ATLANTA, Ga. (April 29, 2024) – The Southern Athletic Association has announced its men’s lacrosse all-conference teams and major award winners for the 2024 season.
 
Centre attack David Caldwell was named the Offensive Athlete of the Year, the fourth-straight Colonel to win the award. Birmingham-Southern’s Cade Marino was voted the Defensive Athlete of the Year and teammate Josh Tamarkin took Newcomer of the Year honors. BSC leader Carson Sterling was named the SAA Coach of the Year.
 
Caldwell was the top goal scorer in the SAA, racking up 20 over six conference games. After not scoring in Centre’s SAA opener, he exploded for six goals against Birmingham-Southern and had at least three scores in each of the next four games. The junior also had six assists and led Centre to its fourth-straight SAA championship.
 
Marino was a force on the defensive end and topped the conference with nearly three caused turnovers a game in league play. He also nabbed 24 ground balls during the conference slate, including a season-high eight against Centre. Overall, the senior tallied 52 round balls and 38 caused turnovers on the season.
 
Tamarkin made an immediate impact in his first season, ranking third with 17 goals in conference play to lead the Panthers offense. He was huge against Oglethorpe, netting eight goals on 11 shots on goal. For the entire season, he racked up 34 goals and eight assists while also gathering 17 ground balls.
 
Sterling was elevated to head coach this season after having served on the Panthers staff since 2017. He led BSC to a 10-5 mark overall and 3-3 record in conference play. He mentored both the SAA Defensive and Newcomer of the Year while leading four all-SAA performers.
 
 2024 Men’s Lacrosse All-Conference Awards
 
Offensive Athlete of the Year – David Caldwell, Centre
Defensive Athlete of the Year – Cade Marino, Birmingham-Southern
Newcomer of the Year – Josh Tamarkin, Birmingham-Southern
Coach of the Year – Carson Sterling, Birmingham-Southern
 

First Team All-SAA Attack: David Caldwell, Centre Drew Downes, Rhodes Cameron Herd, Birmingham-Southern   Midfield: Maximus LaMendola, Hendrix Devon Root, Sewanee Kyle Winter, Birmingham-Southern   Defense: Cade Marino, Birmingham-Southern Graham Robbins, Centre Jack Selner, Sewanee   Long-Stick Midfield: David Hart, Rhodes Short-Stick Midfield: Lucas Pagliarulo, Rhodes Co Face-off: Drew Perun, Sewanee/Dylan Croft, Centre Goalie: Nathan Pepe, Birmingham-Southern

Second Team All-SAA Attack: Ryan Black, Centre Michael McKenzie, Berry Charles Moran, Sewanee   Midfield: Niko Maheras, Sewanee Ethan Perlakowski, Berry Max Speers, Centre   Defense: Jake Nelson, Hendrix Tim Salisbury, Berry Patrick Tatro, Centre   Long-Stick Midfield: Alec Jazaeri, Sewanee Short-Stick Midfield:  Holden Techet, Centre Goalie:  Addison Irwin, Berry

Honorable Mention
Attack:
Zach Crain, Sewanee
Ridr Knowlton, Centre
Nick Quarles, Hendrix
 
Midfield:
Jackson Blaylock, Berry
Ryan Hall, Centre
Noah Malubay, Centre
 
Defense:
Ben Johnson, Rhodes
Jakobi Leonard, Berry
Joe Orem, Sewanee
 
Long-Stick Midfield: Gavin Fields, Centre
Short-Stick Midfield: Jake Cohen, Sewanee
Face-off: Dylan Farley, Rhodes
Goalie:  Josh Salisbury, Rhodes