ANNAPOLIS, Md. —  Navy men's lacrosse head coach Joe Amplo announced on Thursday that rising seniors Jackson Bonitz (Shrewsbury, Pa.) and Jackson Peters (Darien, Conn.) have been selected by their teammates to serve as team captains for the 2024 season.

"Through their time at the United States Naval Academy, Jackson Bonitz and Jackson Peters have consistently set a high standard for how they operate as Navy lacrosse student-athletes," said Amplo. "Their example of excellence has been the guide for us throughout their entire careers. This, along with their willingness to grow into leaders from the front make them exceptional choices as captains for the 2023-24 year."

A two-time All-American (2022, '23 USILA / 2022, '23 Inside Lacrosse / 2022, '23 USA Lacrosse Magazine), Bonitz has been a three-year starter at close defense for the Mids. The three-time All-Patriot League standout (2nd team in 2021, 1st team in 2022, '23), once again led a defensive unit that saw Navy close out the 2023 campaign ranked 11th nationally and second in the Patriot League in scoring defense (10.44 GPG). The Mids held 7 of their 16 opponents to single digits, including 4 of their last 7 (Holy Cross 8, Boston U. 8, Lafayette 6, Bucknell 9).

Bonitz paced the Mids with 22 caused turnovers, a mark that is tied for eighth on Navy's single-season takeaways list. He is just the seventh different Navy player to reach 20 caused turnovers in a single season. Meanwhile, he stands fifth on the all-time list with 50, trailing record holder Matt Rees (2014-17) by 34.

Bonitz is the first Navy player to compete as a member of the U.S. Men's Lacrosse Under 21 Team since it was established in 1988. He played a key role in leading the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2022 U21 World Lacrosse Championship in Limerick, Ireland on Aug. 10-22. He helped anchor a defensive unit that held 6 of its 7 opponents to 5 or fewer goals, while getting on the scoring action with goals against Australia and Haudenosaunee.

After garnering First-Team All-Patriot League honors in April, Bonitz became the 14th player in program history to earn All-Patriot League honors at least 3 times and the first since Greyson Torain in 2017, '18 and '19. Additionally, he is Navy's sixth close defenseman / long-stick midfielder to be a three-time All-Patriot League selection and the first since Chris Fennell and Matt Rees in 2015, '16 and '17.

A former offensive middie, Peters has developed into one of Navy's top short-stick defensive midfielders in recent memory. He garnered Second-Team All-Patriot League recognition this past spring after closing out the season with 5 caused turnovers and 22 ground balls. In addition to his role on defense, he has developed into a key scoring threat in Navy's transition game. Peters produced 4 goals and added an assist in the 15 games in which he played in 2023. He scored his first-career goal in Navy's opener against Mount St. Mary's before punching in a pair of goals a week later in the Mids' 13-12 victory at Hofstra.

### Go Navy ###