How did Josh Zawada become Michigan’s all-time leading scorer in lacrosse. What accolades has he earned throughout his collegiate career. How has Zawada’s performance impacted the Wolverines’ lacrosse program.
Josh Zawada’s Meteoric Rise in Michigan Lacrosse
Josh Zawada has emerged as one of the most prolific scorers in Michigan lacrosse history. His journey from a promising freshman to the program’s all-time leading scorer is a testament to his exceptional skill, dedication, and consistent improvement. Let’s delve into the remarkable career of this lacrosse phenom and explore how he has left an indelible mark on the Wolverines’ program.
Freshman Year: A Glimpse of Greatness
Zawada’s impact was immediate upon joining the Michigan lacrosse team in 2020. As a freshman, he led the nation in points for a first-year player, amassing an impressive 32 points. His 16 goals and 16 assists demonstrated his versatility as both a scorer and a playmaker. Zawada’s seven multi-goal games and two hat-tricks foreshadowed the offensive juggernaut he would become in subsequent seasons.
Sophomore Season: Stepping Up as a Leader
In 2021, Zawada continued to elevate his game, leading the Wolverines in goals (24), assists (15), and total points (39). His average of 3.25 points per game ranked him 9th in the Big Ten conference and 61st nationally. Zawada’s five man-up goals not only led the conference but also placed him 17th in the nation, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.
Breaking Records and Setting New Standards
Zawada’s junior year in 2022 was nothing short of spectacular. He shattered single-season records at Michigan, setting new benchmarks for points (77), goals (43), and assists (34). His consistent performance throughout the season included seven hat tricks, 13 multi-point games, 12 multi-goal games, and nine multi-assist games.
National Recognition
Zawada’s exceptional play didn’t go unnoticed on the national stage. He ranked 8th in the country in points per game (5.13) and 3rd in the Big Ten. His averages of 2.87 goals and 2.27 assists per game placed him 3rd in the conference in both categories. These statistics underline Zawada’s ability to dominate games and contribute significantly to his team’s success.
Memorable Performances
Throughout his junior year, Zawada delivered several standout performances that will be remembered in Michigan lacrosse lore. He set a program record for single-game points with an astonishing 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) against Detroit on February 12, 2022. Just ten days later, he notched 7 goals and 3 assists against Canisius, further cementing his status as an offensive powerhouse.
Senior Year: Cementing a Legacy
In his senior season in 2023, Zawada continued to etch his name in the Michigan record books. He became the first Wolverine to reach 200 career points, finishing with an impressive 213. Zawada also set the school record for career goals with 119, a testament to his consistent offensive prowess throughout his four years at Michigan.
Accolades and Recognition
Zawada’s senior year was marked by numerous accolades, including:
- USILA Honorable Mention All-America
- USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-America
- All-Big Ten First Team
- Big Ten All-Tournament Team
- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (April 4, 2023)
- Tewaaraton Award Watch List
These honors reflect not only Zawada’s individual excellence but also his importance to the Michigan lacrosse program as a whole.
The Impact of Zawada’s Success on Michigan Lacrosse
Josh Zawada’s record-breaking career has had a profound impact on the Michigan lacrosse program. His consistent offensive output and ability to perform in high-pressure situations have elevated the team’s competitiveness within the Big Ten conference and on the national stage.
Raising the Program’s Profile
Zawada’s individual accolades and record-breaking performances have brought increased attention to Michigan lacrosse. His presence on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List in both 2022 and 2023 has put the Wolverines in the conversation with some of the most prestigious lacrosse programs in the country.
Setting a New Standard for Future Players
By setting new benchmarks for goals, assists, and total points, Zawada has established a high bar for future Michigan lacrosse players to aspire to. His success serves as motivation for incoming recruits and current players, pushing them to elevate their game and contribute to the program’s continued growth.
Analyzing Zawada’s Playing Style and Strengths
What makes Josh Zawada such a formidable offensive threat? His success can be attributed to a combination of skills, physical attributes, and mental acuity on the field.
