Grove City College Men's Lacrosse

Alec Jernstedt recently completed his ninth season as Grove City College's head men's lacrosse coach in 2025. The only coach in program history, Jernstedt has compiled a 104-51 overall record, including a 52-0 record in Presidents' Athletic Conference play. He has been named the conference's Coach of the Year in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Grove City highlighted the 2026 season by advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament with a 14-9 victory at Ohio Wesleyan. The Wolverines then fell at No. 6 Lynchburg, 16-15, in the second round.  Sam Busby, Colton Lehberg, Josh McDermott and Sam Stevenson all earned USILA Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2026. Stevenson earned the conference's Defensive Player of the Year award, Lehberg captured Specialist of the Year in the league, attack Mac Faircloth merited the Offensive Player of the Year honor and freshman Mason Lyons earned Newcomer of the Year. In 2023, Jernstedt guided Grove City to the third round of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, as well as the program's fourth straight Presidents' Athletic Conference title. Grove City defeated Swarthmore, 18-17, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, marking the Wolverines' first-ever NCAA Tournament win. Grove City finished the season ranked No. 18 in the final USA Lacrosse Magazine top 25. Midfielder Brett Gladstone captured USILA All-America honors for the third straight season and defender Cody Adams earned his second straight All-America honor. The 2024 Wolverines tied the single-season program record with 15 victories while also sewing up the program's fifth straight conference title and a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament's second round.  Attack Matt Blythe, midfielder Zach Hougan, defender Sam Stevenson, goalie Danny Stone and midfielder Trey Zabroski earned USILA Honorable Mention All-America in 2024. Blythe also earned the conference's Offensive Player of the Year award and Zabroski netted PAC Specialist of the Year.  The 2025 Wolverines earned the program's second NCAA Tournament victory by defeating Albion, 18-3, in the first round of the tournament at Robert E. Thorn Field. That marked the first-ever home NCAA Tournament game for the Wolverines, who concluded the season with 14 wins. Grove City won a program-record 15 games in 2022, earning the program's third trip to the NCAA Championship Tournament. Gladstone, defender Cody Adams and faceoff specialist Grant Evans all earned All-America distinction. In 2022, the team captured wins over No. 14 Colorado College and No. 19 Denison. Grove City also went 11-2 in 2021, winning the PAC and a berth in the national tournament. In 2019, Jernstedt guided Grove City to the inaugural Presidents' Athletic Conference title and a 12-6 overall record. The Wolverines also made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in 2019. In 2018, Grove City competed in the Ohio River Lacrosse Conference (ORLC) for its inaugural varsity season. The Wolverines finished with a 10-6 overall record and a 7-3 conference record, which qualified them for the conference tournament.  Jernstedt joined the Grove City staff after serving two years as volunteer assistant at Duke University. In 2017, he helped the Blue Devils advance to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals and finish No. 7 nationally in the "Inside Lacrosse" top 25. Prior to Duke, Jernstedt worked for two seasons as volunteer assistant at the University of Delaware. Jernstedt also serves as the head coach for Puerto Rico's national men's lacrosse team. Puerto Rico won a gold medal in summer of 2022 in the PALA World Championship qualifying tournament held in Medellin, Colombia. Most recently, Puerto Rico finished 10th overall in the 2023 World Lacrosse Championships held summer of 2023 in San Diego. In 2025, Jernstedt joined the Boston Cannons of the Premier Lacrosse League, working as the team's offensive coordinator. He earned three letters as a defensive and long stick midfielder at Division I Towson University from 2009 to 2012. Jernstedt helped Towson advance to the Colonial Athletic Association championship game in each of his first two seasons. While a student at Towson, he earned Dean's List honors and was active in the Athletes In Action and P.A.W.S. (Proud Athletes Who Serve.) He graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and geography. A native of Wilsonville, Ore., Jernstedt started his coaching career as a head coach for the Rhino Lacrosse Club in Portland, Ore., from 2009 to 2012. He worked as a coach and marketing director for Next Level Lacrosse Club in Bethesda, Md. and also has volunteered as a coach for FCA Lacrosse at the US Lacrosse Under-15 World Championships in Orlando, Fla. Jernstedt lives in Grove City with his wife, Kelly, and their four children.

