Connor Shellenberger

TIFFANY ON SHELLENBERGER
2024 – “Connor returns for a fifth year at UVa following a plan that was always in place. He was redshirting the 2020 season, his first on Grounds, when the world stopped. Why would someone with his elite skill set and potential do such a thing? The answer is simple if you know Connor. When he eventually stepped onto Klöckner or an opponent’s field, it was vital to him that his fellow offensive personnel trusted him to be a fantastic asset. At the core of it all, Connor’s relentless video, weight room and on-field preparation are performed simply to ensure he is a man that makes this program and his teammates better. Mission success has certainly been realized.” 2023 – “Connor is embracing his status as our offensive captain, pushing the younger men to work on their craft with greater intensity and hours. Connor loves the entire process of being a collegiate athlete! In the weight room, he is determined to break his personal records each year. On the field, Connor can’t even begin to understand the concepts of “turning it off” or “going easy”. In the film room and coaching suite, he is an ever-present student, thirsting to gain insight and nuggets in order to raise his game. He simply does not rest.” 2022 – “Redefines the phrase ‘not resting on his laurels’ as he is training with more intensity than ever… Studying the best attackmen in the game with Coach Kirwan in order to learn and add to his own repertoire… Primarily will be used on attack moving forward, combining with Matt Moore to create the two-headed quarterback.” 2021 – “Evolution of offensive tactics occurring in front of our eyes daily … Combination of powerful dodges being added to his explosive shot …  learning both the midfield and attack roles.” 2020 – “Where do you put a first-year player who can make an impact at both attack and midfield? Connor’s versatility was seen daily this fall as we asked him to play both positions.  With a dynamic burst and powerful shot, he is a scoring threat from multiple spots on the field.  As he throws caution to the wind and becomes less concerned with turnovers, Connor’s game will rise to the next level.”

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Guided Virginia to 2021 national championship and was crowned NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player
• Program’s only four-time USILA First Team All-American (2021-24)
• UVA’s only three-time Tewaaraton Award Finalist (2022-24)
• Three-time NCAA All-Tournament Team (2021, 2023-24)
• Division I record holder for career points (67) in the NCAA Tournament
• ACC record holder in career assists (192)
• Virginia record holder in points (323)
• Four-time All-ACC (2021-24)
• Selected second overall by the New York Atlas in the 2024 PLL College Draft

2024

• Team captain
• Tewaaraton Award Finalist
• USILA Lt. Col. JI Turnbull Outstanding Attackman of the Year
• USILA First Team All-American
• Inside Lacrosse Second Team All-American
• USA Lacrosse First Team All-American
• All-ACC Team
• WINA Male Athlete of the Year
• CSC First Team Academic All-American
• USILA Scholar All-American
• Started in all possible 18 games at attack
• Led the team in assists (52) and points (84)
• His 2.89 assists-per-game average led the ACC and was seventh nationally
• Scored game-winning goal in double overtime win over Johns Hopkins (May 19) in NCAA Quarterfinals
• Notched two goals and tallied five assists in UVA’s NCAA First Round win over Saint Joseph’s (May 11)
• His seven points against the Hawks made him the program’s career points leader in the NCAA Tournament
• USILA Team of the Week (April 24)
• Recorded nine points (4g, 5a) at No. 7 Syracuse, his career best against an ACC opponent
• Became program record holder in career points in win over UAlbany (March 19)
• Set the program’s career assists record in win at Towson (March 9)
• Also matched his career high of 10 points with three goals and seven assists against the Tigers
• USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason First Team All-American
• Inside Lacrosse Preseason First Team All-American
• USILA Preseason First Team All-American
• Preseason All-ACC Team Selection
• Received Allen Voshell Award (Team MVP) at Virginia Men’s Lacrosse Annual Banquet

