Manoli Loupassi (C ’27), pictured above, is one of the many players on the men’s lacrosse team to win SAA Athlete of the Week honors.
Irene Boehm, Sports Editor
Following an exciting 15-7 defeat over Rhodes College last weekend, the Sewanee men’s lacrosse team has locked in their undefeated status in the Southern Athletic Association(SAA) Conference Play. This feat has secured them the #1 seed in the Conference Tournament, which will be hosted at Centre College, with the first match on Apr. 30.
Beyond an undefeated conference record, this team has reached new milestones on and off the turf. Throughout the year, the team received several votes for the NCAA DIII Lacrosse Top 20 List. This is the first time they have received any votes since the 2016 season.
Coach Nick DiBernardo attributes this season’s success to the leadership of the team’s upperclassmen: “Our seniors and juniors have done an incredible job leading this team,” he said, “building on the success we have had and on the prior leadership.”
One of those impactful upperclassmen is Manoli Loupassi (C ‘27). “We have an old team this year, I think that’s helped a lot. I definitely looked up to a lot of the guys when I was a freshman.” Loupassi said.
The men’s lacrosse team has had a strong run over the last six years under head coach DiBernardo. In his first five seasons at the helm, DiBernardo has posted a 43-28 overall record, 32 All-Conference selections, 118 players named to the Academic Honor Roll and one conference championship.
Last season, the Tigers ended their campaign with an 11-7 record, falling in the SAA Tournament Championship game for the third straight season. This season, the team is going for it all, once again. “The last, like, three or four years we’ve been in the finals and lost by a small amount. And so I think this year, I think everything is kind of coming together,” Loupassi reflected.
“They are extremely hungry,” DiBernardo said. “We just had regular-season conference championships on Saturday, which we won; we reached that goal again, and now we have the chance to win the tournament.”
No matter the postseason outcome for the Tigers this year, this season has been one for the record books. According to both Loupassi and DiBernardo, the impressive stats have not been exclusive to upperclassmen; several freshmen have received SAA Player of the Week honors and played vital roles in victories throughout the season. Loupassi expressed how many first-years have stepped up, “Harrison Fuller and Tyler Clary have played huge roles in our success. I think Clary’s probably the best defenseman in the conference right now.”
Other team highlights include: DiBernardo hitting 50 wins as head coach, Attackman Will Kennedy (C ‘27) hitting 100 career points, and Loupassi tying the program record for points in a game. Many members of the squad have also won SAA Athlete of the Week honors, with goalie Flynn Bowman (C ‘26) claiming the title three times.
As recently as last week, Loupassi and Clary earned another SAA Athlete of the Week honors as the team defeated Rhodes and clinched the SAA Regular Season Championships. To secure the win, Loupassi was a dominant force for the Tigers on attack, tallying four goals on 10 shots and two assists. Loupassi tallied a total of six points and three ground balls for the day. Clary picked up his first Athlete of the Week honors, with a career-high of nine ground balls and a caused turnover in the Tigers’ 15-7 win.
Beyond excellence on the field, Sewanee men’s lacrosse has been doing impactful work in the community. The team is part of the Team IMPACT program, which matches children facing serious illnesses or disabilities with college athletic teams to provide a supportive community. According to DiBernardo, the team joined the Team Impact program two years ago. “It’s been really good for our guys to know that it’s bigger than the sport of lacrosse and being just a college athlete,” said DiBernardo, “Seeing that and seeing our guys interact with these kids has been really cool.”
This season, the Tigers have celebrated milestones such as Senior Day with their Team IMPACT teammate Will, emphasizing their commitment to mentorship and family values beyond the field.
As the SAA Conference tournament approaches, all eyes are on this team and the family they have built up around them. There is no doubt that this squad is ready for the glory of an SAA tournament championship.