Jimmy Lewis (lacrosse)
Encyclopedia
James C. "Jimmy" Lewis was an All-American
lacrosse
player at Navy
from 1964 to 1966, leading the Midshipmen
to national titles in each of his three years, as well as a perfect seasons. In 1966, The Baltimore Sun
called Lewis the "greatest living lacrosseman". He is ranked fifth all-time in Navy men's lacrosse scoring with 169 career points. Lewis earned first-team All America honors all three years while in college, as well as being named the Jack Turnbull Award
winner in 1964, 1965 and 1966. In 1965, Lewis led Navy to a 12 and 0 record while defeating Army 18-7 on route to the Midshipmen's fourth straight undisputed national championship. During this stretch Navy won 22nd games in a row.
Lewis was elected to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1981, and is considered the top Navy lacrosse player of all time. He won the Navy's Sword For Men award in 1966 and also graduated from TOPGUN, the elite United States Navy Fighter Weapons School
. Jimmy was All-American lacrosse player at Uniondale
High School on Long Island, where he also played soccer. He still holds the single-game New York high school lacrosse record for points with 21. In the 1964 NCAA Mens Soccer Championship finals against Michigan State, Lewis scored the games only goal to help the Midshipmen to their only NCAA soccer title.
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
player at Navy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
from 1964 to 1966, leading the Midshipmen
Navy Midshipmen men's lacrosse
The Navy Midshipmen men's lacrosse team represents the United States Naval Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Navy currently competes as a member of the Patriot League and play their home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland...
to national titles in each of his three years, as well as a perfect seasons. In 1966, The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
called Lewis the "greatest living lacrosseman". He is ranked fifth all-time in Navy men's lacrosse scoring with 169 career points. Lewis earned first-team All America honors all three years while in college, as well as being named the Jack Turnbull Award
Jack Turnbull Award
The "Lt. Col. J. I. Turnbull Award" — also known as the Jack Turnbull Award — is an award given to the United States' top collegiate attackman in lacrosse, named after National Lacrosse Hall of Fame alumnus Jack Turnbull. The award is given to a player in Division I, Division II, and Division...
winner in 1964, 1965 and 1966. In 1965, Lewis led Navy to a 12 and 0 record while defeating Army 18-7 on route to the Midshipmen's fourth straight undisputed national championship. During this stretch Navy won 22nd games in a row.
Lewis was elected to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1981, and is considered the top Navy lacrosse player of all time. He won the Navy's Sword For Men award in 1966 and also graduated from TOPGUN, the elite United States Navy Fighter Weapons School
United States Navy Fighter Weapons School
The United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program , more popularly known as TOPGUN, is the modern-day evolution of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School which was originally established on March 3, 1969 at the former Naval Air Station Miramar in California...
. Jimmy was All-American lacrosse player at Uniondale
Uniondale, New York
Uniondale is a hamlet as well as a suburb of New York City in Nassau County, New York, United States, on Long Island, in the Town of Hempstead. The population was 24,759 at the 2010 United States Census.-Geography:...
High School on Long Island, where he also played soccer. He still holds the single-game New York high school lacrosse record for points with 21. In the 1964 NCAA Mens Soccer Championship finals against Michigan State, Lewis scored the games only goal to help the Midshipmen to their only NCAA soccer title.
United States Naval Academy
| Season | GP | G | A | Pts | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 10 | 27 | 20 | 47 | 4.70 | |
| 1965 | 12 | 27 | 36 | 63 | 5.25 | |
| 1966 | 12 | 24 | 35 | 59 | 4.91 | |
| Totals | 34 | 78 | 91 | 169 | 4.97 * |
- Lewis played during the pre-NCAA days under USILA jurisdiction. With 4.97 points-per-game during his career, this would rank Lewis among the top 20 all-time.
See also
- National Lacrosse Hall of Fame
- Wingate Memorial TrophyWingate Memorial TrophyThe Wingate Memorial Trophy was the award given to the national champion in men's college lacrosse prior to the inception of an NCAA tournament format in 1971....
- Navy Midshipmen men's lacrosseNavy Midshipmen men's lacrosseThe Navy Midshipmen men's lacrosse team represents the United States Naval Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Navy currently competes as a member of the Patriot League and play their home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland...