CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference (HCLC) released the 2026 Men’s Lacrosse All-Conference teams and award winners on Friday.
Transylvania junior Andrew Welch (Louisville, Ky.) was named the HCLC Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season after leading the top-seeded Pioneers in scoring. He scored 37 goals this season, adding 14 assists for a point-total of 51. Welch recorded at least a hat trick in eight of his 14 contests and had six performances in which he recorded at least five points.
Welch’s teammate, defender Caleb Kern (Georgetown, Ky.) took home Defensive Player of the Year honors. Kern was a key piece to a Transy defense that posted the league’s best scoring defense (8.21 goals allowed per game), collected the most ground balls (32.21 per game), and had the second-most caused turnovers (9.14 per game). Kern led the team in caused turnovers with 17, while also collecting 24 ground balls. He had three or more ground balls in four contests with six instances of causing multiple turnovers.
Hanover’s Jack DeWeese (Indianapolis, Ind.) was named Newcomer of the Year after a stellar debut season. He led the conference in scoring with 55 goals and 20 assists for 75 points. He scored five or more goals on seven occasions with six games of seven-plus points.
After leading Transylvania to a 10-4 regular season record in 2026, Logan Otto was voted as the 2026 HCLC Coach of the Year.
Offensive Player of the Year – Andrew Welch, Transylvania University
Defensive Player of the Year – Caleb Kern, Transylvania University
Newcomer of the Year – Jack Deweese, Hanover College
Coach of the Year – Logan Otto, Transylvania University
The HCLC also honors an All-Conference First Team and Second Team. The members of those teams are selected by a vote of league coaches.
HCLC First Team All-Conference
| Name |
Position |
Institution |
| Braden Antle |
Face-Off |
Transylvania University |
| Aven Blair |
SSDM |
Transylvania University |
| Matthew Bridges |
Attack |
Alfred State College |
| Huck Campbell |
Attack |
Transylvania University |
| Nick DeGrandi |
Goalkeeper |
Transylvania University |
| Jack DeWeese |
Attack |
Hanover |
| Josh Harney |
Midfielder |
Transylvania University |
| Kasey Hospelhorn |
Midfielder |
Hanover |
| Leonard Hughes |
Defense |
Hanover |
| Caleb Kern |
Defense |
Transylvania University |
| Jack Miller |
Midfielder |
Transylvania University |
| Brendon O’Donnell |
Midfielder |
Alfred State College |
| Maverick Schultz |
LSM |
Transylvania University |
| Dom Tsourkas |
Defense |
Transylvania University |
| Andrew Welch |
Attack |
Transylvania University |
HCLC Second Team All-Conference
| Name |
Position |
Institution |
| Josh Adams |
Defense |
Hanover College |
| Ryan Batson |
SSDM |
Alfred State College |
| Ryan Dolafi |
Goalkeeper |
Earlham College |
| Nicholas Guzman |
Attack |
Spalding University |
| Mathew Hillard |
Goalkeeper |
Hanover College |
| Charlie Horner |
Attack |
Transylvania University |
| Xzayvyon Isom |
Midfielder |
Spalding University |
| Mack Langridge |
Midfielder |
Hanover College |
| Stephan Mescan |
Defense |
La Roche University |
| Sam Neff |
Defense |
Transylvania University |
| Kristopher Newman |
Midfielder |
Hilbert College |
| Brady Nugent |
LSM |
Alfred State College |
| Eli Teater |
Face-Off |
Spalding University |
For more information on HCLC Men’s Lacrosse, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on X and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.