Lacrosse Players Nominated for National Awards

A pair of seniors on the University of Hartford men’s lacrosse team appear among the list of candidates for two prestigious national awards.

Carter Bender was named to the 2012 Tewaaraton Award Watch List as a candidate for the honor bestowed upon the top player in collegiate lacrosse while Aidan Genik has been nominated as a candidate for the 2012 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.

Bender was one of four America East players named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List. The list includes the top players across all three divisions of collegiate lacrosse and highlights the early contenders for the 2012 Tewaaraton Award. This year’s list has 64 schools represented, which is a record high. The Selection Committees are made up of top collegiate coaches and are appointed each year by the Tewaaraton Award.

A USILA Division I All-American selection in 2011 and three-time All-America East pick, Bender returns for his final season after leading the Hawks in scoring last year with 35 goals and 53 points. A native of Caledon, Ontario, Bender took a dramatic leap up Hartford’s career record lists as he closed out his junior campaign ranked eighth in program history in points with 116.

Bender played a key role in helping fuel the Hawks’ run through the postseason in 2011. In both the semifinal round and the championship game of the America East Conference Tournament, he netted back-to-back hat tricks to lead the Hawks to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. He also adds New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association First Team honors to his list of accolades.

The Tewaaraton Award Selection Committees will make additions to these lists as the season progresses and athletes earn a spot alongside these elite players. In late April, both lists will be narrowed to 25 and those men and women will earn the distinction of Tewaarton Nominees. In mid-May, the five finalists in each category will be announced. These finalists will be invited to the Tewaaraton Award Ceremony, which will take place on May 31st at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

Genik, a senior attackman, is the only representative from the America East selected as a candidate for the 2012 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.

An America East All-Conference First Team last year, Genik paced the Hawks’ attack during league play in 2011 with 13 of his 22 goals coming in America East action. He finished his junior season ranked fourth on the squad in scoring with 23 goals and 10 helpers. In addition, Genik joined classmate Bender in cracking the century mark last season when he became the 15th member of Hartford’s 100-Point Club. With 83 career goals, Genik is currently the seventh-best goal scorer in program history.

Off the field, Genik has enjoyed a successful career inside of the classroom. A three-time America East Academic Honor Roll member, Genik has also been named to the America East All-Academic Team in both 2010 and 2011.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence–community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^®, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

The 20 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, Division I men’s coaches, and fans who will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four C’s of community, classroom, character and competition.