D.J. Hessler is already Tufts' all-time leading scorer and the reigning Div. III National Player of the Year. Now the senior quad-captain is in contention for an even higher honor, which spans all divisions of collegiate lacrosse — the Tewaarton Award.
Before the season, the Tewaarton selection committee released a "watch list" that included over 100 players. But when the list was whittled down this week, Hessler became one of 25 players that are now in contention for the award, the nation's top collegiate lacrosse honor. The senior attackman represents the sole Div. III name on a star-studded list that includes athletes from such Div. I juggernauts as Duke, Syracuse and Johns Hopkins.
"Personally I was surprised to be on the list, but it's not like the D-3 skill level is that far behind," Hessler said. "It's really about where you end up going to school, for both athletics and academics. For me, the NESCAC was a good fit."
Other Div. III athletes have made it to the final 25 in the award's ten-year history, including Salisbury midfielder Sam Bradman in 2010. The next set of cuts will come in May, when the committee will narrow the list to five finalists, before the winner is crowned at a ceremony on June 2 at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Hessler would potentially become the first Div. III athlete to become a finalist, though receiving enough votes to surpass 20 of the best players in the nation won't be easy.
"We all know it's a long shot," men's lacrosse coach Mike Daly said. "But I'd put his resume up there. I would never put a ceiling on this guy."
Daly was excited to get wind of Hessler's selection and views it as a sign of the nation's recognition of Tufts' recent success, which includes both a NESCAC and Div. III National Championship in 2010.
"There are only so many Div. I schools … so there's a lot of talent spread around, and we're the recipient of that," he said.
With a huge game at NESCAC rival No. 10 Middlebury tomorrow afternoon looming, Hessler is ready to continue making his case as one of the best lacrosse players in any collegiate division. The best way to do that, he says, is to keep on racking up team wins.
"It hinges on team success," he said. "The award usually goes to someone who wins the National Championship. You can put up huge numbers, but without the ability to play with your teammates, you won't get it."
