Shane Taggert

Classroom

Shane Taggert, an interdisciplinary health services major and business minor, twice qualified for the Saint Joseph’s Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (Fall 2013, Spring 2016) and is on track to graduate in May of 2017. In Summer 2016, Taggert interned with Bond Andiola & Company, a full-service accounting firm based out of Flemington, N.J. that focuses on audits, reviews and compilations as well as business and personal tax returns. Taggert intends to begin his career in both healthcare and business following graduation.

Character

“Shane Taggert is one of the most vocal and outgoing players on our team. He is always full of energy and gets his teammates excited to practice and train every day. As a freshman, Shane earned a role as a man-down specialist. Typically, when he entered the game, it was because our team had committed a foul, and momentum had shifted toward the opposition. Shane’s contagious enthusiasm as he entered the game consistently inspired his teammates to play at a higher level, and it resulted in our team being the top man-down unit in the country two years in a row (2014, 2015). He moved into a starting role as a junior and continues to be a steady leader for our team.” - Head Coach Taylor Wray

Community

This fall, the Saint Joseph’s men’s lacrosse program participated in the University City Classic at the University of Pennsylvania, and Taggert helped in SJU’s fundraising effort for this HEADstrong Foundation event as the Hawks raised $3,000 in donations in an effort to improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their families through providing essential programs and services. In Fall 2015, Taggert was involved in SJU’s fundraising efforts for the first annual HEADstrong SJU Fall Scrimmage, through which the Hawks fundraised $3,000. Taggert has participated in the SJU Kinney Center Autism 5k Walk/Run three times in as many years, where he and his teammates raised the most money out of all SJU varsity teams on campus in 2014 and 2015. He has also participated in the Martin Luther King Day of Service for four consecutive years (2014-17), which has involved cleaning up public trails and blocks and renovating elementary schools to benefit the local Philadelphia community. Additionally, Taggert volunteered at the local community center for the past three Halloweens, cooking dinner and running the Halloween party.

Competition

Shane Taggert played 21 games for SJU’s defensive unit that led the nation in man-down defense in 2014 and 2015 and had a breakthrough season for Saint Joseph’s in his junior campaign in Spring 2016, becoming an all-16-game starting defenseman. Taggert led the squad in caused turnovers with 20 and added 20 ground balls. He combined for seven caused turnovers and two ground balls in the Northeast Conference Tournament against Robert Morris (1gb, 4ct) in the semifinals and Hobart (1gb, 3ct) in the title game. Additional top games from 2016 include vs. No. 17 Virginia (3gb, 1ct), Bryant (3gb, 2ct), Delaware (1gb, 3ct) and Penn (2ct). As of nomination time, Taggert owned 25 career ground balls and 23 career caused turnovers.