Wingate's Grieco and Caponi, Newberry's Travassos Earn South Atlantic Conference Varsity Gems Men's Lacrosse Players of the Week Awards
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its Varsity Gems Men's Lacrosse Players of the Week for games played in the ninth week of the 2023 season. Wingate's Willie Grieco was named the offensive player of the week while teammate Johnny Caponi was named the specialist player of the week. Newberry's Jack Travassos was named the defensive player of the week.
Grieco, a senior from Lawerenceville, Ga., had a huge night on Wednesday, leading No. 8 Wingate to a 16-10 victory at No. 4 Lenoir-Rhyne as the 'Dogs took over first place in the league standings. The preseason National Player of the Year had 4 goals and 5 assists on the night, helping Wingate jump out to a 10-2 lead en route to the big road win. Grieco is the national leader in assists per game, ranking second in points per game. The senior was also named to the Tewaaraton Watch List, the honor that goes to the top player in all of college lacrosse.
Travassos, a sophomore from Ontario, Canada, led the Newberry defensive effort en route to two wins last week over Anderson (17-12) and Mars Hill (15-8). Travassos had a career-night against Anderson on Wednesday at home, causing a career-high six turnovers while equaling his career-best in ground balls with eight. On Saturday in Mars Hill, he followed that up with two more caused turnovers and another eight ground balls. He had 16 ground balls and eight caused turnovers on the week and sits fourth in SAC standings with 23 caused turnovers this season.
Caponi, a senior from Oakland, N.J., had a massive night in Hickory, piling up a career-high 18 saves to lead No. 8 Wingate to a 16-10 victory at No. 4 Lenoir-Rhyne. The Bears lead the SAC with over 17 goals per game, but Wingate held them to just 10 goals on the night, only the second time this season that Lenoir-Rhyne has had under 15 goals in a game. Caponi added 2 ground balls and a caused turnover on the day.
2023 SAC Men's Lacrosse Players of the Week
Offensive Player of the Week
Feb. 6 – Matthew Rodgers, Anderson
Feb. 13 – Matthew Rodgers, Anderson
Feb. 20 – Logan Gaddis, Anderson
Feb. 27 – Rhodes Conroy, Lincoln Memorial
March 6- Willie Grieco, Wingate
March 13 – Toron Eccleston, Lenoir-Rhyne
March 20 – Radyn Badraun, Anderson
March 27 – Garrett Hawkins, Anderson
April 3 – Willie Grieco, Wingate
Defensive Player of the Week
Feb. 6 – Peyton Farley, Wingate
Feb. 13 – Peyton Jefferson, Anderson
Feb. 20 – Chase Robertson, Anderson
Feb. 27 – Tyler Shea, Lincoln Memorial
March 6- Joe Karnich, Wingate
March 13 – Victor Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne
March 10 – Peyton Jefferson, Anderson
March 27 – Michael Rodgers, Lincoln Memorial
April 3 – Jack Travassos, Newberry
Specialist of the Week
Feb. 6 – Cam Weeks, Anderson
Feb. 13 – Cam Weeks, Anderson
Feb. 20 – Cam Weeks, Anderson
Feb. 27- Dylan Rupprecht, Wingate
March 6 - Johnny Caponi, Wingate
March 13 – Johnny Caponi, Wingate
March 20 – Hunter Klosterman, Anderson
March 27 – Hunter Klosterman, Anderson
April 3 – Johnny Caponi, Wingate
Varsity Gems is an official corporate partner of the South Atlantic Conference and title sponsor of the Conference's Player of the Week awards program.
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