Six Terps Named USILA All-Americans

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Led by defenseman Brett Makar on the first team, six Terps were named USILA All-Americans, the organization announced Thursday afternoon.

The six selections give Maryland 522 USILA All-Americans in program history, including 85 under John Tillman.

The Terps also had five Inside Lacrosse and USA Magazine All-Americans this spring.

Defense ➡️ Offense

Everybody loves a @Brettmakar pole goal!#BeTheBest pic.twitter.com/vTDhTu0k38
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) April 30, 2023

Makar, selected third overall in the 2023 Premier Lacrosse League Draft earlier this month, finished tied for first on the team in caused turnovers (21) and second in groundballs (48). Makar finished an illustrious five-year career as a Terp with 73 games played, starting every single one of them, and earned a reputation as one of the top defenders in the country.

Makar was also named the 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

AJAX GOAL!

His second score in the past two games kicks off the second-half scoring #BeTheBest pic.twitter.com/R1kmrk4N4X
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) April 8, 2023

On the second team, close defenseman Ajax Zappitello was a First Team All-Big Ten selection who guarded some of the top attackers in the country this season. Despite missing the final four games of the season due to injury, Zappitello finished tied for first on the team with 21 groundballs.

GEPPERT!

John notches our first goal of the 2023 season to put us up 1-0#BeTheBest pic.twitter.com/ohGdMqSKAM
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) February 4, 2023

Joining him on the second team is LSM John Geppert. Geppert continued to make a name for himself as one of the top LSMs in the country, totaling five points, 36 GBs and seven CTs despite battling injuries for most of the year.

Luke Wierman and Dante Trader Jr. both earned Third Team honors.

WIERMAN TO THE HOUSE 💪

He scores from the faceoff to tie the game between @TerpsMLax and @UVAMensLax at 8-8. pic.twitter.com/eIYRPhbUUU
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) March 18, 2023

Wierman, a First Team All-Big Ten honoree, continued to cement himself as one of the best faceoff specialists of all time, now standing second on Maryland's career faceoff wins list (637) and third on the all-time groundalls list (339). His 252 faceoff wins this season are the second-most in a single-season at Maryland, trailing only his own record of 298 in 2022 and his 135 groundballs are the third most in a single-season at Maryland ever.

This effort from Dante ‼️

First two career goals for @DizzyDante yesterday #BeTheBest pic.twitter.com/ehLmFz2l0C
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) February 19, 2023

Trader burst onto the national lacrosse scene in his first collegiate season. A dual sport athlete that also stars in football, he flourished at SSDM, causing 14 turnovers on the season, which was good for third on the team. Trader, the two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, also notched two separate two-goal games and finished with seven points for the year.

Big goal from Kyle Long! He puts us up 12-9! #BeTheBest pic.twitter.com/DUsYCaRgrz
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) March 25, 2023

Midfielder Kyle Long, the 27th overall selection in the 2023 PLL Draft, rounds out the Terps' All-American selections. The graduate student had another strong offensive season to finish his career, finishing with a team-high 23 assists in addition to finishing fourth overall in points (33). Long finished his career 13th on Maryland's career assists list with 91 and is the all-time leader for midfielders ahead of Frank Urso.

All honorees, with the exception of Trader who did not play last season, were also USILA All-Americans in 2022.

Players Mentioned

John Geppert

Kyle Long

Brett Makar

Dante Trader Jr.

Luke Wierman

Ajax Zappitello

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