Versatility as a Scorer and Playmaker
Zawada’s ability to both score goals and create opportunities for his teammates makes him a dual threat on offense. His balanced output of goals and assists throughout his career demonstrates his versatility and makes him difficult for opposing defenses to predict and contain.
Consistency and Reliability
Throughout his four years at Michigan, Zawada has shown remarkable consistency in his performance. His ability to contribute multiple points in a high percentage of games speaks to his reliability as a key offensive weapon for the Wolverines.
Clutch Performances
Zawada’s success in man-up situations and his standout performances in important games (such as his seven-point effort in an upset win at Maryland on April 1, 2023) highlight his ability to elevate his game when it matters most.
Josh Zawada’s Legacy and Future Prospects
As Josh Zawada’s collegiate career comes to a close, he leaves behind a legacy as one of the most prolific scorers in Michigan lacrosse history. His impact on the program extends beyond just the record books, as he has helped to raise the profile of Wolverines lacrosse on the national stage.
Potential Professional Career
With his impressive collegiate resume, Zawada is likely to attract attention from professional lacrosse teams. His skill set and proven ability to perform at a high level make him an intriguing prospect for the next level of competition.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Zawada’s success at Michigan serves as inspiration for young lacrosse players, particularly those in the Midwest where the sport is still growing in popularity. His journey from a standout freshman to the program’s all-time leading scorer demonstrates the potential for player development within the Michigan program.
The Future of Michigan Lacrosse Post-Zawada
While Josh Zawada’s departure will undoubtedly leave a significant void in the Michigan offense, his impact on the program will continue to be felt in the years to come. How will the Wolverines adapt to life after their record-breaking star?
Building on Zawada’s Success
The attention and accolades garnered by Zawada during his time at Michigan may help attract top recruits to the program. Future players will have the opportunity to learn from the example set by Zawada and strive to reach or surpass the high standards he established.
Evolving Offensive Strategies
Without Zawada as the focal point of their offense, Michigan may need to adapt their offensive schemes. This could lead to a more balanced attack, with multiple players stepping up to fill the scoring and playmaking void left by Zawada’s departure.
Continued Program Growth
The success achieved during Zawada’s tenure has positioned Michigan lacrosse for continued growth and competitiveness within the Big Ten and on the national stage. The challenge for the program will be to build on this momentum and establish themselves as a perennial contender in collegiate lacrosse.
In conclusion, Josh Zawada’s impact on Michigan lacrosse cannot be overstated. His record-breaking career has not only rewritten the program’s record books but has also elevated the status of Wolverines lacrosse. As the team moves forward, the legacy left by Zawada will serve as both inspiration and a benchmark for future success. The challenge now lies in leveraging this momentum to propel Michigan lacrosse to even greater heights in the coming years.
Josh Zawada – Men’s Lacrosse
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updated through 2023 season
At Michigan
• Academic All-Big Ten (2023)
• USILA Honorable Mention All-America (2023)
• USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-America (2023)
• Big Ten All-Tournament Team (2023)
• All-Big Ten First Team (2023)
• Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (April 4, 2023)
• Tewaaraton Award Watch List (2023)
• Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-America, honorable mention (2023)
• USILA All-American, honorable mention (2022)
• All-Big Ten First Team (2022)
• Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-America honorable mention (April 1, 2022)
• Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (March 1, 2022)
• Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (Feb.
15, 2022)
• USILA Team of the Week (Feb. 15, 2022)
• Tewaaraton Award Watch List (2022)
• Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (Feb. 7, 2022)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2021)
• Second Team All-Big Ten (2021)
• Big Ten All-Tournament Team (2021)
Senior (2023)
• Set the school record for goals in a career (119) en route to becoming the first Wolverine to reach 200 points in a career (213)
• Ranked second on team in goals (36), assists (29) and points (65)
• Led team in shots (103) and ranked third on squad in shooting percentage (35 percent)
• Totaled six hat-tricks on the season and scored multiple points (16 times), multiple goals (15 times) and multiple assists (8 times)
• Had a season-high seven points in upset win at Maryland (April 1), scoring three goals and adding four assists
• Marked trio of six-point efforts against Canisius (Feb. 21), at Delaware (March 4) and against Maryland (May 6) in the Big Ten Championship game
Junior (2022)
• Set single-season records for points (77), goals (43) and assists (34)
• Marked seven hat tricks, 13 multi-point games, 12 multi-goal games and nine multi-assist games on the year
• Ranked No.
