NCAA Lacrosse All-Americans: A Tradition of Excellence

The world of NCAA men's collegiate lacrosse is steeped in history and tradition, with the All-American teams representing the pinnacle of individual achievement. These teams, selected annually by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA), recognize the most outstanding players at each position. Being named an All-American is a tremendous honor, signifying not only exceptional athletic ability but also dedication to the sport.

Origins and Evolution of the All-American Teams

The USILA first recognized All-Americans in 1922, establishing a selection process that has evolved over the years. Initially, the teams consisted of first, second, and third team selections, along with honorable mentions. The USILA aimed to acknowledge the accomplishments of student-athletes within its member institutions. This recognition was, and still is, presented through certificates to both the athlete and their institution at an annual banquet, traditionally held at the site of the North/South All-Star Game.

Early Days and the Significance of the Honor

In the early days of collegiate lacrosse, before the advent of widespread professional leagues, the All-American distinction served as a primary measure of excellence. The players named to these teams were seen as the standard-bearers of the sport. This honor has been cherished by those who earned All-American status, with many continuing to contribute to the game long after their playing careers ended. Today, many individuals involved in the governance of men's collegiate lacrosse are former All-Americans, a testament to the lasting impact of this recognition.

Growth of the Game and Increased Representation

Since the "golden years" of the 1950s, the number of institutions sponsoring men's lacrosse has grown significantly. With this growth has come increased scrutiny of the All-American selection process, with representation and transparency being key concerns. The USILA has strived to ensure that the selection process accurately reflects the talent and diversity within the sport.

The USILA Scholar All-America Program

Recognizing the importance of academic achievement alongside athletic prowess, the USILA established the Scholar All-America Program in 1989. This program honors student-athletes who excel academically, athletically, and as citizens within their communities.

Criteria for Selection

To be named a Scholar All-American, a student-athlete must be nominated by their coach and possess senior year academic standing with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale). They must also demonstrate exemplary behavior, bringing credit to themselves, their institution, and college lacrosse, both on and off the field. Additionally, a Scholar All-American must be an All-American, a member of a North/South team, or an outstanding league or conference player. However, simply being a member of the North/South team or receiving All-League/Conference honors does not guarantee selection for the award. The USILA Selection Committee chooses an overall team representing Division I, II, and III.

The Tewaaraton Award: Recognizing the Best of the Best

While the All-American teams recognize excellence across various positions, the Tewaaraton Award stands as the highest individual honor in college lacrosse. Presented annually to the most outstanding male and female lacrosse players in the United States, the Tewaaraton Award is a symbol of unparalleled achievement.

Honoring Native American Heritage

The name "Tewaaraton" comes from the Mohawk word for lacrosse. The award was conceived with the goal of honoring the heritage of the sport. Frederick Kail, a Mohawk native, designed the bronze statue that serves as the trophy, depicting a single, unnamed Mohawk player on a hexagon-shaped slab of granite. The original castings of the trophy are displayed at the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in Maryland.

Notable Tewaaraton Winners

Syracuse's Michael Powell was the first player to win the Tewaaraton Award twice, and Lyle Thompson, representing the University at Albany, became the first Native American player to win the award in 2014. Lyle shared the honor with his brother, Miles Thompson, after both broke the NCAA's single-season points record. Lyle Thompson said one of the best memories from winning in 2014 was getting to share it with his brother.

A Look at Army Lacrosse and Its All-American Legacy

West Point, home to one of the nation's oldest and most successful college lacrosse programs, boasts a rich history of All-American players. Despite a somewhat inconsistent start, with intercollegiate squads in 1907, 1909, and 1910 before truly gaining momentum in 1921, the program quickly achieved on-field success. Those early squads won all 10 of their games.

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Early Success and National Championships

In only its sixth year, the program secured its first national championship in 1923 under head coach Talbot Hunter, finishing the season with an 8-1-1 record. This victory marked the beginning of a remarkable period of sustained excellence.

