The inaugural class for the Liam Gleason Humanitarian Award was named on Tuesday.

Siena senior R.J. Ihlefeld was one of 77 Division I players along with Kennedy Gleason, daughter of Coach Liam Gleason, to be named as the 2026 recipients of the award.

The Liam Gleason Humanitarian Award, established in January 2026 by family members, former coaches, and friends close to Liam, honored its inaugural group of recipients exemplifying leadership, unwavering support for teammates and staff, outstanding sportsmanship, and meaningful community involvement.

Each NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Program selected a student athlete from their team to receive the Liam Gleason Humanitarian Award at the conclusion of this season. Voted on by players, coaches, and staff, this honor is awarded to the individual on the roster whose teammates most aspire to emulate. The 77 individual recipients exemplifying Liam's spirit were recognized. The program provides the opportunity for Coach Gleason's legacy to live on for years to come, and something for his family and children to witness.

Ihlefeld, a native of Fairfield, CT, was a tri-captain on the Saints for a second consecutive season and was named an All-MAAC First Team selection as a long-stick midfielder.

The three-time MAAC All-Academic Team member and four-time MAAC Academic Honor Roll member ranked sixth in the MAAC in caused turnovers (21) and eighth in the MAAC in ground balls (66).

"R.J. exemplifies exactly what Liam stood for," said Siena head coach Tim Cox. "Play as a fierce competitor, respect those around you off the field."

A member of the Dean's List, Ihlefeld had a 3.60 term GPA and a 3.60 cumulative GPA as a Finance major. 

The product of Fairfield Warde High School has totaled 65 career caused turnovers (third all-time in program history), 186 ground balls, appearing in 58 games and has made 25 starts.

