Gavin Banks Highlights NAIA Postseason Awards as Player of the Year

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The 2021 NAIA Men's Lacrosse All-Americans and Player of the Year were announced by the NAIA national office on Thursday, and seven Eagles were selected on the two squads combined.

After helping the Eagles (15-0) take down Lourdes (Ohio), 17-8, at Memorial Stadium in Savannah, Ga., in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Invitational, Gavin Banks was named the NAIA Player of the Year.

The Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Year, who is also a First Team NAIA All-American, is now the top-ranked scorer in the country with 53 goals to go along with 62 points.

Joining Banks on the First Team was Zane Anderson, Fisher Nuss and Matt Webb.

The Second Team NAIA All-America list featured three more student-athletes from Reinhardt, including Dillan Bousquet, Tyler Chavous and JR Sess.

To view the entire release from the NAIA, please click here.

The hometown club is No. 1 in the nation in goals scored with 277 (18.47 per game), while dishing out 139 assists on the year (third in the nation).

Additionally, the Eagles also field the top-ranked defense in NAIA men's lacrosse by surrendering just 4.33 goals per match.

Reinhardt looks to keep the momentum rolling tomorrow against Keiser (Fla.) at 4 p.m. in the National Invitational Semifinals.

The NAIA Coach of the Year will be announced after the entire event has been played.

For up-to-the-minute Eagles sports news, follow Reinhardt Athletics on Facebook, @RU_Eagles on Twitter and @ru_eagles on Instagram. 

For more information on Reinhardt Men's Lacrosse, please click here.