The Touchstone Era

Under the legendary coach Touchstone, Army lacrosse reached its zenith. During his 29-year tenure (1929-1957), Touchstone led the Black Knights to 214 wins, 73 losses, and four ties. His teams won or shared three national titles, claiming the outright crown in 1944 and sharing it with Navy in 1945 and Princeton in 1951. Touchstone's remarkable .743 winning percentage at Army, along with his earlier success at Yale, earned him induction into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1960.

All-American Pioneers at West Point

Touchstone's Hall of Fame entry paved the way for Army All-Americans such as Harry Wilson, Thomas Truxtun, and James Hartinger. Wilson was the first West Point athlete to earn first-team All-America honors in both lacrosse and football in the same year (1926). Charles Born, a first-team football All-American in 1925, was selected as a first-team lacrosse All-American in 1928. In its early years, the lacrosse program had close ties to the Army football team, with many football players participating in lacrosse to maintain their fitness. Among Army's early lacrosse All-Americans were football players Wilson, Born, Milt Summerfelt, Robert Stillman, Clinton True, and Woodrow Wilson. Bill Carpenter replicated this feat before graduating in 1960.

The "Lonely End" and Defensive Dominance

Like Touchstone, football coach Earl "Red" Blaik, a Hall of Famer, was a visionary, developing the "Lonely End" formation. A consistent theme throughout Army's lacrosse success has been its strong defense. Don Tillar and Carpenter were named the nation's top defensemen in 1959 and 1960, respectively, marking a 15-year period in which six Black Knights received this honor. Norman Webb, a two-time national Goalie of the Year and All-American, was a major contributor to Army's stellar defense in the mid-1960s.

The Ace Adams Era

Replacing Touchstone in 1958 was a daunting task, but Ace Adams proved more than capable. In his first year, Adams led the team to a 9-0 record and a share of the national title, marking Army's first perfect season since 1910. During his twelve years at West Point, Adams' teams won .777 percent of their games. In 1961, after a 9-2 season, Adams was named national Coach of the Year. An All-America midfielder during his college days at Johns Hopkins, Adams joined Touchstone in the Hall of Fame in 1975.

Offensive Stars and NCAA Tournament Appearances

Cramblet and Cafaro, key players during the transition from Adams to Al Pisano, helped establish the Black Knights as an explosive offensive team. Cramblet graduated in 1970 as the Academy's all-time leading scorer with 150 points, but Cafaro broke that record a year later, finishing with 167 points. With Pisano as coach, the Black Knights played a significant role in the emergence of the NCAA Tournament. Army was part of the first three NCAA tournament fields and last appeared in the tournament in 2010, reaching the second round. Army is one of only 11 lacrosse programs to have appeared in at least a dozen postseason tournaments since the event began in 1971.

The Edell Era

Dick Edell, who succeeded Pisano, continued Army's success, guiding the Black Knights to the NCAA Tournament in four of his seven years. Goalie George Slabowski and attackman Frank Giordano were the stars of Edell's era, earning first-team All-America honors in 1983.

The Emmer Era

Jack Emmer replaced Edell in 1984, following successful coaching stints at Cortland State and Washington & Lee. In 1997 and 1998, Ross Yastrzemsky and Chad Hadlock surpassed 100 career points. Yastrzemsky, the program's highest-scoring midfielder, earned an honorable mention All-America certificate after the 1997 season. Emmer coached 27 All-Americans in his 22 years at the Academy, including Jim Wagner and John Walker. Tim Pearson, a three-time honorable mention All-American, finished his career as the Academy's all-time leading scorer with 238 points.

The Alberici Era

In 2006, Joe Alberici, a former assistant coach, took over the Army lacrosse program. In 2010, Alberici led Army to an 11-6 record, a perfect 6-0 Patriot League mark, two wins over Navy, and its first-ever Patriot League tournament title. The Black Knights then upset two-time defending national champion Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Alberici led his Black Knights to a Patriot League Tournament berth in 13 of his 14 seasons at the helm, and was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2014. In 2017, the Black Knights became the first team since 1993 to reach 12 wins in a season, and Alberici led his team to 10 or more wins for the third-straight year and the fourth time in his career.

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