W&L's Witherell Named POY for a Third Time to Lead All-ODAC Men's Lax Awards

FOREST, Va. --- The headline for the 2019 All-ODAC Men's Lacrosse Awards is very similar to the previous two seasons as Washington and Lee University attackman A.J. Witherell tops the chart as the ODAC Player of the Year for a third straight year. He is the first three-time player of the year in ODAC men's lacrosse history.

Generals' mentor Gene McCabe earned ODAC Coach of the Year status, while Hampden-Sydney College midfielder Sean Duffy took home ODAC Rookie of the Year laurels from the league's head coaches. Randolph-Macon College midfielder Brendan Markovic secured ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete distinction from the conference's sports information directors.

Similarities continue when looking at the amount of repeat honorees earn recognition. In 2018, there were 21 players earning a second straight all-league nod, and that number is the same for 2019. Eleven of those stars occupy positions on the All-ODAC First Team. Witherell leads the list with his third first team selection. He's not the only player to turn a three-peat, however, as he's joined by fellow General Jack Hodgson at face-off specialist and Lynchburg long-stick midfielder Seamus McDonald. Roanoke attackman Jason Sarro and goalkeeper Ian Davies are first teamers two years running. That list includes Lynchburg defenseman Matt Meadow's and W&L midfielder Hudson Hamill.

Four players moved up at least one rung from last season. Lynchburg midfielder Kevin Rogers moved from the 2018 All-ODAC Second Team. The remaining three athletes jumped up from the All-ODAC Third Team. That group includes Hampden-Sydney attackman John Burke, Lynchburg defenseman Tyler Gallagher, and Roanoke midfielder Brendan Devane.

RELATED: 2018 All-ODAC Teams | All-Time All-ODAC

Witherell, a senior from Wilmington, Del., is the first three-time ODAC Player of the Year in men's lacrosse history. He has put together another special season that has seen him shoot up ODAC and Washington and Lee record books. Witherell is tied for second in the ODAC with 80 points despite missing two games due to injury. That total is powered by 43 goals and 37 assists as one of five players in the ODAC to eclipse 30 in both categories this season. Witherell lit up the scoreboard in all but one game, registering four or more points in 13 contests. He posted a career-high 11 points on four goals and a career-best seven assists in a 23-4 ODAC win at Guiford.

In terms of career records, Witherell has collected 314 points to rank as #1 at Washington and Lee and #2 in the ODAC record book behind former Virginia Wesleyan University standout Josh Currier (353 pts.). His 188 goals are tops at W&L and tied for fifth in conference history. His 126 assists are #2 at W&L and rank fourth in league annals. 

McCabe is in his 13th season guiding Washington and Lee men's lacrosse. This is the second time he has earned ODAC Coach of the Year distinction, joining th award he earned in 2009. His Generals, currently ranked 13th in the USILA Division III Poll, earned the third ODAC title during McCabe's tenure in Lexington. W&L has advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament after picking up a 23-2 victory over Piedmont College in the second round on Wednesday evening. McCabe is positioned atop the W&L coaching histories with a 160-77 (.675) career record entering the Generals' next game.

Duffy, a first-year from Ambler, Pa., pairs this honor with an All-ODAC Second Team selection. Duffy posted 42 points in his first season in the ODAC, scoring 29 goals with 13 assists. He was especially effective in man-up situations as he tied for second in the conference with seven goals on-advantage. He played in all 19 of the Tigers' game and failed to move the scoresheet in just two contests. Three times he posted four or more points including a five-goal outburst in just his second collegiate game to lead H-SC to a 19-6 victory at Greensboro College.

Markovic, a junior from Westminster, Md., stars on and off the field for Randolph-Macon. In the classroom, Markovic boasts the College's highest grade point average at 4.12 as a major in business finance with a minor in accounting. The soon-to-be three-time All-ODAC Academic Team honoree has twice earned Phi Beta Kappa honors as well as membership into the Sigma Beta Delta (business) honor society and an award from Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary. He sits in Randolph-Macon's Conduct Board and serves as a member of R-MC SAAC. He is also a Higgins Academic Center tutor and member of the Randolph-Macon Leadership Fellows Program.

On the field, Markovic had a breakout season as he finished as the team leader in points (55) and assists (25), ranking 15th and 12th in the ODAC in those categories, respectively. He also scored 30 goals, tied for second on the squad. Markovic registered at least one point in all 18 games played, notching four or more points on seven occasions. He posted a career-high seven points on four goals and three assists in a 15-3 ODAC win over Guilford.

Listed below are the full All-ODAC Men's Lacrosse Teams.  For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.

2019 ALL-ODAC MEN'S LACROSSE AWARDS
ODAC Player of the Year: A.J. Witherell | Sr. | Att. | Washington and Lee University
ODAC Coach of the Year: Gene McCabe | Washington and Lee University
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Sean Duffy | Fy. | M | Hampden-Sydney College
ODAC/Va. Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Brendan Markovic | Jr. | M | Randolph-Macon