Built to Lead. Meet the 2026 Maryland Made Leadership Academy Cohort

Get to know some of the 41 student-athletes that make up this year’s group of future leaders.

By Brady Ruth, Staff Writer

2/5/2026 5:00:00 AM

Built to Lead. Meet the 2026 Maryland Made Leadership Academy Cohort

Maryland Made announced its 2026 Leadership Academy cohort. The program includes 41 student-athletes from 12 sports and will focus on developing their leadership skills.

The Maryland Made Leadership Academy is a five-week program focused on developing value-driven student-athlete leaders through intentional personal growth. Participants progress through three phases—building the foundation by defining their values, purpose, and leadership identity/behaviors; building the team through inclusive leadership and effective communication; and building the legacy by applying leadership skills to everyday actions on the field, in the classroom, and in life. The academy equips student-athletes with tangible tools to live the standard and lead with confidence beyond the program.

This year’s theme is “Built to Lead” and each of the three phases have their own unique tropes. The first phase is based around “Building Self” and will feature an introduction to leadership and core values, as well as a personality test that will help the participants define their core values, purpose, and leadership identity while gaining a deeper understanding of their personal strengths and behavioral tendencies.

The second phase is set around “Building the Team” and uplifting others. This phase focuses on leading and influencing others through inclusion, communication, and connection. It will feature a pair of seminars based around inclusive leadership and effective communication.

The final phase is “Building Your Legacy”, where the student-athletes will learn how to put leadership into action and reflect on how to apply leadership skills in real-life situations and continue leading beyond the program.

Throughout the semester, student-athletes will increase self-awareness and confidence as a leader, gain practical tools to lead authentically and effectively, and create a clearer understanding of how to live the standard and leave a positive legacy.

Hear what it means to be a leader and what skills a few of the student-athletes who are part of this year’s cohort are looking to enhance:

Reese Delp
Cross Country/Track & Field

I hope to enhance my communication and collaboration skills, learning how to lead teams effectively while listening and supporting others. I also want to strengthen my problem-solving and decision-making abilities and especially build confidence in my skills and contributions, so I can take initiative and navigate challenges successfully in any professional setting.

Reese Delp

Ella Fehr
Field Hockey

I hope to enhance leading skills where I can be structured but also have empathy at the same time. I like to plan ahead, have open conversations, and take responsibility for people around me, but I want to learn and improve how to bring that more in my team and as a leader.

Ella Fehr

Aaron Folivi
Football

As a member of the Maryland Made Leadership Academy, I am looking to enhance my leadership, communication, and decision-making skills. I want to grow in my ability to lead with integrity, collaborate effectively with diverse teams, and make thoughtful choices under pressure while positively impacting my community.

Aaron Folivi

James Gardiner
Men's Lacrosse

A leader is someone who leads by example. Consistency is key. A leader can be vocal, but doesn’t have to be. They use positive reinforcement.

James Gardiner

Emma Ghirardato
Tennis

To be a leader is to influence a group of people as positively as possible, without needing to impose anything on them, and just naturally attracting them to follow you with the belief that they can trust you to be your best for them.

Emma Ghirardato

Catie Holmes
Women's Lacrosse

What it means to me to be a leader is embracing everyone's strengths and finding ways to mesh a group of individuals together while also embracing their individual successes.

Catie Holmes

2026 Leadership Academy Cohort

James Gladden, Fourth-Year, Baseball
Aden Hill, Fourth-Year , Baseball
Aaron Folivi, Fourth-Year, Football
Gianna Ruffing, Third-Year, Gymnastics
James Gardiner, Second-Year, Men's Lacrosse
Trey Brown, Third-Year, Men's Lacrosse
Tyler Baruch, Fourth-Year, Men's Track & Field
Fin Essley, Second-Year, Men's Track & Field
Calvin Kilgallon, Second-Year, Men's Track & Field
Ella Fehr, Second-Year, Women's Field Hockey
Lyla Ingrilli, First-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Catie Holmes, First-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Ava Meyn, First-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Tatum Woods, First-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Kylie Lamoureux, First-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Ryan Reynolds, First-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Sofia Herrera, First-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Sawyer Scarola, First-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Kori Edmondson, Fourth-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Ava Kitt, Second-Year , Women's Lacrosse
Kayla Gilmore, Second-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Devin Livingston, Second-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Lauren Lapointe, Third-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Annabella Schafer, Third-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Fallon, George, Third-Year, Women's Lacrosse
Meredith Fisher, First-Year, Women's Soccer
Eva Mowery, Fourth-Year, Women's Soccer
Faith Luckey, Third-Year, Women's Soccer
Emily Lenhard, Third-Year, Women's Soccer
Emma Ghirardato, Second-Year, Women's Tennis
Sophie Bryan, First-Year, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Ogechi Uzoukwu, First-Year, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Rebecca Burgee, First-Year, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Alice Kredell, First-Year, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Kiki Van Der Weide, First-Year, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Ellie Keefer, Second-Year, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Bryce Hatcher, Second-Year , Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Reese Delp, Third-Year, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Victoria Teasley, Third-Year, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Addison, Canady, First-Year, Women's Volleyball
Eva Rohrbach, Third-Year, Women's Volleyball

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