8 nationally in points-per-game (5.13) and third in the Big Ten
• Averaged 2.87 goals and 2.27 assists to rank third in the conference in each category
• Became programs all-time point scorer against Ohio State (April 30)
• Scored three goals and two assists against Delaware, breaking the program-record for career points (March 5)
• Notched two goals and four assists against Marquette (March 1)
• Recorded two goals and one assist against Cleveland State (Feb. 26)
• Scored seven goals and three assists against Canisius (Feb. 22)
• Scored four goals and two assists against Holy Cross (Feb. 19)
• Set the program record for single-game points with 11 points (5G, 6A) against Detroit (Feb. 12)
• Tallied five goals and five assists against Bellarmine (Feb. 5)
Sophomore (2021)
• Led U-M in goals (24) assists (15) and points (39)
• Ranked No. 9 in the conference and 61st nationally with 3.
25 points/game
• Totaled 73 shots to lead squad
• Had five man-up goals to lead conference and rank No. 17 nationally
• Had a pair of four-goal games on the year (Maryland, Feb. 20), Penn State (March 20)
• Marked six four-point games on the campaign
• Registered a hat-trick against Ohio State (March 14) on eight shots
• Started season with four goals and an assist against Maryland (Feb. 20)
Freshman (2020)
• College Crosse Freshmen All-American
• Led nation in points for a freshman (32)
• Led U-M in assists (16) and ranked second on team in goals (16)
• No. 2 on team in shots (48)
• Seven multi-goal games, two hat-tricks
• Four games with at least three assists
• Found the back of the net twice, and dished out two assists in U-M’s 13-12 victory over Marquette (March 11)
• Totaled two goals and three assists against Yale (March 7)
• Recorded three goals and three assists in a 16-11 victory over St.
Johns (Feb. 29)
• Scored three goals and had one assist against Merrimack (Feb. 22)
• Had four assists and scored two goals in victory over Canisius (Feb. 18)
• Scored two goals in loss against Hofstra (Feb. 15)
• Dished out three assists and scored two goals in his U-M debut against Cleveland State (Feb. 8)
Prep
• The Hill Academy, Concord, Ont. (2019)
• Ranked No. 7 Attackman by Inside Lacrosse Power 100
• Ranked as a four-star recruit, the No. 37 player in the country, and an ’88’ by Inside Lacrosse
• Geico National Team Champion (2017-18)
• Geico Tournament MVP (2018)
• The Hill Academy MVP (2017)
• All-Met, All-Interstate Athletic Conference (2019)
• Rated as an ’81’ by Inside Lacrosse
• Racked up 60 points as a senior
• Honor Roll student
Club/International
• Okotoks Raiders Junior A Box, Minto Cup (2018)
• Edmonton Blues, Junior A Box
• Sherwood Park Titans, Junior B Box
• U19 Team USA Box National Team (2016)
Personal
• Joshua Louis Zawada
• Son of Denise and John Zawada
• Has a brother, Jacob and sister, Lily
• Favorite Michigan athlete is Tom Brady
• Sport management major
Statistics
Season:
Season Statistics
Season Statistics
No statistics available for this season.
Career Statistics
There are no statistics available for this player.
Historical Player Information
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2020Freshman
M
6’1″
175 lbs
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2021Sophomore
A
6’1″
175 lbs
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2022Junior
A
6’2″
180 lbs
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2023Senior
A
6’2″
180 lbs
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His Own Path: Josh Zawada Will Do Anything and Go Anywhere to Hone His Game
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHIGAN ATHLETICS
Fri Apr 15 2022 | Gary Lambrecht | College
College Men
Since arriving on the school’s Ann Arbor campus in the summer of 2019, University of Michigan junior attackman Josh Zawada arguably has been the Wolverines’ most talented, versatile and driven player.
Zawada leads Michigan in goals (36) and assists (27) and ranks fifth in the nation with 5.58 points per game. At some point in April, he could own the highest career point total in the program’s short Division I history.
