ANNAPOLIS, Md. —  Navy men's lacrosse players Jackson Peters (Sr / SSDM / Darien, Conn.) and Jackson Bonitz (Sr / D / Shrewsbury, Pa.) were among the 103 Div. I student-athletes to garner All-America recognition, it was announced by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) on Thursday morning. Navy has now secured an All-American in 98 of the 102 years in which the awards have been handed out.

A first-time USILA selection, Peters garnered third-team honors from the organization whose roots date back to 1885. He is Navy's first All-American to be named to one of the top-three teams since 2017 when defenseman Chris Fennell and long-stick midfielder Matt Rees were both named to the third team. Additionally, Peters earned Second-Team All-America honors by USA Lacrosse and was an Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American.

A two-time All-Patriot League selection (2024 First Team, 2023 Second Team), Peters is an exceptional defensive player who has used his shooting ability as a former offensive midfielder to command respect on both ends of the field. This spring he led the Mids' transition game, scoring 10 goals and dealing out 4 assists. He was a key part of Navy defensive units that stood among the nation's top 12 in scoring defense in each of his first three seasons, while this spring the Mids were #1 in the Patriot League and 25th nationally. Navy's defense held 7 of its 16 opponents to single digits this season, including Johns Hopkins who is ranked #3 in the country heading into the NCAA Championship. Navy held the Blue Jays to just 3 goals over the final 48-plus minutes en route to a 10-9 overtime victory.

One of the most decorated players in program history, Bonitz garnered Honorable Mention All-America honors from the USILA for the third-consecutive year. He is the 35th player in the program's 117-year history to garner USILA All-America three times and the first since Chris Fennell, who earned the honor in 2015, '16 and '17. Bonitz also garnered Honorable Mention All-America honors from both USA Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse earlier this month and graduates as a three-time All-American by both organizations.

Bonitz became only the second Navy player (Brady Dove 2014-15-16-17)  to garner All-Patriot League honors all four years when he was named to the first team this spring. Additionally, he is one of only eight players (first since Greyson Torain, 2017-18-19) to earn first-team recognition three times.

Bonitz has started every game in which he has played (55) over his four-year career and will graduate second on the Navy's caused turnovers list (79). He joins three-time All-Patriot League long-stick midfielder Matt Rees as the only two players in school history to reach 70 caused turnovers in a career, while they are also the only two players to have their name appear three times on Navy's single-season caused turnovers leader board. Bonitz recorded 18 caused turnovers in 2022, posted 22 last spring and led the team with 29 this season which is tied for the third most at Navy. Additionally, he has presented himself as a dangerous threat in the transition game where he has produced 12 points over his career with 6 goals and 6 assists. He closed out his career tied for fourth all-time among Navy's defensemen (close defense / long stick midfielders) in career points and stands alone in sixth in career goals. This spring, he scored 3 goals and added 3 assists. Bonitz also had a nose for loose balls, joining Navy's career ground balls record book where he ranked 13th with 157 over 4 years. He has been the cornerstone on a defensive unit that was ranked among the top 12 in scoring defense in each of his first three seasons, while this spring the Mids were #1 in the Patriot League and 25th nationally.

Respected by his teammates and fellow Naval Academy student-athletes, Bonitz not only served alongside Peters as co-captain of the lacrosse team, he was also elected to serve as the Captain of the Captains this year representing Navy's 36 varsity programs.

Both Bonitz and Peters will receive their diplomas from the Naval Academy on Friday at graduation. Bonitz, whose service assignment is Navy pilot, will be commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy, while Peters will be commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps where he will serve as a ground officer.


