distinction comes at the culmination of this cycle of the National Team Development Program, launched in 2019 to “provide high-level training to players, introduce them to the U.S. national team program and offer competitive opportunities,” according to the program.

More than 160 players participated in a national combine at USA Lacrosse headquarters in August, before the roster was whittled down to the 44 players for both the U16 and U18 teams.

Traggio, a midfielder, is one of four players from Connecticut, and the only player from a Founders League school. She has played varsity soccer, varsity ice hockey, and varsity lacrosse in every season of her four years at Hotchkiss. She earned the Coaches Award in 2019 and is one of the captains of this year’s varsity soccer team.