2026 Coach Liam Gleason Humanitarian Award Recipients
Kennedy Gleason
Air Force Academy : Nolan Parlette (Sr.) Goalie | Management
Bellarmine University : John Alie (Sr.) Attack | Finance
Binghamton University : Mason Shenk (Sr.) D-Mid | Finance
Boston University : Ethan Hart (Sr.) Midfield | Communications
Brown University : Trey Taylor (Sr.) Defense | Pre-Law
Bryant University : Zack Bender (Sr.) SSDM | Finance
Bucknell University : Louie Germain (Sr.) Defense | Political Science
Canisius University : Josh Verhagen (Sr.) Defense | Education
Cleveland State University : Justin Dalum (Sr.) Goalie | Business
Colgate University : Hunter Drouin (Sr.) Attack | Political Science
College of the Holy Cross : Will Messineo (Sr.) Midfield | Economics
Cornell University : Matthew Dooley (Sr.) Defense | Applied Economics and Management
Dartmouth College : Hopper Zappitello (Sr.) Attack | Government
Drexel University : Anthony Chiango (RS Fr.) Attack & Midfield | Business
Duke University : Aiden Maguire (Sr.) SSDM | Finance
Fairfield University : Jake Gilbert (Sr.) Attack | Finance
Georgetown University : Lucas Dudemaine (Sr.) Midfield | Finance
Hampton University : Canyon Steverson (Sr.) Midfield | Cyber Security- Criminal Justice
Harvard University : Jack Speidell (Jr.) Attack | Government
High Point University : Ryan Hynes (Sr.) Midfield | Finance
Hobart College : James Hamilton (So.) Defensive Midfield | Business and Entrepreneurship
Hofstra University : Jon Singer (Gr.) Goalie | Physical Education
Iona University : Jimmy Kennedy (Jr.) Midfield | Business
Jacksonville University : Jack Taylor (Sr.) Attack | Business
Johns Hopkins University : Eric McDonald (Sr.) Defensive Midfield | Political Science
Lafayette College : Zach Zukowsky (Sr.) Midfield | Economics
Lehigh University : Peter Theodoropoulos (Sr.) Midfield | Finance
LeMoyne College : Owen Wilson (Sr.) Attack | Business
Long Island University : Clif Hawkins (So.) Midfield | Health Sciences
Loyola University Maryland : Luike Murphy (Sr.) Midfield | Finance
Manhattan University : Andrew Giandonato (Sr.) Defense | Finance
Marist University : Drew Anderson (Sr.) Midfield | Business Administration - Finance Concentration
Marquette University : Andrew Bowman (Sr.) Midfield | Supply Chain Management
Mercer University : Matthew Burnside (Sr.) Midfield | Marketing
Mercyhurst University : Adam Schembri (So.) SSDM | Business
Merrimack College : Reid Betner (Sr.) Defense | Health Sciences
Monmouth University : Miles Edmiston (Sr.) Defense | Business
Mount St. Mary's University : Kevin Whitty (Sr.) Attack | Accounting
New Jersey Institute of Technology : Owen Mercado (Sr.) Dmid | Civil Engineering
Ohio State University : Griffin Liedel (Sr.) LSM | logistics management
Penn State University : Mark McKeon (Sr.) D-Mid | Accounting
Princeton University : David Smythe (Sr.) Midfield | Computer Science
Providence College : Jackson Coutu (Sr.) Midfield | Management major
Queens University of Charlotte : Zach Miller (Sr.) Attack | Business Management
Quinnipiac University : Ryan Downing (Sr.) LSM | Health Science Studies
Robert Morris University : Sam Colón (Sr.) Defense | News & Sports Communications
Rutgers University : Justin Lawler (5th Year / Grad) Midfield | Master's - Political Science
Sacred Heart University : Luke Catolico (5th Year / Grad) Defensive Midfield | Finance
Saint Joseph's University : Liam Quinn (Sr.) Defense | Finance
Siena University : RJ Ihlefeld (Sr.) Long Stick Midfielder (Captain) | Finance
St. Bonaventure University : Patrick Shanahan (Jr.) Attack | Biology
St. John's University : Joey Asterino (Jr.) Attack | Business
Stony Brook University : Robbie Smith (Sr.) Face-off | Business
Syracuse University : Michael Ippoliti (Jr.) Goalie | Finance
The University of Utah : Nikko Diponio (Sr.) Defense | Communications
Towson University : Ryan Schrier (Sr.) Attack/Midfield | Economics
UMass Amherst : Blaise New (Jr.) D-Mid | Finance
UMass Lowell : Colby Frigon (Jr.) Attack | Criminal Justice
University at Albany : Max Neeson (Sr.) Defense | Human Development & Counseling Psychology
University of Delaware : Jason Kolar (5th) Midfield | International Business
University of Denver : Watt Muir (So.) Attack | Finance
University of Detroit Mercy : Danton Molotky (Sr.) Midfield | Business
University of Maryland : AJ Larkin (Sr.) Long stick midfielder | Communication
University of Maryland, Baltimore County : Dante Marinello (Sr.) Defense | Financial Economics
University of Michigan : John Morgan (Gr.) Attack | Sport Management
University of North Carolina : Grant Pierce (Sr.) LSM | Communications
University of Notre Dame : Fisher Finley (Grad.) Midfield
University of Pennsylvania : Matthew Till (Jr.) LSM | PPE, concentrating on Choice and Behavior
University of Richmond : Jack Ricciardi (Sr.) Attack | Accounting
University of Vermont : Ryker Demarest (Sr.) Defense
University of Virginia : Truitt Sunderland (Sr.) Attackman | Media Studies
US Military Academy West Point : Sean Byrne (Sr.) Goalie
US Naval Academy : Race Ripley (Sr.) Attack | Quantitative Economics
Villanova University : Jack Gormley (Jr.) Defense | Economics
Virginia Military Institute : Cole Jones (Sr.) Midfielder | International Studies
Wagner College : Jacob Wood (So.) Defense | Finance
Yale University : George Northup (Jr.) Goalie