Grand Rapids, Mich. — The awards continue to pour in for one of the most accomplished seasons in the history of Aquinas College Men's Lacrosse.

On the eve of the 2026 NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Championship in Decatur, Aquinas star attacker TJ Murphy added his name to one of the most exclusive lists in program history after being named the 2026 NAIA National Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year while also earning First Team All-American honors.

Murphy becomes one of the few student-athletes in Aquinas Athletics history to ever capture a national player of the year award, cementing his place among the elite athletes to ever wear the maroon and white.

And for those around the Aquinas program?

The honor comes as absolutely no surprise.

"This is an incredibly special moment not only for TJ, but for our entire program," said Head Coach Peter Treppa. "TJ represents everything you want in a student-athlete and competitor. His leadership, toughness, passion, and relentless drive have helped elevate this program to another level. He's earned every bit of this recognition."

The Nation's Best Attacker

Murphy's 2026 season was nothing short of spectacular.

The junior attacker goes into the National Tournament with:

• 61 goals
• 30 assists
• 91 total points
• 99 shots on goal
• 6 extra-man goals

Murphy's ability to completely alter the pace and emotion of games made him one of the most dangerous offensive players in the NAIA throughout the season.

Whether it was attacking downhill in transition, delivering clutch goals against ranked opponents, or creating momentum-changing plays in pressure moments, Murphy consistently elevated the Saints throughout one of the toughest schedules in the country.

The accolades followed all spring long.

Murphy captured WHAC Offensive Player of the Week honors three separate times during the 2026 season while also earning NAIA Offensive Player of the Week honors twice.

By season's end, Murphy had firmly established himself as one of the premier attackers in college lacrosse.

But inside the Aquinas locker room, teammates and coaches know his value extends far beyond statistics.

"TJ is one of the fiercest competitors I've ever coached," Treppa said. "He brings intensity and emotion to every possession. His energy is contagious, and he has an incredible ability to rise to the moment when the lights are brightest."

Leading AQ Back To The National Stage

Murphy's leadership helped guide the Saints through one of the most demanding seasons in program history.

Aquinas heads into the National Tournament:

• 14-3 overall
• Ranked No. 3 nationally
• Second place in the WHAC
• No. 3 seed in the NAIA National Championship field

Even more impressive, seven of AQ's 14 victories came against nationally-ranked opponents.

The Saints battled through the deepest conference in the NAIA while earning victories over national contenders including University of the Cumberlands and Indiana Tech.

Murphy remained at the center of everything.

His emotional leadership, offensive explosiveness, and relentless competitiveness became defining traits of a Saints team that spent much of the season ranked among the top programs in the country.

For Damon Bouwkamp, Murphy's recognition reflects the continued growth of the Aquinas men's lacrosse program on the national stage.

"This is an incredible accomplishment for TJ and a tremendous moment for Aquinas Athletics," Bouwkamp said. "To be recognized nationally as the best player in the NAIA speaks volumes about the work TJ has put in and the culture Coach Treppa and this program continue to build."

Larriuz Earns All-American Honors

Murphy was not the only Saint recognized nationally.

Junior faceoff specialist William Larriuz earned Third Team All-American honors after emerging as one of the top faceoff specialists in the country throughout the 2026 season.

The Grand Rapids native became one of the hidden engines behind AQ's success this spring, consistently controlling possessions and creating extra opportunities for the Saints offense.

Larriuz finished the regular season:

• Winning 252 faceoffs
• Posting a 63.3% faceoff percentage
• Collecting 126 ground balls

His dominance at the stripe became one of the biggest reasons Aquinas consistently controlled tempo and possession throughout the season.

"William has been absolutely tremendous for us all season long," Treppa said. "Faceoff specialists can completely change games, and William consistently gave us an advantage every time he stepped onto the field. His toughness and work ethic have been incredible."

A Team Built For The Moment

While Murphy and Larriuz earned national honors, both players would be the first to point toward the team around them.

The 2026 Saints developed into one of the most complete teams in the NAIA.

Aquinas combined:

• explosive offense
• physical defense
• elite faceoff play
• special teams success
• transition pressure
• depth scoring
• championship-level chemistry

And now the Saints will attempt to turn all of it into a deep postseason run on the national stage.

"This group has battled through so much together," Treppa said. "They've grown stronger through adversity, injuries, pressure games, and difficult moments. We truly believe we belong here."

Now the focus shifts from awards to the pursuit of something even bigger.

Up Next — National Tournament Battle Awaits

The Saints will open play in the 2026 NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Championship on Tuesday night against SCAD Savannah at 7:00 p.m. CDT (8:00 p.m. ET) at the Jack Allen Sports Complex in Decatur.

The Bees enter the national quarterfinal matchup at 15-3 overall after navigating a difficult national schedule featuring teams such as Madonna, Keiser, Tennessee Wesleyan, Reinhardt, and Cumberlands.

SCAD features one of the nation's most explosive offensive attacks, led by NAIA Offensive Player of the Week recipient Mason Hickman, who tallied 75 goals and 92 points during the regular season.

Sebastian Manuel added 86 points of his own, while Jonathan O'Bryant Graves provided another dangerous scoring option alongside strong two-way play.

At the faceoff stripe, Lucas Martinez has emerged as one of the top specialists in the NAIA after earning multiple national defensive weekly honors this season.

The matchup promises to feature elite offensive talent, physical defense, momentum swings, and a battle for possession between two nationally respected programs.

Eight teams remain in the hunt for the Red Banner.

The Saints believe they are ready for the moment.

Congratulations once again to TJ Murphy on being named the 2026 NAIA Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year and First Team All-American, and to William Larriuz on earning Third Team All-American honors.

And yes, while it may have been frustrating hearing the NAIA Player of the Year incorrectly introduced as "Ty Murphy" during the national awards banquet, one thing feels certain heading into this week in Alabama:

Nobody is going to forget the name TJ Murphy after this tournament.

Best of luck to AQ Men's Lacrosse as they begin their pursuit of a national championship in Alabama.

It's a great day to be a Saint.