Men's Lacrosse Excited About Talented Group of Newcomers

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell men's lacrosse team finished a strong 10-5 last year and advanced to the semifinals of the Patriot League Tournament. The Bison return their top two scorers, their starting goalie, their defensive leader in ground balls and caused turnovers and one of the league's top faceoff specialists in 2017. Joining that talented group will be nine first-year players who look to make an impact in the spring.

Among the newcomers are two that were cited by Inside Lacrosse as being among the best at their position nationally among the Class of 2020. Grayson Burns was listed 31st among attackmen, while Jack Gelinas was ranked 37th among first-year defenders.

“This year's first-year class continues the strong tradition of the balanced student-athlete that we have within the Bucknell Lacrosse program,” commented Bison 12th-year head coach Frank Fedorjaka. “This class has brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to a veteran team. I am very pleased with the competitive fight that this class has shown since they have arrived on campus. It is a very skilled group that will push our returners every day. I am confident that there will be some guys that step up and help us on game day in the spring.”

Bucknell is in the midst of its fall training season. The Bison recently held their fall intrasquad scrimmage and will play at Cornell this Sunday. Bucknell also travels to Michigan Oct. 23 to wrap up its fall ball season.

Below is bio information on each of the newcomers.

Grayson Burns | A | 5-9, 175 | Fayetteville, N.Y./Jamesville-Dewitt
Before Bucknell: Played four years of varsity lacrosse and varsity hockey at Jamesville-Dewitt High School … three-time all-league selection in lacrosse … 2016 State Championship Offensive Player of the Game … 2016 All-Central New York … 2016 Central New York Co-Player of the Year … 2016 All-American … helped team to 2016 state title … team was four-time sectional and regional champions … totaled 170 goals and 65 assists in career … played with Orange Crush Lacrosse Club … hockey team captain.
Personal: Grayson Russell Burns … born Sept. 10, 1997 in Syracuse, New York … son of Amy and Greg … father played lacrosse at Syracuse from 1987-90 … cousin, Deke Burns, played lacrosse at Harvard … cousin, Buddy Carr, plays lacrosse at UMass and is a member of the Class of 2018 … has two younger siblings, Riley and Tanner … major is undeclared.

Jack Gelinas | D | 5-9, 175 | Bronxville, N.Y./Bronxville
Before Bucknell: Captain of football and lacrosse teams … all-league cornerback in football … all-league defender in lacrosse … earned “Raw Meat and Whole Milk Award” for energy and spirit on the lacrosse field … also earned Bronxville High School's Leadership Award and Bronxville football's Ironman Award … helped team to two New York Class C Section 1 titles and one state championship … played club with PrimeTime Lacrosse … named the #37 defenseman among college newcomers in the fall of 2016 by Inside Lacrosse.
Personal: Jack Gerard Gelinas … born Sept. 18, 1997 in Bronxville, New York … son of Michelle and stepdad Beau Buford and Peter Gelinas … father, Peter, played football at Villanova … stepfather played squash at Franklin & Marshall and is in school's athletic hall of fame … has two younger siblings, Griffin and Caitlin … major is undeclared.

Jake Guarino | M | 6-1, 185 | Austin, Texas/Westlake
Before Bucknell: Four-year lacrosse letterwinner at Westlake High School … also a two-year football letterwinner … lacrosse team captain … Honorable Mention All-District as a senior … helped team to four district championships … only had one district loss in five years … advanced to state final four as a senior … team was a three-time regional championship runner-up … played club lacrosse with Iron Horse and Dallas Select … all-star at NXT Southern Showcase, Lehigh Valley Showcase, Elite 100 Showcase and Texas Top 99 Showcase.
Personal: Jake Austin Guarino … born Nov. 6, 1997 in Austin, Texas … son of Jill and Jake Guarino … father played linebacker at the University of Houston … grandfather played guard on the University of Texas football team … has two younger siblings, Cole and Josie … major is undeclared.