2024 USILA Major Award Winners

Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award (presented to the nation's best player) - Ajax Zappitello, Maryland
Lt. Col. Jack Turnbull Memorial Award (presented to the nation's top attackman) - Connor Shellenberger, Virginia
Lt. j.g. Donald MacLaughlin Jr. Award (presented to the nation's top midfielder) - Shane Knobloch, Rutgers
William C. Schmeisser Award (presented to the nation's top defenseman) - Jake Piseno, Albany
Ens. C. Markland Kelly Award (presented to the nation's top goalkeeper) - Liam Entenmann, Notre Dame

2024 USILA Major Award Winners
First Team
Attack – Connor Shellenberger, Virginia / Brennan O'Neill, Duke / Pat Kavanagh, Notre Dame
Midfield – Shane Knobloch, Rutgers / Evan Plunkett, Army / Graham Bundy Jr., Georgetown / Andrew Mcadorey, Duke
SS Midfield ­— Ben Ramsey, Notre Dame / Beau Pederson, Michigan / Dylan Hess, Georgetown
LS Midfield ­­— Jake Piseno, Albany
Defense — Ajax Zappitello, Maryland / Kenny Brower, Duke / Brendan Lavelle, Penn / Scott Smith, Johns Hopkins
Goalkeeper — Liam Entenmann, Notre Dame
Faceoff – Will Coletti, Army

Second Team
Attack – CJ Kirst, Cornell / Matt Brandau, Yale / TJ Malone, Penn State
Midfield – Jake Stevens, Syracuse / Mikey Weisshaar, Notre Dame / Eric Dobson, Notre Dame
SS Midfield ­— Grant Haus, Penn State / Aidan Maguire, Duke / Chase Yager, Virginia
LS Midfield ­­— Stephen Zupicich, Villanova / Will Donovan, Notre Dame
Defense — Cole Kastner, Virginia / Shawn Lyght, Notre Dame / AJ Pilate, Army
Goalkeeper — Emmet Carroll, Penn / Jack Fracyon, Penn State
Faceoff – Justin Wietfeldt, Michigan / Luke Wierman, Maryland

Third Team
Attack – Payton Cormier, Virginia / Joey Spallina, Syracuse / Sam King, Harvard
Midfield – Griffin Schutz, Virginia / Alexander Vardaro, Georgetown / Matt Collison, Johns Hopkins
SS Midfield ­— Jackson Peters, Navy / Brett Martin, Johns Hopkins
LS Midfield ­­— Tyler Carpenter, Duke
Defense — Mason Woodward, Marquette / Billy Dwan, Syracuse / Jimmy Freehill, Denver
Goalkeeper — Chayse Ierlan, Johns Hopkins
Faceoff – Alec Stathakis, Denver

Honorable Mention
Attack – Louis Perfetto, Boston U. / Chris Kavanagh, Notre Dame / Michael Boehm, Michigan / Bryden Mayea, High Point / Coulter Mackesy, Princeton / Josh Zawada, Duke / Jacob Angelus, Johns Hopkins / Owen Duffy, North Carolina / Ross Scott, Rutgers / Dyson Williams, Duke / Scott Cole, Lehigh / Owen Hiltz, Syracuse / Nick DeMaio, Towson / Garrett Degnon, Johns Hopkins / Jake Taylor, Notre Dame / Levi Anderson, Saint Joseph's / Ryan Bell, Providence / Aidan Carroll, Georgetown / Dalton Young, Richmond
Midfield – Devon McLane, Notre Dame / Hunter Drouin, Colgate / Jacob Morin, Army / Mac Costin, Penn State / Eric Spanos, Maryland / Sam English, Syracuse / Hugh Kelleher, Cornell / Lance Madonna, Richmond
SS Midfield ­— Casey Wilson, Denver / Marquez White, Princeton / Connor Cmiel, Ohio State
LS Midfield ­­— Roy Meyer, Boston U. / Ben Wayer, Virginia / AJ Mercurio, Denver / Max Yates, Colgate
Defense — Jackson Bonitz, Navy / Richard Checo, Lehigh / Marcus Hudgins, Ohio State / Colin Mulshine, Princeton / Ty Banks, Georgetown / Colby Barsz, Towson / Alex Ross, Penn State / Levi Verch, Saint Joseph's / Chris Conlin, Notre Dame / Patrick Morrison, Boston U.
Goalkeeper — Michael Gianforcaro, Princeton / Will Mark, Syracuse / Anderson Moore, Georgetown / Kevin Ellington, Delaware
Faceoff – Will Lynch, Notre Dame / Jake Naso, Duke / Machado Rodriguez, Yale / Brady Wambach, North Carolina / Nate Laliberte, Bryant / Mason Kohn, Syracuse

### Go Navy ###