Raiders Celebrate Team Values with Special Tradition

At the start of the week, before the first practice begins, before they review their last game or prepare for their next opponent, the men’s lacrosse team gathers on the field to decide who will wear the No. 13 jersey.

It’s all part of a tradition. No one on the team can choose No. 13 as their jersey number. Instead, they must earn the privilege of wearing the jersey, and the only way it happens is if they demonstrate grit, growth, and gratitude — the team’s values, known also as “the three G’s.”

Thus, the first practice of the week kicks off with a student-athlete announcing who he selected to wear the jersey for the next seven days. He states his reasons, and the jersey is passed on to the next recipient, who will repeat the process the next week.

Those who are chosen can only wear the jersey at practice. And every time the jersey is awarded to a teammate, it’s a big moment for everyone.

“The guys go bananas,” said head coach Matt Karweck. “It’s a massive honor for everyone in our program. When you choose a teammate, it gives you a chance to talk about that teammate. The person who is chosen typically isn’t the best player — it could be — but usually it’s a guy who works behind the scenes and is an absolutely great teammate.

“Some guys have worn it multiple times. Some guys have never worn it. It becomes this thing where you have to figure out, how do you represent your team and the values of the program? If you do that, you might get recognized by your teammate.”

The last student-athlete to wear No. 13 during a season was Nicky Petkevich, who graduated in 2020. Afterward, Karweck decided to start a tradition that tied the No. 13 to the team’s values, which emphasizes hard work off and on the field, evolving as an athlete and a student, and demonstrating good character.

But to make the No. 13 jersey extra special, no one could wear it throughout the season.

At first, Karweck decided each week who earned the honor to wear the jersey at practice. But then he passed that responsibility to the players. Since then, the tradition has taken off, he said.

“It became so much better when that happened,” Karweck said. “It has gone so much better than I thought it would be. I didn’t know what I wanted it to be in the beginning. Now that the players run it, they do such a great job. They know more about how hard a guy is working — even more than I do.”

Co-captain and midfielder Patty Eldredge ’26 said he appreciates the tradition because it often gives well-deserved recognition to a student-athlete who consistently works hard to live by the team’s standards. 

Eldredge said he’s had the privilege to wear the jersey.

“It is truly a humbling and gratifying experience to be recognized by a fellow teammate for your dedication to the team’s values,” he said.  

Hunter Drouin ’26, a co-captain and midfielder, said there’s always lots of excitement when it’s time to announce who earns the jersey.

“Whenever the winner is announced, the whole team celebrates and it’s a great way to kick off the week,” he said. “The star player gets a lot of recognition throughout the media, but what makes the 13 jersey so special is that it can go to anyone.”

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