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JU Men’s Lacrosse Names Captains Ahead of 2023 Season

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in , , , .

via JU press release, by Alex Kerstetter

GREINER, HETTINGER, HEED AND WALBAUM WILL CAPTAIN THE MEN’S LACROSSE TEAM IN INAUGURAL SEASON IN ASUN

JACKSONVILLE, Fla- The Jacksonville men’s lacrosse program has announces their team captains ahead of the 2023 season.

Jacob GreinerJack HeedTroy Hettinger and Max Waldbaum were selected by their peers to lead the Dolphins this spring.

“The selection of captains is a process we wait until the spring for because we want to identify what this years’ teams need truly is,” said head coach John Galloway on the annual tradition of electing captains. “While sometimes the leaders are obvious, this year, we had such an incredible pool of candidates that can lead in their own ways.”

Greiner, a red-shirt junior from Pexton, Pa., was named Captain for the Dolphins for the second consecutive season this week. Last year, Greiner netted a team-best 51 goals and scored in 16 of 17 contests. The senior recorded the second most points in a single-season in program history with 69 points. His 3.00 goals per game average was good for 15th in the country and he was named in the SoCon Conference’s All-Second team.

“It’s an amazing honor to represent this group of guys,” said Greiner on being named a captain of the ‘Phins.  “And means everything to me to know my teammates trust me to be one of their leaders.”

Jack Heed was named a team captain for the first time in his career. The graduate student has played all four years of his playing career for the Dolphins and has made 52 appearances throughout his time in Jacksonville. He’s recorded 64 ground balls and caused 39 turnovers throughout his career and has also netted three goals with two assists to his resume.

“For the past four years I have had a lot of guys like Dixon Smith and Jeremy Winston who I have always looked up to, who led this Jacksonville program as captains to do things never done before,” said Heed. “So to be elected by my teammates as captain for my final season is truly an honor. I am excited to continue the mission and change the narrative, like the guys that came before me have done.”

Hettinger, a redshirt senior from Ellicott City, Md., was also named a team captain for the Dolphins for the second time in as many seasons. He’s played his entire career at Jacksonville and in 51 career games, Hettinger has scored 21 goals and dished out six assists. He’s also added 60 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers. After the 2022 campaign, the senior was named an All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine and was a member of the SoCon’s All-Conference First-Team. He also collected Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-American honors.

“I am honored to be a captain of this team,” exclaimed Hettinger. “We have so many great individuals on this team it is amazing that my teammates view me as a leader.”

Waldbaum is a grad student from Denver, Colorado and has been selected for the second consecutive year along with Greiner and Hettinger. Waldbaum’s one season resume as a Dolphin includes being named an All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine, Inside Lacrosse and USILA. He was also on the SoCon All-Conference first team after he put up 48 goals and 72 total points. His point total was good for the most in a single-season in JU history.

“It’s an honor to be elected captain not because of the title but because of the trust of my teammates,” said Waldbaum. “That feeling is reciprocated and I’m excited to do my part for a special team.”

“The four men chosen are an embodiment of who the entire team is and will be the voice of every man in our locker room,” further explained Galloway on his captains. “Troy Hettinger and Jack Heed have been with us since day one, and this is their team. Max Waldbaum stepped into this program and almost overnight made us a tougher and more competitive group. Jacob Greiner is the shining example of what the Duval Mission is and who we want to be for years moving forward. Better people make better Dolphins, and these guys are better people. I can’t wait to watch them lead our team with their own voice and vision of what they want this to become.”

The Dolphins open the season on Feb. 4 when Johns Hopkins travels to Jacksonville. JU then hosts nationally ranked Duke on Feb. 11 and Marist University on Feb. 18.

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