Women's Lacrosse - A Family On And Off The Field - University of Delaware Athletics

Family is a driving theme on Delaware's women's lacrosse team - not only on the field, but off.

Madison Hranicka's father and uncle played football at Delaware, sisters Jenna and Laurel McHale are current teammates, while their father and Hranicka's were teammates with each other, Riley Gillin and her brother, Pat, are both members of their lacrosse programs, and their mother played tennis here as a student-athlete, and McKenzie and Mia Didio are first-year players, twins from Westport, Conn.

"The strong family ties in this program gives our team a unique and even stronger bond," Hranicka said. "My dad and Jenna and Laurel's dad have been best friends since they played football here together in the '80s. It's also great to see the rest of the football alumni come show their support throughout the seasons."

Hranicka, now one of the top defenders in the country and a senior captain, has been coming to Delaware football games "for as long as [she] can remember."

"It is so surreal to me that I am now playing in the same stadium that I've been coming to since I was little," she said, "and it's been so fun being able to actually play on the same field as my dad and my uncle. They are such proud Blue Hens and once I stepped on the field, I knew why. They played for Tubby Raymond and I grew up listening to how much he impacted and helped my dad and uncle, not only in football, but for the leader and example he set for them."

Madison's father, Todd Hranicka, said there was no interference from him as an alumnus regarding Madison's decision to play lacrosse at Delaware, but it worked out "in an amazing way where it's been a total home run."

"She loves the coaches, she loves the school, she loves her teammates," Todd said, "And then to play on Tubby Raymond Field is just awesome. "I couldn't be more proud of how she has developed."

Madison Hranicka

Jenna McHale, a junior, was joined by her sister, Laurel, for this season. Laurel originally played her first four years at Bucknell before transferring to Delaware as a graduate student. Both sisters were high school teammates at Bernards High School in Bernardsville, N.J., and won a state championship together in 2017 despite a two-grade age difference.

"It means so much to me to have this opportunity to play one last year with my sister," Jenna said. "I knew Delaware would be the perfect fit for her. Having her by my side on the field is extremely special and a memory we will all cherish forever."

While Laurel was at Bucknell, she said she wanted Jenna to come with her when Jenna was going through the recruiting process, but when Laurel was going through her own recruiting process as a transfer, she said she would make jokes to her sister about following her to Delaware. Once she toured the campus and talked to the coaching staff, she said she knew Delaware was where she needed to go.

"It's something super special about our program," Laurel said. "I think it really shows the culture that the University of Delaware has overall, as families with positive experiences keep coming back to this special place for more."

Like Todd, Joe said he also stayed out of influencing where his daughters would end up playing in college, despite him wanting them to come to Delaware. He said Delaware has ended up being the best fit for both of them, athletically and academically. And as a former football player, he is watching Laurel and Jenna play at Tubby Raymond Field too.

"I look down and I go 'God my two daughters are playing on the same field I played on,'" Joe said. "For me it's like 'proud dad moment.' 'Proud dad moment' is they're excelling, they're doing great in school, and they're at a great place. This place has always been special to me and been special to my wife and been special to my family."

Laurel described the experience playing at the same school her parents attended as "super cool," because she would come to games growing up and hear about her father's memories.

"I basically knew the fight song from birth," Laurel said. "It is heart-warming to play in the same stadium that he played in in his college years. I was raised as a Blue Hen, and am super happy to finish my career as one."

Joe said having them both together again has brought back the magic they had in high school. In Delaware's season-opening victory over Lehigh, Laurel and Jenna combined for four goals, two each, in a 13-11 win.

"It was very important to me to have us play together in college - especially at the Division I level," Jenna said. "Not many sisters have the chance to, so when the opportunity came up, we knew it was right. She has been a role model for me since I was a little kid playing lacrosse and also off the field as well. I knew having this opportunity to play with her one last time would be something that I would never forget. I'm happy that my family has been able to be with us to share our experience. It's been amazing."

Laurel McHale Jenna McHale

Although Riley Gillin's sibling isn't her teammate, as Pat is a member of the men's lacrosse team, she said she's excited she gets to share two years of college with him. Despite making their parents' schedule busy trying to make both sets of games, she said it's fun for both of them to be part of the programs, and they've been able to get closer by seeing each other around campus and the field house.

"Pat and I are only 11 months apart in age, so growing up, we pretty much did everything together," Riley said. "We both have always had a passion for sports and were very competitive. We would spend a lot of time in the driveway playing basketball or in the backyard playing lacrosse, soccer, or throwing the football around. My brother and I have always supported each other in all aspects of life, and have been huge fans of each other's athletic successes."

Riley's mother, Leslie, played tennis at Delaware, while her father, Steve, played lacrosse, but at Georgetown. Leslie said it's very exciting for both her kids to attend Delaware and for them to love the school as much as she did. Because the women's and men's programs are a "tight-knit group," it's been great for her to see the two of them get even closer.

However, both siblings playing at Delaware was never part of a plan, according to Leslie. She said she wanted them both to follow their heart, but both chose Delaware instead of feeling an obligation to come.

"When Riley was going through the recruiting process I said 'Put Delaware on the list" and she said 'Mom, I'm not going to re-live your life' and then she chose to come here because it's just an awesome place to be and she felt it," Leslie said. "And Patrick did the same."

Riley echoed that sentiment, saying Delaware originally caught her eye because of her mother playing tennis here. When she visited, she said fell in love with the campus and lacrosse program.

"Now that we are both here, it really has turned out to be an ideal situation for the two of us and for our family," Riley said. "Having him at Delaware has been a blessing because he can be one of my best friends and also another support system for me here."

Riley Gillin

McKenzie and Mia Didio are twins from Westport, Conn., where they played soccer and basketball together in addition to lacrosse at Staples High School. Both said they know each other "inside and out" and "know each other better than anyone on and off the field," and it was the family culture the coaches had built up that caught their attention.

"We had multiple Zoom meetings with current team members at the time of recruiting and all they could talk about was how amazing the coaches have stepped into their roles and changed the culture into something they can be really proud of," McKenzie said. "All of the coaches are so family oriented and treat our team like a family, which makes this program so special."

Mia said they initially heard about Delaware from Meghan Johnson, who also played at Staples High School and knew Mia and McKenzie's older sister. She said Johnson also talked highly about the coaches and how much of a great choice Delaware was for her.

Because they both played the same sports growing up, Mia said they would always challenge each other to improve everyday, and were similar competitively.

"She was the best teammate to ever have," she said. "It's nice to have someone to practice with at any time. For me, McKenzie has affected me so much - she is one of the main reasons I am the player that I am. I wouldn't have been able to be here without her."

Despite not every student-athlete having a family connection, McKenzie said it still feels as if there is, especially at tailgates after games that act as family reunions in a way. She said the coaching staff acts as another set of parents to them as well. Mia said because one of the main values of the program is "family," it has created a strong sense of community.

"The team has created a culture where we all trust each other because of the strong relationships and love we have for each other," Mia said. "Anyone of my teammates would do anything for each other."

McKenzie Didio Mia Didio

University of Delaware Athletics

Women's Lacrosse - A Family On And Off The Field

Players Mentioned

Mia Didio

Riley Gillin

Madison Hranicka

Meghan Johnson

Jenna McHale

Laurel McHale

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