Colorado senior defender Jess Peluso has been named to the Watch List for the 2026 Tewaaraton Award, which honors the top male and female college lacrosse players in the United States. The announcement was made by The Tewaaraton Foundation on Tuesday.
The Tewaaraton Award, established in 2001, is recognized as a leading honor in collegiate lacrosse. Selection committees are composed of prominent collegiate coaches appointed annually by The Tewaaraton Foundation.
Peluso was previously selected as Co-Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Last season, she received Nike Lacrosse Media All-America honorable mention and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. She recorded 29 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers, and achieved the fifth highest single-season draw control total in Colorado history with 96. Peluso also earned two Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors and had two games with double-digit draw controls. Entering this season, she ranks ninth all-time at Colorado in draw controls (101) and is tied for third in caused turnovers (71).
Players not included on this initial list can still be added as the season progresses. Additional names will be announced on March 5 and March 26 before narrowing down to 25 nominees on April 16. Both listed and unlisted players are eligible for nomination at that stage.
Five finalists will be announced in early May. Recipients will be chosen after the collegiate lacrosse season concludes, with winners honored at a ceremony on May 28 in Washington, D.C.
According to The Tewaaraton Foundation: “The Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the preeminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. Founded at the University Club of Washington, D.C., the award was first presented in 2001 with permission from the Mohawk Nation Council of Elders. ‘Tewaaraton’ is the Mohawk word for lacrosse, and the Tewaaraton Award symbolizes lacrosse’s Native American Heritage.” The foundation oversees scholarship awards each year to students from Haudenosaunee Confederacy nations.
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