LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- After starring both on the field and in the classroom, Luke Nardone, Brandon Young, and Ryan Young were all named Scholar All-Americans by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, while the entire Christopher Newport men's lacrosse program received the Academic Team Award for the fourth straight year.

In order to be eligible for the individual honor, student-athletes must be a senior starter or key reserve while boasting a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Meanwhile, the National Academic Team Award is bestowed upon programs with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Putting a fitting punctuation mark on a standout career, Nardone starred throughout his senior campaign. Helping anchor the defensive midfield unit, he forced 16 turnovers, which ranked fifth on the team and first among short-stick specialists. He had multiple takeaways in four of his appearances, including three strips against No. 1 Salisbury on April 6 and two in the NCAA Tournament against No. 15 Stevens on May 12.

Appearing in all 22 games, Nardone also collected 25 ground balls, including two in back-to-back bouts against No. 4 Dickinson and No. 10 St. Lawrence during the Mustang Classic in the middle of March. Contributing on the offensive end as well, the Livingston, New Jersey native contributed five points. His final goal of the year was a fourth-quarter rip during the Coastal Lacrosse Conference Championship against No. 1 Salisbury on May 5.

In his four years with the program, Nardone appeared in 66 games, including 10 in the NCAA Tournament. An accounting major and perennial Academic All-Conference performer, he capped off his tenure with 20 caused turnovers, 49 ground balls, and 20 points.

An intimidating presence on the defensive side of the ball, Brandon Young hauled in All-Conference honors while shining on the back line for the Captains. During his senior campaign, he registered a career-high 31 caused turnovers. That marked the seventh-highest total in the Coastal Lacrosse Conference and equaled the 15th-most in program history. He also snagged 44 ground balls, which ranked fourth on the team.

Starting all 22 games, Young registered at least one takeaway in 17 of his appearances, including all five postseason contests. He kicked off his playoff run with four strips against Stockton in the league semifinals on May 1. Later, the Chantilly, Virginia native added two takeaways in all three games during the NCAA Tournament while also collecting four ground balls in the national opener against Cabrini on May 11. Overall, he scooped up two or more rollers in 12 of his outings.

Young finished his career ranked 11th in Christopher Newport history with 65 caused turnovers and 17th with 75 appearances. A business major, he hauled in All-Conference honors during each of his last two seasons, including a decorated campaign as a long-stick midfielder in 2023.

One of the nation's leading defensemen, Ryan Young polished off his career with another award-winning campaign. Placing his name among the top standouts in the country, he earned first-team All-American honors from USA Lacrosse Magazine and third-team nods from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. He also landed on the All-Conference squad for the fourth straight season.

Making an impact on the back line, Young forced 41 turnovers, which placed him third in the league and eighth on Christopher Newport's all-time single-season list. His 57 ground balls also equaled the third-most by a defenseman in program history. Suffocating the competition, the Broadlands, Virginia native had at least one takeaway in 19 straight games from February 17 - May 11, including five at No. 3 Tufts on March 6. He also had two strips and six ground balls in the league championship at No. 1 Salisbury on May 1.

A two-time USILA All-American, Young was also named the organization's National Defenseman of the Year in 2023. A business major and Academic All-District recipient, he finished his career ranked third in school history with 154 caused turnovers and fourth with 221 ground balls and 80 starts.

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