Brooks Van Esselstyn is a college lacrosse player from Bluffton, South Carolina, who earned national recognition while representing Florida Institute of Technology. Playing primarily as a short-stick defensive midfielder, he received USILA Second Team All-American honors in 2026 after contributing to Florida Tech’s offense and defense throughout the season.
His lacrosse experience also extends beyond college competition. In December 2025, Van Esselstyn represented Brazil at the PALA Sixes Cup in Puerto Rico, finishing third in the tournament’s overall points standings with 30 points. Alongside his athletic achievements, he has pursued aerospace engineering and received recognition for his academic performance.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Brooks Van Esselstyn |
| Hometown | Bluffton, South Carolina |
| High School | May River High School |
| University | Florida Institute of Technology |
| Sport | Men’s lacrosse |
| Playing Position | Short-stick defensive midfielder |
| International Team | Brazil men’s national lacrosse team |
| Academic Field | Aerospace engineering |
Who Is Brooks Van Esselstyn in College Lacrosse?
Brooks Van Esselstyn played for the Florida Tech Panthers in NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse, wearing jersey number 15. His university roster listed him as a junior in 2026, following two previous seasons with the program.
Although classified as a midfielder, his primary specialization was short-stick defensive midfield. This position involves defending opposing players, collecting loose balls, and helping move possession from defense into attack.
Van Esselstyn also contributed as a scorer. His updated 2026 university statistics credit him with 23 goals and eight assists, placing him second on Florida Tech’s team in goals.
His college achievements built upon an established high school record that included regional awards, national recognition, and academic honors.
Brooks Van Esselstyn’s Achievements at May River High School
Van Esselstyn attended May River High School in South Carolina, where he developed a strong record in competitive lacrosse.
One of his notable early performances came on March 28, 2022, against James Island. May River won the game 17–1, with Van Esselstyn contributing two goals and nine assists.
According to LowcoSports, he scored the 100th goal of his high school career during that match, reaching the milestone in his 28th career appearance.
His achievements also included several individual awards. Florida Tech’s official biography identifies him as the 2022 Lower State Attackman of the Year. In 2023, he earned Lower State Player of the Year and Lower State Midfielder of the Year recognition.
The same university record lists three All-State and three All-Region selections during his high school career.
His accomplishments attracted national attention in 2023, when USA Lacrosse recognized him with three distinctions:
- USA Lacrosse High School All-American
- USA Lacrosse All-Academic
- Bob Scott Award recipient
These honors preceded his transition to Florida Tech, where he began competing at the NCAA Division II level in 2024.
How Van Esselstyn Developed at Florida Tech from 2024 to 2026
Van Esselstyn began his collegiate lacrosse career in 2024. He appeared in 13 games during his freshman season, recording six goals, two assists, and three ground balls.
His first college goal came against Rollins on February 3, 2024.
The following season brought increased offensive production. Florida Tech’s retrospective player biography credits him with 15 goals and one assist across 16 appearances in 2025, including two starts.
He scored three goals against North Greenville on February 8 and repeated that total against Rollins on April 12.
A separate Florida Tech cumulative statistics record displays seven appearances and seven goals for 2025. The university’s retrospective biography provides the larger season totals, although the difference between the records has not been formally explained.
In 2026, Van Esselstyn appeared in 16 games and made 11 starts, contributing as a short-stick defensive midfielder while recording his highest documented single-season college scoring total.
His later university statistics provide the following season totals:
| Statistic | 2026 Total |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 16 |
| Games Started | 11 |
| Goals | 23 |
| Assists | 8 |
| Points | 31 |
| Ground Balls | 26 |
| Caused Turnovers | 9 |
Florida Tech’s updated player biography and June 16, 2026 announcement report 23 goals, eight assists, 31 points, and 26 ground balls. However, the university’s May 21 announcement listed 20 goals, 27 points, and 27 ground balls. Florida Tech did not provide an explicit explanation for the differences in the reviewed records.
His performances included nine multi-goal games and three hat tricks, according to the updated player record.
One documented example of his two-way contribution came against Embry-Riddle on March 21, 2026. Florida Tech won 12–8, with Van Esselstyn producing two goals, one assist, two ground balls, and one caused turnover.
That combination of attacking production and defensive involvement formed an important part of his 2026 season.
The 2026 Conference and National All-American Honors
Van Esselstyn’s contributions to Florida Tech throughout the 2026 season brought him recognition through multiple individual awards.
On April 22, he was named to the All-Sunshine State Conference First Team as a short-stick defensive midfielder. The honor acknowledged his contributions as a defensive midfielder, distinguishing his role from that of an attack specialist.
Florida Tech’s Van Esselstyn and Tampa’s Conley Stone both earned First Team All-Sunshine State Conference recognition in 2026, in different defensive midfield positions.
National recognition followed in May.
He earned a place on the USILA First Team All-South Region and received USILA Second Team All-American recognition. Florida Tech announced these honors on May 21, 2026.
USA Lacrosse Magazine separately selected him as a Second Team All-American, with the recognition reported by Florida Southern College Athletics on May 13.
These were distinct award selections made through different recognition programs.
Florida Tech’s revised 2026 figures ranked him among the team’s most productive players in attack. Despite primarily occupying a defensive midfield role, he finished second on the team in goals and tied for fifth in ground balls.
The combination of his conference award, regional selection, and two national All-American recognitions marked his most decorated documented college season.
Brooks Van Esselstyn’s Brazil Appearance at the 2025 PALA Sixes Cup
Before receiving his 2026 college honors, Van Esselstyn gained international playing experience with Brazil’s men’s national lacrosse team.
He participated in the 2025 PALA Sixes Cup, held in Humacao, Puerto Rico, in December 2025.
Lacrosse sixes is a version of the sport played with smaller teams and a different competition format from traditional field lacrosse. Van Esselstyn’s international tournament statistics therefore belong to a separate competition record from his NCAA performances.
According to the Brazilian Lacrosse Confederation, he recorded 25 goals and five assists during the tournament, finishing with 30 points.
The organization placed him third in the overall tournament points standings.
Brazil finished fifth in the competition. Its reported results included a victory against Peru and an overtime defeat to Mexico.
The December 2025 tournament was a documented international appearance for Van Esselstyn, separate from his NCAA Division II career at Florida Tech.
The Brazilian Lacrosse Confederation confirms his participation for the national team, although its tournament report does not establish his citizenship or eligibility background.
Aerospace Engineering Studies and Academic Recognition
Alongside lacrosse, Van Esselstyn pursued aerospace engineering at Florida Tech.
According to his university profile, Van Esselstyn chose Florida Tech for its aerospace engineering program and the chance to compete in college lacrosse.
The same profile records his ambition to become a military pilot, describing a professional goal connected with his academic interests.
His academic achievements began before university.
In September 2022, Beaufort County School District identified him among its National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. He subsequently became a corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship winner in 2023, with the district announcing the recognition on July 10.
At Florida Tech, his freshman-year achievements included selection to the university’s Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and the Sunshine State Conference Spring Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
His academic recognition continued during his 2026 All-American season.
On June 16, 2026, Florida Tech announced his selection to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
The university reported that he had maintained a 3.74 GPA in aerospace engineering coursework while competing for its men’s lacrosse program.
The Academic All-District selection added to the documented academic honors he had received during high school and his first collegiate season.
His June 2026 CSC Academic All-District selection followed a season in which he also received USILA and USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American honors, bringing academic and athletic recognition within the same year.