Zawada also could make a strong case for having logged more miles honing his game — in the United States and especially in Canada — than anyone else in his team’s locker room.
Consider that, Zawada, 22, is a native of Raleigh, N.C., who spent all but one of his high school years and much of every summer during that period north of the border, attending school and playing field or box lacrosse. He came to Michigan by way of the prestigious Hill Academy, where he played for three seasons in Ontario, including a post-graduate year.
Zawada was part of a Hill Academy attack trio that included current Duke star Dyson Williams and Georgetown’s Dylan Watson. Zawada originally committed to Syracuse early in his junior year at The Hill, then decided to de-commit before weighing an attractive offer from tradition-rich North Carolina, with the Tar Heels’ campus a 30-minute drive from where he grew up.
But the idea of hitting the road again, this time for a different, storied institution 700 miles away, appealed to the seasoned, young traveler. And the thought of helping Michigan’s young varsity program make a competitive dent in the powerful Big Ten pulled Zawada north once again.
“I’m always up for challenges. I knew it would probably be a struggle in my first two years or so. It’s a building process,” says Zawada, who of course did not see the COVID-19 pandemic coming. “I wanted to help to build this program so we have a Top 20 team for years to come.”
“I’m always up for challenges.”
— Josh Zawada
Michigan (7-5, 0-3 Big Ten) is in its 11th season at Division I and its seventh playing in the Big Ten. The Wolverines, who have totaled six wins against league opponents, beat their first seven non-conference opponents this year, many by wide margins, including a 10-goal rout over Delaware.
But they have hit some bumps lately as their schedule has ramped up, losing five straight to Harvard, Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins, Maryland and Penn State. The Nittany Lions needed overtime to top Michigan 9-8 last Friday. The Wolverines host Rutgers on Saturday at noon.
“There is so much upside with how young our team is,” adds Zawada, alluding to Michigan’s starting lineup that includes four sophomores and two freshmen.
“I know we are going to be really good at some point. Everyone has to keep buying into what we’re doing. It has to take some time. We are getting there.”
Even though the pandemic ended Michigan’s season at 4-3 in March 2020, Zawada immediately established himself as a key to the program’s future by scoring 32 points (16 goals and assists each) to lead all freshmen in the country.
Last year, he led the team in goals (24) and assists (15), as the Wolverines went 2-8 in a COVID-fueled, 10-game regular season in which each Big Ten school faced five opposing teams twice. Michigan then knocked off Ohio State in the league tournament quarterfinals and finished 3-9. The Wolverines are aiming to build on that progress this spring in their first full season since 2019.
To watch the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Zawada now is to watch a hybrid threat for defenses to cover — a field lacrosse player with athletic gifts dating to elementary school and the influences of the Canadian game he discovered later.
Zawada is explosive enough to get by defenders and catch, pass or shoot effectively on the run. He’s got the vision to dissect defenses from behind the net, up top or on the wing. He is equally adept in space or carrying, passing or receiving the ball in tighter spots. His weaker left hand is solid. His motor runs on up-tempo, yet he is rarely out of control. He is a pure combination of attackman and midfielder.
“Josh can be the engine, the finisher, the assist man and the goal scorer. I consider him a position-less player,” says Justin Turri, Michigan’s offensive coordinator since joining fifth-year head coach Kevin Conry after the 2018 season.
“[Zawada] grew up in Raleigh, plays like a Canadian and is a dynamic athlete, as fast as anything,” Turri adds. “He creates so much with his speed and a well-rounded skill set. His point total is high, but the cool thing is how much he plays within the flow of the game, making the right play at the right time. He just makes everyone better.
”
“What a great decision maker [Zawada is],” says sophomore attackman Michael Boehm, who credits Zawada for a bunch of his 27 goals, second-best on the Wolverines. “We reap the benefits of how well Josh reads the game and how much he cares about making passes right on someone’s ear. In practice, he has scored six goals in a 10-minute scrimmage.”
