Kyle Karaska

Classroom

Kyle Karaska is studying building and construction technology at UMass and is on track to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2016. He used his summer months to focus on potential career-related ventures in the construction industry. Karaska plans to use his studies at UMass in a full-time position with Trilogy Medical Partners in Las Vegas, which he will begin following graduation and the completion of the 2016 men’s lacrosse season.

Character

Karaska fits the mold perfectly for his leadership role on head coach Greg Cannella’s Minuteman squad and is also a model for Cannella’s blue-collar, “hard hat” mentality and approach to the game. He has served as a team leader and as a starter on defense since the second game of his freshman season while he earned the honor of being a team captain in 2015-16 as voted upon by the team and confirmed by the coaching staff.

Community

A model for how to give back to the community that supports you in the stands during your season, Karaska participates in numerous “giving back” programs during the year, including two major projects with wide-reaching impact. Karaska helped the Minutemen raise donations for the Amherst Survival Center, which provides canned goods, approximately 65-75 Thanksgiving turkeys and other assorted holiday necessities to families in need in Western Massachusetts each year, and the Hadley Food Pantry in a separate fundraiser. He also is a key member of the UMass men’s lacrosse team’s effort to support the Vs. Cancer Foundation as the team raises thousands in funding each year for the fight against cancer.

Competition

Karaska has been lauded for his work on close defense throughout his UMass career, including NEILA All-New England First Team and All-CAA First Team as a junior in 2015. The Groton, Mass., native was also an All-CAA Second Team selection as a sophomore in 2014. He tallied the second-most caused turnovers among close defensemen in the CAA last season and enters his senior year with 29 caused turnovers and 58 ground balls. Karaska also earned team awards for his work on the field as the UMass Rookie of the Year (2013) and UMass Defensive Player of the Year (2014, 2015).