MLAX Earns Multiple All-Big Ten Conference Accolades
May 03 | Men's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (May 3, 2016) - The Big Ten announced its all-conference teams and individual award winners Tuesday, and No. 18 Rutgers men's lacrosse was well rewarded for an exceptional 2016 campaign. Scott Bieda and Jules Heningburg were named First Team All-Big Ten. Zack Sikora was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection. Bieda is the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Adam Charalambides is Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Head coach Brian Brecht was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. Michael Rexrode was named the team's Sportsmanship Honoree.
"I am very proud of our team's accomplishments this year in the regular season, as well as the opportunity they gave themselves to participate in the postseason to play lacrosse in the month of May," coach Brian Brecht said. "Our attack as a unit has played very well this year. They have created great chemistry by complementing one another all year. Coach James Mitche ll has done a great job allowing them to play to their strengths within our system. Our defense guided by Coach Jesse Bernhardt and led by Zack Sikora has fueled our offense. The rope unit has allowed us to play fast between the lines, which has created much of our success offensively."
Bieda was a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team. The senior captain scored 26 goals and added 32 assists. He earned Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the Big Ten with 58 points and 4.14 points per game. The Bridgewater, N.J., native was tied for first in Big Ten with three game-winning goals and second in the Big Ten with 32 assists. The attacker was the only Big Ten player with both 20-plus goals and 30-plus assists. This was his third straight season as an all-conference selection, as he was named First Team All-Big Ten last year and Second Team All-BIG EAST as a sophomore. Bieda is a semifinalist for the Tewaaraton Award.
"Scott has had so many positive experiences throughout his time as a four year starter for our program," Brecht explained. "He has been a true leader both on and off the field for us throughout that time. I am very happy for all his success, as he has truly been one of the hardest workers that I have been around. His love for all his teammates and the way he has been a leader for our program makes this award well deserved. I am proud of the way he has conducted himself as a Scarlet Knight throughout his career."
Charalambides earned Freshman of the Year Honors after scoring 35 goals in his first collegiate season. The Georgetown, Ontario native burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman, scoring six goals in his career debut, tied for the most by any Big Ten player in a game this season. The attacker led all conference freshmen and was second nationally among freshmen in goal-scoring.
"This is a great honor for Adam," Brecht said. "His hard work during the offseason and throughout the year has made a big impact on our offense early in his career. He meshed so well with Bieda and Heningburg, making our attack unit so cohesive within our system and style of playing."
Heningburg was named First Team All-Big Ten after leading the conference with 38 goals. The Maplewood, N.J., native led all Big Ten players with 26 points and 18 goals in conference games. The sophomore's six goals and eight points versus Penn State was the best individual performance in a conference game this season.
"I am so happy for Jules's accomplishments this season," Brecht said. "He was asked to perform at a high level as a freshman last year and start every game. He took full advantage of that experience and returned this season a year better, not just a year older. A student of the game and fierce competitor, I am proud to see all his hard work being rewarded as he helps our program grow."
Sikora was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten for the second consecutive season. The long-stick midfielder led the team with 44 ground balls and tied his career-high with six goals. The Clifton, Va., native set career-bests with 17 caused turnovers, three assists and nine points. He was the only Big Ten player with both 40-plus ground balls and five-plus goals. A member of the 2016 Tewaaraton Award Watch List and MLL Draft selection, Sikora was named a team-captain this season.
"Zack has been a true student-athlete as a Scarlet Knight," Brecht said. "To earn All-Big Ten honors again at the long-stick midfield position after being recruited as a short stick midfielder is just a testament of how hard he worked to excel at LSM. He is a team first player and has a big impact on our program throughout his career."
Brecht engineered one of the nation's largest turnarounds this season. Rutgers improved from a five-win season in 2015 to record 10 victories in the 2016 regular season. Picked to finish sixth in Big Ten in the preseason poll, the Scarlet Knights placed second in the conference with a 3-2 league record. RU won 10 games for just the fifth time in program history. Brecht is in his fifth season at the helm for Rutgers. This is the first time Brecht has won Coach of the Year at Rutgers. He previously was a three-time MAAC Coach of the Year while at Siena.
"It is certainly an honor to receive this recognition," Brecht said. "I have been very fortunate to have both great student athletes and a great coaching staff that have worked so well together to grow so much over the past year. Players make plays and I feel confident when the whistle blows on game day that they are well prepared and trust their decisions because of all the time our staff has spent with them."
Rexrode was named Rutgers' Sportsmanship Honoree. The award is given to student-athletes who distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The sophomore defender from Leesburg, Va., had 32 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers.
Rutgers begins play at the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday. The No. 2 seed, RU will play No. 3 Johns Hopkins at 8 p.m. at Homewood Field in Baltimore. The game will be televised by Big Ten Network.
2016 MEN'S LACROSSE ALL-BIG TEN TEAMS AND INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Coach of the Year: Brian Brecht, Rutgers
Offensive Player of the Year: Scott Bieda, Rutgers
Defensive Player of the Year: Robby Haus, Ohio State
Freshman of the Year: Adam Charalambides, Rutgers
Specialist of the Year: Jake Withers, Ohio State
First-Team All-Big Ten
RYAN BROWN, Johns Hopkins
Shack Stanwick, Johns Hopkins
Kyle Bernlohr, Maryland
Bryan Cole, Maryland
Isaiah Davis-Allen, Maryland
Robby Haus, Ohio State
Jake Withers, Ohio State
NICK APONTE, Penn State
Scott Bieda, Rutgers
Jules Heningburg, Rutgers
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten
John Crawley, Johns Hopkins
Nick Fields, Johns Hopkins
Greg Danseglio, Maryland
Colin Heacock, Maryland
Tim Muller, Maryland
Matt Rambo, Maryland
Chase Brown, Michigan
Michael Aronow, Penn State
Grant Ament, Penn State
Zack Sikora, Rutgers
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
Sportsmanship Award Honorees:
Matt O'Keefe, Johns Hopkins
Mike McCarney, Maryland
Andrew Hatton, Michigan
Ryan Hunter, Ohio State
James Chakey, Penn State
Michael Rexrode, Rutgers
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics ) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers men's lacrosse, follow the program and Brecht on Twitter (@RUMLax and @RUlaxCoach) and Facebook. Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