Growing up in Raleigh, Zawada remembers being drawn to lacrosse ever since he held his first stick in second grade. He also made time for football and basketball during his elementary school years. His father, John, officiated local high school lacrosse games. His son loved the pace of the game.
As a young boy, Zawada sat in the stands watching his share of North Carolina and Duke games. The Blue Devils, who won their first NCAA title in 2010, were led in the 2000s by stars such as Matt Danowski, Ned Crotty and Turri.
“Watching the Tar Heels and the Blue Devils play was the best lacrosse you could watch,” Zawada says.
In time, Zawada’s perspective on being a lacrosse player would widen substantially.
It first happened before the summer following his eighth grade year. His uncle, Craig Zawada, who still resides with his family in the tiny, southeastern British Columbia town of Kimberley — about a four-hour drive from Calgary, Alberta — suggested Josh join his cousin, Hunter, for an extended visit built around playing box lacrosse together.
Before long, Josh Zawada was in Western Canada, not far above the Idaho-Montana border, playing for a team in Cranbrook, B.C., under a coach named Russ Sheppard.
Now an owner of a law firm and a partner in the National Lacrosse League’s Albany Firewolves, Sheppard is a former teacher who helped to bring the box game to a high school in Nunavut, in the Far North of Canada. It was later the basis for a documentary called “The Grizzlies.”
Zawada, who eventually would be a lacrosse extra in the film, says his initial exposure to the box game that summer would transform his approach to the game. For starters, he spent the entire two months treating his left “off” hand as his primary shooting hand.
“That summer made me want to take my game to another level,” he recalls. “I really liked the Canadian game and how unselfish it is. The ball can’t stay in your stick for long, because the game is pretty physical [on the smaller, indoor field].”
PHOTO BY JOHN STROHSACKER
Zawada also says Sheppard advised him to consider attending a school in Edmonton, Alberta — Vimy Ridge Academy, where Sheppard had assisted in the development of its public-school based lacrosse curriculum. He had ended his teaching career at Hill Academy.
Upon his return to Raleigh, Zawada threw his parents for a loop when he announced a plan he had finalized in his mind.
“This 14-year-old sits down with us and says he wants to pursue lacrosse opportunities and here is the path he wants to take,” John Zawada recalls. “He wants to go to school in Edmonton for a year, then go to the Hill Academy. He said that learning the box game will help with his field game and that he thinks he would love it.
My wife and I said, ‘Well, that’s not going to happen.’”
Later, after Zawada failed to make the varsity lacrosse team as a freshman at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, his parents reconsidered and decided to give their son another, more adventurous try at lacrosse, Western Canada style.
“That year was probably the best lacrosse experience I’ve ever had,” says Zawada, who, along with his cousin, lived with a Vimy Ridge teammates’ family his sophomore year. “I was 2,500 miles from my family. We played field lacrosse until October, box until April and field until June.”
“Josh was always one of our go-to guys,” says Vimy Ridge program director Paul Rai, who coached Zawada on the Sherwood Park Titans Junior B box team and the Edmonton Blues Junior A squad. “He used the box game to step up his field game, but he could definitely take a run at playing box if he ever wanted to commit to it. We knew some good [colleges] would be knocking at his door.”
Zawada would earn a spot in 2016 on the U19 Team USA Box National Team.
In 2018, he was traded to the Okotoks Raiders and was part of Junior A Box team that won the prestigious Minto Cup.
Zawada ended up at the Hill Academy in the fall of 2016. Over the next three years, he flourished under legendary head coach Brodie Merrill. Zawada was Hill Academy MVP in 2017 and Geico Tournament MVP in 2018. Each year, he was part of a national title team. He scored 60 points as a senior.
“We didn’t really know what we had, but we knew [Zawada] came here with a good foundation. He made his mark at The Hill pretty early,” Merrill says.
“You don’t see that many ball handlers like him in Canada. Josh is a laid-back, humble, happy-go-lucky guy with a competitive side he can really turn on. He could really take over a game. It was easy to tell he was ready to make an impact at the next level.”
The Wolverines don’t know how much they will improve their standing in the Big Ten in the coming weeks. But they continue to draw valuable confidence from the guy who sets the tone for them every day.
