Connor Shellenberger and Cole Kastner Named Nominees for Tewaaraton Award

Two Cavaliers were among the 25 nominees for top player in college lacrosse

Matt Newton | Apr 21, 2022

Photos courtesy of Virginia Athletics Communications

The Tewaaraton Foundation has announced the 25 nominees for the 2022 Tewaaraton Award, presented annually to the top player in college lacrosse. Two Virginia men's lacrosse players, attackman Connor Shellenberger and defenseman Cole Kastner, were among the nominees as announced on Thursday.

Shellenberger, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, is currently third in the nation with 3.08 assists per game and eighth with 5.25 points per game. He leads UVA in points (63) and assists (37) and is second on the team in goals with 26.

Connor Shellenberger is a 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲•𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫.

• 3rd in the nation & leads the ACC in assists.
• 8th in the nation & second in the ACC in points.
• Scored multiple points in every game so far this season. pic.twitter.com/QyeYPfRJT6
— Virginia Men's Lacrosse (@UVAMensLax) April 21, 2022

Cole Kastner has been the key to Virginia's smothering 10-man ride this season and has also developed into one of the top on-ball defenders in the nation. His 28 caused turnovers leads the team by a wide margin. Kastner averages 2.33 caused turnovers per game, the 6th-best mark in the country, and has collected 21 ground balls this season.

Cole Kastner is a 𝐧𝐮𝐢·𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 for opposing offenses.

• 6th in the nation & leads the ACC in caused turnovers.
• Anchors a UVA ride that's 3rd in the nation & leads the ACC in opponent clear percentage.
• Crowned ACC Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks. pic.twitter.com/epaMfHHfen
— Virginia Men's Lacrosse (@UVAMensLax) April 21, 2022

Five finalists will be announced from this group at the conclusion of the regular season in three weeks. Virginia men's lacrosse has had three previous: Tewaaraton winners since the award's inception in 2001: Chris Rotelli (2003), Matt Ward (2006), and Steele Stanwick (2011).

Men's Lacrosse Nominees

Will Bowen, Georgetown – Grad. Student, Defense
Matt Brandau, Yale – Jr., Attack
Graham Bundy Jr., Georgetown – Jr., Midfield
Zach Cole, Saint Joseph’s – Sr., Face Off
Tucker Dordevic, Syracuse – Sr., Midfield
Chris Gray, North Carolina – Grad. Student, Attack
Sam Handley, Pennsylvania – Sr., Midfield
Jack Hannah, Denver – Grad. Student, Midfield
Cole Kastner, Virginia – Soph., Defense
Patrick Kavanagh, Notre Dame – Jr., Attack
Colin Kirst, Rutgers – Grad. Student, Goalie
Ryan Lanchbury, Richmond – Grad. Student, Attack
Brett Makar, Maryland – Sr., Defense
Owen McElroy, Georgetown – Grad. Student, Goalie
Jack Myers, Ohio State – Sr., Attack
Brendan Nichtern, Army West Point – Sr., Attack
Asher Nolting, High Point – Grad. Student, Attack
Brennan O’Neill, Duke – Soph., Attack
Erik Peters, Princeton – Sr., Goalie
John Piatelli, Cornell – Sr., Attack
Ross Scott, Rutgers – Jr., Attack
Connor Shellenberger, Virginia – Soph., Attack
Mike Sisselberger, Lehigh – Sr., Face Off
Luke Wierman, Maryland – Jr., Face Off
Logan Wisnauskas, Maryland – Fifth Year Senior, Attack

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Men's Lacrosse Nominees

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