ROSEMONT, Ill. – For the first time since the 2017-18 seasons, and just the second time ever, the Big Ten has a school winning back-to-back men’s lacrosse Freshman of the Year honors. Rookie Jack Iannantuono has been named the 2026 Big Ten Freshman of the Year in addition to a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, joining four other Nittany Lions named to All-Big Ten teams. The first year’s honor follows sophomore Hunter Aquino, who took home the award in 2025. Ohio State is the only other school to win the award twice in a row.
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— Penn State Men’s Lacrosse (@PennStateMLAX) April 22, 2026
Iannantuono is one of the conference’s top assisters. He dishes 1.33 per game, good for fifth in the conference. In conference games alone, he ranks fourth in total assists distributed. He sits ninth in the conference in shot percentage (70 percent), helping PSU as a team to lead the country in that metric. The freshman helped keep PSU stay the course while other key starters battled injury.
Senior Alex Ross headlined the group of conference team honorees, being named First-Team All-Big Ten. Ross has now earned an All-B1G honor in three of his four seasons with the Blue & White. So far this season, he has two points on a goal and an assist, 20 caused turnovers, and 27 groundballs. Ross’s caused turnover per game number (1.67) ranks second in the conference and top 30 nationally.
Senior Jon King earned his spot on the second team as one of the nation’s top short-stick defensive midfielders. He ranks second among his position group in caused turnovers with 15 on the season. His caused turnover per game number ranked top ten in the conference. He averages 1.25 per game to date. A major threat in transition, King has racked up five points this season, scoring four goals and an assist.
Freshman Preston Hawkins joined teammate Iannantuono on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. Hawkins has become the one of the top goalkeepers in the conference as the season has gone on. In Big Ten games only, Hawkins has the second-best goals allowed average at 8.03 and boasts the third-best saves per game number and save percentage at 9.8 and 56.3 percent, respectively.
Mark McKeon was recognized as well by the conference offices, earning the Sportsmanship Award for Penn State.
UP NEXT
Penn State is off this weekend while the team waits for its opponent for the 2026 Big Ten Tournament. The winner of the quarterfinal game between Maryland and Rutgers will advance to play Penn State on Thursday, April 30th at SHI Stadium. The contest, slated for 6 p.m., will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network for fans at home.
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Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State men’s lacrosse. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion men’s lacrosse team on X and Instagram @PennStateMLAX, in addition to the team’s Facebook page at /PennStateMensLacrosse.