Ben Suchomma returned to Grove City College as associate head men's lacrosse coach in August 2025. He rejoined the athletic department after spending three seasons as head men's lacrosse coach at Marietta College.  In his first season back at the College, 2026, Suchomma helped Grove City to 14 wins, a Presidents' Athletic Conference title and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Grove City earned a 14-9 win at Ohio Wesleyan in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Suchomma guided Marietta to a 20-28 overall record as the program increased its win total in each of his three seasons. The 2025 squad finished 8-8, setting a program record for wins in a season. Suchomma helped Grove City to Presidents' Athletic Conference titles in 2019, 2021 and 2022, along with three NCAA Division III Championship Tournament berths during his first stint at the College.  A native of Sylvania, Ohio, Suchomma first came to Grove City after earning four letters as a midfielder at Division II Walsh University. He led the Cavaliers with 22 goals as a senior in 2018. Suchomma played in 52 career games, starting 30. He graduated from Walsh with his bachelor's degree in May 2018.

Zach Jew recently completed his eighth season as varsity assistant men's lacrosse coach and 13th season overall at Grove City College. He assists head coach Alec Jernstedt in all aspects of the program.  In 2023, Jew helped Grove City advance to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament as Grove City defeated Swarthmore, 18-17, in the tournament's second round.  Last spring, the Wolverines opened the NCAA Tournament with a 14-9 victory at Ohio Wesleyan. Four Grove City players earned USILA All-America in 2026 and the Wolverines also swept the conference's four end-of-year individual awards.  Jew helped the Wolverines capture the inaugural Presidents' Athletic Conference title, as well as a trip to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in 2019. Grove City has won seven conference titles with Jew on the coaching staff. Jew coaches the goalie position group and oversees the in-game substitution box. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jew oversaw the club men’s lacrosse program (MCLA) at Grove City College from 2011 to 2017.  He graduated from Grove City College with his bachelor's degree in May 2011.  He also holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from California Baptist University.

Addison Bennett joined the Grove City College men’s lacrosse team as an assistant coach in the summer of 2023. The 2026-27 academic year will be his fourth season on the coaching staff of his alma mater. Bennett works as offensive coordinator while overseeing the program's recruiting.  As a top aide to head coach Alec Jernstedt, Bennett has helped Grove City to three Presidents' Athletic Conference titles, three trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament and a pair of NCAA Tournament victories.  In 2026, a young Grove City squad rebounded from a 2-7 start to finish 14-8 overall. The Wolverines won the conference tournament with a 17-6 victory over Chatham, then handed host Ohio Wesleyan a 14-9 setback in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Grove City closed 2026 with a 16-15 setback at No. 6 Lynchburg in the NCAA Tournament's second round. Senior faceoff specialist Colton Lehberg, senior defenders Sam Busby and Sam Stevenson, and junior short stick defensive midfielder Josh McDermott all earned United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Honorable Mention All-America following the 2026 season.  Stevenson also earned the conference's Defensive Player of the Year while Lehberg earned 2026 Specialist of the Year in the conference. Senior attack Mac Faircloth earned Offensive Player of the Year distinction and freshman midfielder Mason Lyons secured Newcomer of the Year. Bennett helped Grove City to 15 wins, the Presidents' Athletic Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in 2024, his first season on the coaching staff.  In 2025, Grove City won its second-ever NCAA Tournament game by defeating visiting Albion, 18-3, in the first round of the tournament at Robert E. Thorn Field. The Wolverines finished 14-8 and won their sixth straight conference crown.  During his playing career as a long stick midfielder, Bennett helped anchor a Wolverines defense that won four consecutive conference titles. The Wolverines advanced to four NCAA Division III Championship Tournaments. As a fifth-year senior in May 2023, Bennett helped Grove City to an 18-17 double-overtime win over No. 14 Swarthmore in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.  As a player, Bennett graduated as the program leader in caused turnovers with 87, while adding 16 goals and 11 assists.  He garnered All-PAC Honorable Mention in 2019 and 2021, Second Team in 2022 and First Team recognition in 2023. Since 2021, Bennett has coached for Fellowship of Christian Athletes Lacrosse (FCA) at both the regional and national level. Bennett graduated from Grove City College in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in communication studies.