News Summary
Newberry College has recognized its outstanding student-athletes in lacrosse during recent events, awarding key accolades to defenders Brian Lake and Jack Travassos. Both players were celebrated for their remarkable seasons, contributing significantly to the Wolves’ success. Additionally, nearly 120 graduating student-athletes were honored for their achievements in academics and sports. Several awards were presented to individuals for their excellence in various categories, including sportsmanship, loyalty, and performance, highlighting the college’s commitment to fostering athletic talent and academic integrity.
Newberry, South Carolina – Newberry College has recently celebrated its athletic achievements by honoring standout performers in lacrosse and recognizing graduating student-athletes during a series of events this month. Among the highlights were senior defenders Brian Lake and Jack Travassos receiving prestigious accolades from the 2025 United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division II All-America and All-South Region Teams.
Travassos was recognized as a third-team All-America selection and a first-team All-South Atlantic Conference (SAC) choice. Lake, the South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, earned honorable mention for his All-America performance. Both athletes were also included in the All-South Region team, showcasing their exceptional skills and contributions on the field throughout the season.
Graduate student Brian Lake had a remarkable season, starting all 17 games in defense, contributing one goal, two assists, and leading with impressive stats of 41 ground balls and 40 forced turnovers. His performance helped the Newberry Wolves lead the SAC in caused turnovers with a total of 192. Jack Travassos also had a strong showing, leading the team in ground balls with 64, recording 28 caused turnovers, and adding one goal and one assist to his season totals.
Over his four-year tenure at Newberry, Travassos accumulated five goals and four assists. He closed out his career with 230 ground balls, placing him second in Newberry history, while his 112 caused turnovers stand as a Newberry career record. The Wolves finished the season with a 10-7 overall record, a commendable 7-3 in SAC play, and achieved a fourth-place finish in the conference standings. Their performance earned them a ranking of #16 in the final USILA Division II national poll.
In addition, Newberry College held graduation ceremonies on May 17 at Setzler Field, where nearly 120 student-athletes were celebrated for their academic and athletic achievements. Among the notable awards given was the George B. Cromer Award for academic excellence, leadership, and personal integrity, awarded to triathlon graduate Rebecca Hartrick. The Mary Mildred Sullivan Award, which recognizes individuals exemplifying faith, hope, and charity, was given to Stembile Chikoree, while the Dr. L Grady Cooper Award for loyalty and devotion went to Alexa Anderson.
The “Wolfies” event on May 5 also highlighted student-athlete accomplishments, with several awards presented. Haidyn Campbell was named Female Newcomer of the Year in softball, while Liam Vollans received the honor for male newcomers in men’s lacrosse. Irma Watson-Perez (Women’s Track and Field) and Braden Tatum (Men’s Wrestling) were awarded for Female and Male Individual Performance of the Year, respectively.
Further accolades included Tamsin Bangert (Field Hockey) as Female Athlete of the Year and John Parker (Men’s Wrestling) as Male Athlete of the Year. Field Hockey also took home the Female Team of the Year award, while the Male Team of the Year was awarded to Men’s Lacrosse. Rebecca Lipp (Women’s Soccer) and Benedikt Fischer (Men’s Golf) were named W.L. Laval Award and Jimmy Villeponteaux Senior Athlete of the Year winners, respectively. Coaching honors were given to Hannah Dave (Field Hockey) and Nick Cotter (Men’s Lacrosse) as Female and Male Sport Coaches of the Year.
Among other acknowledgments, Christine Butler (Softball) and Dayton Fields (Men’s Wrestling) were named Female and Male Comeback Players of the Year, while the Iron Wolf awards recognized Adriana Hart (Women’s Lacrosse) and Cael Alderman (Men’s Wrestling) for their extraordinary dedication both on and off the field.
In related news, Newberry’s women’s lacrosse team has started the season strong, improving their record to 4-1 after a close 14-12 victory over UVA Wise. The team maintained an early lead in the game, going ahead 5-0 in the first quarter, thanks to contributions from players like Emma Jobs, Dakota Beasley, Trysten Burns, and Scythe Shephard. The Wolves entered halftime leading 8-6, but UVA Wise tied the game in the third quarter before Newberry regained control, sealing the victory with a last-minute goal from Burns. The women’s lacrosse team has upcoming matches, including a game against Belmont Abbey College on March 5.
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Additional Resources
- Newberry Observer: Newberry College Student Athletes Celebrate Graduation
- Wikipedia: Newberry College
- Newberry Observer: Newberry College Student Athletes Celebrated at the 2025 Wolfies Award Ceremony
- Google Search: Newberry College lacrosse
- VMI Keydets: VMI Lacrosse to Host Headstrong Tournament
- Google Scholar: Newberry College lacrosse achievements
- USA Lacrosse: Newberry Surging in USA Lacrosse Division II Men’s Top 20
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lacrosse
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