The race for the Tewaaraton has reached its final phase.
On Tuesday night, the Tewaaraton Foundation announced their five finalists for the 2026 award, and among that group is Syracuse senior attacker Joey Spallina.
Joining Spallina in vying for lacrosse’s highest individual honor are North Carolina’s Owen Duffy, Cornell’s Willem Firth, Princeton’s Nate Kabiri and Notre Dame’s Shawn Lyght. A close defender,
Lyght is the only non-attacker of the finalists.
The month of May has traditionally played an important role in determining the Tewaaraton winner, and that’s as true this year as it’s ever been with a completely wide open race. Whoever of the five is able to help their team to the best run through the tournament is putting themselves in the driver’s seat.
With the nomination, Joey becomes the first Syracuse player to be named a finalist in more than a decade, if you can believe that, when Kevin Rice was tabbed one of the final five back in 2015.
Joey’s had a tremendous senior season, leading the Orange with 75 points and 45 assists alongside his 30 goals. His 4.69 points per game is tied for ninth-best in the country, while his 2.81 assists per game is fourth-best. A few weeks ago, he became the program’s all-time career points leader, passing Mike Powell’s previous record of 307. Joey currently has 321 points as ‘Cuse enters the NCAA’s.
The 2026 Tewaaraton Award ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 28 in Washington, DC.
