Conley Stone is a college lacrosse player from Summerfield, North Carolina, who helped the University of Tampa win the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Lacrosse Championship. A long-stick midfielder, he also earned conference and national recognition for his defensive performances.
His achievements include 2026 First Team All-Sunshine State Conference honors, USA Lacrosse Second Team All-America recognition, and five ground balls in Tampa’s 12–11 overtime victory against Adelphi. Beyond his playing statistics, Stone has spoken publicly about his responsibilities as a team captain, defensive communication, and handling pressure during an important championship season.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Conley Stone |
| Hometown | Summerfield, North Carolina |
| High School | Northern Guilford High School |
| University | University of Tampa |
| Sport | Men’s lacrosse |
| Position | Long-stick midfielder (LSM) |
| Conference | Sunshine State Conference |
| Major Achievement | Member of Tampa’s 2026 NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse championship team |
Who Is Conley Stone in College Lacrosse?
Conley Stone played collegiate men’s lacrosse for the University of Tampa, competing at the NCAA Division II level. Originally from Summerfield, North Carolina, he attended Northern Guilford High School before joining Tampa’s lacrosse program.
His position was long-stick midfielder, commonly shortened to LSM. Unlike traditional midfielders, players in this role use longer sticks and contribute primarily to defensive situations. In defensive situations, these midfielders work to disrupt opposing attacks, put pressure on ball carriers, and regain possession for their team.
Stone’s college performances brought him recognition in both conference competition and national award selections. His achievements during the 2025 and 2026 seasons provide a documented record of his development as a defensive player.
By 2026, he had received multiple individual honors while contributing to a Tampa team that competed successfully at conference and national levels.
Conley Stone’s Defensive Performances and 2025 Recognition
Stone earned Second Team All-Sunshine State Conference honors in 2025, receiving recognition for his performances at long-stick midfield.
His achievements extended beyond conference awards. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) and USA Lacrosse Magazine both included him among their Division II Honorable Mention All-Americans in 2025. USILA also recognized him with an All-South Region Honorable Mention selection.
USA Lacrosse subsequently included Stone on its Division II Preseason All-America Honorable Mention list on February 3, 2026.
One of his most notable individual performances came against Flagler in February 2026.
Tampa defeated the nationally ranked opponent 8–7 on the road, with Stone recording five caused turnovers and three ground balls. USILA recognized Stone’s performance against Flagler by selecting him for its Division II Team of the Week on February 18.
Caused turnovers are particularly relevant when evaluating a defensive player’s contribution because they record instances in which an opponent loses possession through defensive action. Ground balls, meanwhile, measure a player’s involvement in recovering loose-ball possession.
How Stone Earned First Team Honors in 2026
Stone received First Team All-Sunshine State Conference recognition on April 22, 2026, advancing from his Second Team selection the previous year.
The award identified him among the conference’s leading players at long-stick midfield.
Tampa defeated Florida Tech 17–8 to win the 2026 Sunshine State Conference tournament championship, and Stone earned a place on the All-Tournament Team.
His performances also received national attention.
In May 2026, USA Lacrosse Magazine selected Stone as a Second Team Division II All-American. Stone earned a higher placement in USA Lacrosse Magazine’s 2026 All-America rankings, following his Honorable Mention recognition in 2025.
USILA also included Stone among its 2026 Division II All-America selections and named him to the All-South Region First Team.
The two organizations maintain separate award selections, meaning Stone’s USA Lacrosse recognition and USILA honors represent distinct acknowledgments of his performances.
Stone’s conference achievements were followed by further national recognition through the USA Lacrosse and USILA award selections in May 2026.
Stone’s Contribution to Tampa’s 2026 NCAA Championship
On May 24, 2026, Tampa and Adelphi met to decide the NCAA Division II Men’s Lacrosse Championship. The final took place at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Tampa entered the championship seeking another national title, while Adelphi provided difficult opposition in a contest that ultimately required overtime.
Stone contributed five ground balls during the game, recording an important possession-related statistic from his long-stick midfield position.
The championship remained closely contested, with Tampa eventually securing a 12–11 overtime victory. Tommy Ortega scored the winning goal and was recognized as the game’s Most Outstanding Player.
For Stone, the championship completed a season that had already included conference awards, national recognition, and notable defensive performances.
The victory gave Tampa its second NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse national championship.
What Conley Stone Revealed About Leadership and Defensive Pressure
Stone discussed his experiences during Tampa’s championship season in the In the Crease podcast episode published on May 28, 2026.
Speaking alongside members of the university’s lacrosse program, he reflected on the challenges of leading a team through setbacks and competing under championship pressure.
During the interview, Stone revisited Tampa’s loss to Anderson earlier in the season and its impact on him as a captain.
He admitted that the setback had left him visibly uneasy while carrying out his leadership responsibilities. His account offered a first-hand perspective on the responsibilities he faced during a season that eventually ended with a national championship.
Stone said Tampa had experienced roster changes since the preceding championship season, leaving some players with less experience in high-pressure situations.
According to Stone, some less-experienced players could naturally feel nervous in such an important contest. His comments focused on how Tampa worked through those early moments and settled into its established approach.
Defensive communication was another important part of his explanation.
Rather than describing a complete change in strategy during difficult periods, he emphasized maintaining established defensive responsibilities, understanding rotations, and continuing to execute the team’s system.
That approach became relevant during the championship against Adelphi, particularly after Tampa faced a challenging opening period.
According to Stone, Tampa’s defenders trusted their established assignments and worked to maintain their structure when the championship game became difficult.
His interview added a perspective that statistics alone could not provide: how a player involved in defensive leadership understood the demands of an important game and the adjustments required when a team encountered pressure.
Conley Stone’s 2026 Academic Recognition
Stone received another distinction following Tampa’s championship season when he was included among the 2026 USILA Scholar All-Americans.
His recognition appeared in an official collegiate athletics report published on July 7, 2026.
The USILA Scholar All-American designation complemented Stone’s conference and national lacrosse honors, including his contributions to Tampa’s 2026 championship season.