Checo Named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh men's lacrosse's junior defenseman Richard Checo was named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, as announced Thursday night.

The list includes the top players across all three divisions of NCAA Lacrosse and highlights early contenders for the 2025 Tewaaraton Award.

Checo is the lone Lehigh representative and just one of four Patriot League players to be represented. The Oakton, Va., native was one of 13 defenders named to the Award Watch List. This is Checo's first time landing on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List and the fifth straight season that Lehigh has had someone land on the list.

Checo has had an illustrious career throughout his time in the Brown and White, racking up 105 caused turnovers and 126 ground balls. Checo has recorded a caused turnover in 30 of 32 games played for the Mountain Hawks. Last season, he finished with 62 ground balls and 48 caused turnovers.

Checo is a two-time All-American. He was named a preseason third team All-American by USA Lax Magazine.

In the season opener against Rutgers on Feb. 1, Checo recorded a game-high of three caused turnovers and three ground balls.

Next up, Checo and the Mountain Hawks will take on Fairfield on Friday at 5 p.m. in Fairfield, Conn.

2025 MEN'S WATCH LIST
Ty Banks, Georgetown - Soph., Defense
Ryan Bell, Providence - Sr., Attack
Aidan Carroll, Georgetown - Grad. Student, Attack
Emmet Carroll, Penn - 5th year, Goalie
Richard Checo, Lehigh - Jr., Defense
Ryan Cohen, Michigan - Sr., Attack
William Coletti, Army West Point - Sr., Face Off
Matt Collison, Johns Hopkins - Jr., Midfield
John DeFazio, Salisbury - Grad. Student, Defense
Owen Duffy, North Carolina - Soph., Attack
Billy Dwan, Syracuse - Jr., Defense
Kevin Ellington, Delaware - Grad. Student, Goalie
Braden Erksa, Maryland - Jr., Attack
Jack Fracyon, Penn State - Sr., Goalie
Jimmy Freehill, Denver - Sr., Defense
Michael Gianforcaro, North Carolina - Grad. Student, Goalie
Owen Hiltz, Syracuse - Redshirt Senior, Attack
Leo Johnson, Yale - Sr., Attack
Benn Johnston, Duke - Soph., Midfield
Nate Kabiri, Princeton - Soph., Attack
Chris Kavanagh, Notre Dame - Sr., Attack
Hugh Kelleher, Cornell - Sr., Midfield
Sam King, Harvard - Sr., Attack
CJ Kirst, Cornell - Sr., Attack
Brendan Lavelle, Penn - 5th year, Defense
Matt Licata, Villanova - Grad. Student, Attack
Michael Long, Cornell - Sr., Attack
Shawn Lyght, Notre Dame - Soph., Defense
Chris Lyons, Yale - Sr., Attack
Coulter Mackesy, Princeton - Sr., Attack
Aidan Maguire, Duke - Jr., SSDM
Andrew McAdorey, Duke - Sr., Midfield
Logan McNaney, Maryland - Grad. Student, Goalie
McCabe Millon, Virginia - Soph., Attack
Colin Mulshine, Princeton - Sr., Defense
AJ Pilate, Army West Point - Sr., Defense
Evan Plunkett, Army West Point - Jr., Midfield
Ben Ramsey, Notre Dame - Sr., SSDM
Dylan Renner, Adelphi - Grad. Student, Goalie
Brad Sharp, Yale - Sr., Midfield
Scott Smith, Johns Hopkins - Grad. Student, Defense
Joey Spallina, Syracuse - Jr., Attack
Ryan Stines, Utah - Jr., Attack
Cardin Stoller, Rutgers - Soph., Goalie
Jake Taylor, Notre Dame - Grad. Student, Attack
Matt Traynor, Penn State - Sr., Attack
Levi Verch, St Joes - Sr., Defense
Ben Wayer, Virginia - Sr., Defense
Mikey Weisshaar, Towson - Jr., Midfield
Max Yates, Colgate - Sr., Defense

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at #1 Army on May 1, 2026 , Loss , 6, to, 13

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at #3 Boston University on April 28, 2026 , Win , 16, to, 15

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at Lafayette College on April 24, 2026 , Win , 14, to, 12

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Navy on April 18, 2026 , Win , 19, to, 7

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at Colgate University on April 10, 2026 , Loss , 7, to, 9

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at #4/5 Princeton University on March 31, 2026 , Loss , 8, to, 15

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at #18/19 Army on March 28, 2026 , Loss , 11, to, 14

Lehigh University Athletics

Checo Named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List

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