2023

• Started and appeared in 16 games in which he scored 30 goals and dished out 54 assists
• His 3.38 assists-per-game average led the nation
• Tewaaraton Award Finalist (May 11)
• NCAA All-Tournament Team (May 29)
• USILA First Team All-American (May 25)
• All-ACC selection (May 9)
• Inside Lacrosse Second Team All-American (May 17)
• USA Lacrosse Magazine Second Team All-American (May 9)
• ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year (June 22)
• All-ACC Academic Team (June 22)
• CSC Academic All-District (May 23)
• Recorded 11 goals and 11 assists in three NCAA Tournament games
• His 11 assists and 22 points led all NCAA Tournament individual participants, while his 11 goals tied for first
• With three goals and three assists, recorded his seventh six-point performance in the NCAA semifinals against Notre Dame (May 27)
• Tied his career high of 10 points in UVA’s NCAA quarterfinals win over Georgetown (May 20)
• His 10 points against the Hoyas tied the program’s NCAA Tournament single-game record
• His six goals against Georgetown tied his own NCAA Tournament single-game record
• ACC Offensive Player of the Week (March 28)
• Recorded two goals and five assists in UVA’s win at No. 1 Notre Dame (March 25)
• His five assists against the Irish are the most by an individual opponent in Arlotta Stadium history
• With four goals and six assists against Towson (March 11), tied his career high of 10 points
• His six assists against the Tigers elevated him to No. 7 on UVA’s career assists list
• ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Feb. 21)
• With three goals and seven assists, recorded career-high 10 points against Harvard (Feb. 18)
• His seven assists against the Crimson were also a career best
• Tewaaraton Award Watch List
• First Team USILA Preseason All-American
• Inside Lacrosse unanimous First Team Preseason All-American
• USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team Preseason All-American
• Preseason All-ACC Team
• Inside Lacrosse’s No. 1 overall returning player in 2023
• Invited to try out for spot on U.S. National Team for 2023 World Championships
• Team captain
• VaSID Academic All-State
• ACC Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year
• ACC All-Academic Team

2022

• Appeared in all 16 games, including 15 starts, at attack
• Led UVA in points (76) and assists (44) and finished second in goals (32)
• His 44 assists were good for fifth on UVA’s single-season list, while his 76 points were tied for sixth
• USILA First Team All-American (May 26)
• Tewaaraton Award finalist (May 12)
• Inside Lacrosse Second Team All-American (May 15)
• USA Lacrosse Magazine Third Team All-American (May 10)
• All-ACC selection (May 12)
• VaSID Player of the Year & All-State Team (June 29)
• Fifth in the nation in assists (2.75/gm) and 11th in points (4.75/gm)
• Registered multiple points in 15 out of 16 possible games and at least five points in 10 games
• Tied his career high with eight points (4g, 4a) in UVA’s NCAA First Round win at No. 8 seed Brown (May 14)
• ACC Offensive Player of the Week (March 15)
• Posted a career-high eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) in Virginia’s 20-11 win over then No. 14/15 Johns Hopkins (March 5)
• Tied his then-career high in points (3 goals, 4 assists) in Virginia’s 20-11 win over then-No. 9 Syracuse (Feb. 26)
• Posted his second straight game with five assists – his career high – in UVA’s win over High Point (Feb. 13)
• Tied his career high in both points (7) and assists (5) in UVA’s season-opening win over Air Force (Feb. 5)
• ACC All-Academic selection (June 15)
• Preseason All-ACC selection
• Inside Lacrosse Preseason Tewaaraton Top 10 Watch List
• Inside Lacrosse First Team Preseason All-American
• USILA First Team Preseason All-American
• USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team Preseason All-American

2021

• USILA First Team All-American
• USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team All-American
• Inside Lacrosse Second Team All-American
• Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament
• All-ACC selection
• VaSID State Player of the Year and All-State for attack
• ACC All-Academic selection
• Led UVA with 42 assists and 79 points
• Shattered UVA freshman records with 42 assists and 79 points
• Finished No. 4 in the nation with 42 assists and No. 4 in the nation with 79 points
• Broke UVA single-NCAA Tournament record for points (24) on 14 goals and 10 assists
• Scored at least one point in all 18 games and notched at least two assists in 13 games

2020

• Did not appear in any games
• Planned to redshirt season before it was canceled due to COVID-19

HIGH SCHOOL

• Listed as the No. 1 recruit in the country by Inside Lacrosse
• Listed as the No. 1 attackman in the country by Inside Lacrosse
• Under Armour All-American
• First-team all-state and a US Lacrosse All American in 2019
• State runner-up in 2016 as a freshman
• Notched 44 points as a freshman
• As a sophomore had 121 points and was named first-team all-state and a US Lacrosse All American
• As a junior, won an IAC championship while attending Bullis School in Potomac, Md.
• Scored 80 points and was named first-team Washington PostAll-Met, All-IAC, second-team All-USA and first-team all-state in Maryland as a junior
• As a senior year returned to St. Anne’s Belfield and was named a captain
• Scored 100 points and named Prep League Player of the Year as a senior

PERSONAL

• Son of Stephanie and Scott Shellenberger
• Graduate Student in the School of Education
• Recipient of the 2022-2023 Commonwealth Men’s Lacrosse Scholarship