Hunter Newman | D | 5-9, 160 | Northampton, Mass./Suffield Academy
Before Bucknell: Member of lacrosse, football and wrestling teams at Suffield Academy … two-year lacrosse team captain … three-time All-Western New England lacrosse player … earned lacrosse all-academic award as a senior … totaled 132 ground balls, 34 caused turnovers, 16 goals and 11 assists as a senior … played club lacrosse with Francie's Tavern and Warrior Elite … football team captain.
Personal: Hunter Alexander Newman … born April 9, 1998 in Northampton, Massachusetts … son of Kathy and Cy … has two older siblings, Emma and Tucker … Tucker is a sophomore cornerback on the Union College football team in 2016 … uncle, Brian, played football at Hobart College with Bison head coach Frank Fedorjaka … cousin, Thomas Foote, played lacrosse at Amherst College … had cousins that played football at Middlebury and lacrosse at Yale … uncle, Robert, played football at Amherst … grandfather played football at UMass … majoring in interdisciplinary studies economics and math.

Ryan Parsons | A | 5-9, 165 | Wellesley Hills, Mass./The Rivers School
Before Bucknell: Earned five varsity letters (four in lacrosse, one in skiing) at The Rivers School … all-league lacrosse player … team captain … helped team to 16-2 record as a senior.
Personal: Ryan Christopher Parsons … born Jan. 10, 1997 in Newton, Massachusetts … son of Karen and John Parsons … has two older brothers, Jeff and Kyle, and one younger sister, Taylor … Kyle is a junior on the Boston U. men's lacrosse team in 2017 … major is undeclared.

Jake Saenz | A | 5-11, 185 | Greenville, Pa./The Hill School
Before Bucknell: Earned four varsity letters in lacrosse and two in squash at The Hill School … First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Prep League selection … four-year varsity starter … First Tam Mid-Atlantic Prep League All-Academic Team selection … two-time lacrosse team leading scorer … helped lacrosse team to Inter-Ac quarterfinals twice … played with Duke's Lacrosse Club … chosen as a Prefect at The Hill School … two-time recipient of Maxima cum Laude on the National Latin Exam.
Personal: Jacob Andrew Saenz … born June 23, 1997 in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania … son of Dawn and Jacob Saenz … majoring in biology with pre-med intentions.

Conor Shears | D | 6-3, 195 | Arlington, Va./Yorktown
Before Bucknell: Four-year lacrosse letterwinner at Yorktown High School … also earned two letters in basketball … two-time Honorable Mention All-Met lacrosse player … two-time First Team All-State selection … three-time First Team All-Region choice … four-time First Team All-Conference … Conference Defensive Player of the Year … team captain as a senior … totaled 351 ground balls and 125 caused turnovers in career … member of Virginia Lacrosse Club.
Personal: Conor Henry Shears … born Jan. 24, 1998 in Fairfax, Virginia … son of Kathleen and Nicolas Shears … has an older brother, Jonathan … major is undeclared.

Trent Starr | M | 6-0, 180 | Saint James, N.Y./Smithtown East
Before Bucknell: Three-year lacrosse letterwinner at Smithtown East High School … team captain and offensive MVP … helped team to two county championship and two league titles … squad posted an undefeated season.
Personal: Trent Harrison Starr … born Nov. 19, 1998 in Smithtown, New York … son of Vanessa and Jeffrey Starr … father played football at Muhlenberg … has an older brother, Tyler, and an older sister, Chloe ... major is undeclared.

Will Yorke | A/M | 6-4, 185 | Chicago, Ill./Saint Ignatius College Prep/Hotchkiss School (Conn.)
Before Bucknell: Member of lacrosse and hockey teams at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago … graduated in 2015 … spent post-grad year at Hotchkiss School in Connecticut … played lacrosse and hockey at Hotchkiss School … two-time Chicago Catholic League All-Conference selection for lacrosse … named Illinois High School Lacrosse All-State … member of USA Today All-Illinois Boys Lacrosse Team … Saint Ignatius lacrosse co-captain, team MVP and two-time leading scorer … Saint Ignatius hockey captain, leading scorer and MVP … named Chicago Catholic Hockey League All-Conference twice … two-time Illinois High School Hockey All-State nominee … totaled 138 goals and 188 points in high school lacrosse career … registered 47 goals and 82 points in high school lacrosse career … held school records in goals and points in both sports at time of graduation … selected to lacrosse all-star teams at King of the Hill Tournament, Gait Cup, Philly Invitational, Blue Chip 25 and Good-to-Great.
Personal: William Porter Yorke … born Aug. 15, 1996 in Chicago, Illinois … son of Laurie and Charlie … has older siblings Alexandra and Charlie … Alexandra played soccer at Colby College and was a two-time All-NESCAC selection … Charlie played lacrosse at DePauw University … major is undeclared in the school of management.