Aaron Cho is an American college lacrosse player who earned national recognition for his performances with the University of Tampa during the 2026 season. After joining the University of Tampa from Boston University, Cho earned the Sunshine State Conference’s top offensive honour in 2026 and contributed to Tampa’s NCAA Division II national title victory.
Originally from Albertson, New York, Cho developed his skills at Herricks High School before entering collegiate lacrosse. His 2026 performances included individual recognition from national lacrosse organisations and important contributions during Tampa’s postseason campaign. He also spoke publicly about recovering from a knee injury and how that experience changed his outlook on competition.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Aaron Cho |
| Hometown | Albertson, New York, USA |
| High school | Herricks High School |
| College affiliations | Boston University and University of Tampa |
| Sport | Men’s lacrosse |
| Playing position | Midfielder; also listed as an attacker in a conference report |
| Major individual honour | 2026 SSC Offensive Player of the Year |
| Major team achievement | 2026 NCAA Division II national champion |
Who Is Aaron Cho in College Lacrosse?
Aaron Cho is a collegiate men’s lacrosse player. His performances during Tampa’s 2026 season earned him individual honours from the Sunshine State Conference, USA Lacrosse and the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. He represented the University of Tampa during a season in which the Spartans secured both the Sunshine State Conference tournament championship and the NCAA Division II national title.
Before joining Tampa, he was part of Boston University’s men’s lacrosse programme in 2023. His athletic background also includes competitive high school lacrosse and participation in a USA Lacrosse youth development programme.
In April 2026, Cho received the SSC Offensive Player of the Year award and All-SSC First Team recognition. His season also brought separate First-Team All-American selections from USA Lacrosse and the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA).
Those awards accompanied a championship campaign in which Tampa finished with a 21–1 record. Cho contributed in several important postseason games, including the national semifinal against Anderson University and the overtime championship victory against Adelphi.
From Herricks High School to Boston University
Before beginning his college lacrosse career, Cho played for Herricks High School in New York, recording impressive goal and assist totals during his time there.
According to his official Boston University Athletics biography, he recorded 65 goals and 45 assists during his senior high school season. His earlier performances included 27 goals and 21 assists as a junior, alongside 40 goals and 34 assists as a freshman.
He also received consecutive all-county honours in lacrosse and earned academic all-conference recognition.
His sporting background was not limited to lacrosse. Boston University’s biography identifies wrestling and American football among the sports he participated in during high school.
Cho was also involved in the USA Lacrosse National Team Development Program. In 2019, he appeared on the organisation’s Boys U15 National Combine roster, which listed him with Herricks and the Igloo lacrosse club.
In 2023, Cho joined Boston University’s men’s lacrosse programme as a freshman midfielder, wearing jersey number 47. The university’s official player biography records that he did not appear in any games during that season.
By the 2026 season, Cho was representing the University of Tampa, where he earned conference and national individual honours.
How Aaron Cho Earned Tampa’s 2026 Offensive Recognition
Cho’s performances for Tampa during the 2026 season earned him recognition from both the Sunshine State Conference and national lacrosse organisations.
One notable period came in March, when he produced four goals and five assists across two Tampa victories. His nine-point contribution led to the SSC Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week award, announced on 16 March 2026.
The following day, USILA included him in its Division II Team of the Week for the same period.
His offensive statistics continued to attract recognition as Tampa progressed through the season.
On 22 April 2026, the Sunshine State Conference announced Cho as its Men’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year. At the time of the announcement, he had recorded 18 goals and 24 assists, producing 42 points.
Those statistics represented his tally at the time of the conference awards rather than his final full-season total, as he continued playing during the postseason.
Cho also earned a place on the All-SSC First Team.
The conference’s published records differ slightly in their descriptions of him. The conference’s March report listed Cho as a sophomore attacker, but its April awards release presented him as a senior midfielder. His national All-American selections also listed him as a midfielder.
His conference success was followed by further recognition in May.
On 13 May 2026, he appeared among the USA Lacrosse First-Team All-American midfielders. USILA subsequently included him in its own First-Team All-American selections, reported on 21 May.
The two First-Team All-American selections followed his April conference awards, completing a sequence of individual honours across March, April and May 2026.
Aaron Cho’s Role in Tampa’s 2026 Championship Victories
Cho’s contributions continued during Tampa’s postseason campaign, beginning with the Sunshine State Conference tournament.
In the SSC championship game against Florida Tech, Tampa secured a 17–8 victory. Cho contributed one goal and four assists, finishing with five points as the Spartans claimed the conference tournament title.
Tampa then advanced through the NCAA Division II national tournament.
On 17 May 2026, the Spartans faced Anderson University in the national semifinal. Cho scored four goals and added one assist, leading Tampa with five points in a 13–7 victory.
USA Lacrosse and WUSF both reported his performance, which helped Tampa secure a place in the national championship game against Adelphi University.
The championship provided another meeting between Tampa and Adelphi, which had defeated the Spartans in the previous year’s national final.
On 24 May 2026, the teams met at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Adelphi established an early advantage, but Tampa recovered during the game. Cho contributed an unassisted goal in the second quarter and later registered an assist as the Spartans worked their way back into contention.
He finished the final with one goal and one assist.
Tommy Ortega secured Tampa’s 12–11 triumph by scoring the decisive goal in overtime, bringing the championship contest to an end.
The result secured the program’s second NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse national championship and completed a 21–1 season.
Fellow Tampa lacrosse player Conley Stone also contributed to the 2026 national championship victory, recording five ground balls against Adelphi.
Across those three postseason games, Cho recorded six goals and six assists, including five points against Anderson and two in the national championship final.
Aaron Cho’s Perspective on Overcoming Injury and Building Confidence
Beyond his statistics and awards, Cho provided some insight into his experiences during a television interview with Tampa Bay 28 ahead of the 2026 national championship.
Speaking with reporter Kevin Lewis, he discussed a knee injury that had affected his previous season and explained how time away from competition influenced his perspective on lacrosse.
The experience prompted him to appreciate opportunities to play and spend time with teammates.
Rather than discussing his recovery in detailed medical terms, Cho focused on the enjoyment of participating in the sport and the importance of making the most of those opportunities.
He also spoke about the role of confidence in competition.
In the interview, Cho compared his competitive mindset to that of a lion, emphasising the confidence and determination he aimed to display during games. His remarks centred on mental preparation and the confidence he believed was necessary to compete effectively.
Another subject was Tampa’s upcoming championship rematch against Adelphi.
Having experienced the previous year’s defeat, Cho welcomed the opportunity to face the same opponent again with the national title at stake.
Through his interview, Cho shared how he approached the challenges and successes of a 2026 season that brought major accomplishments for both himself and Tampa.
Cho’s 2026 season combined major individual honours with a national championship at Tampa. His contributions during the postseason and his firsthand reflections on returning from injury provide a fuller picture of his collegiate lacrosse experience.