Swarthmore College Athletics

In a program that boasts 90 All-Americans and over a century of competition, men's lacrosse player Joe Valis '83 stands out as the most prolific goal-scorer Swarthmore has seen. His 132 career goals is matched only by Garnet Athletics Hall of Famer Avery Blake, Jr. and his 221 points rank second in program annals. Valis totaled 27 goals and 14 assists in his rookie campaign and was named to the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) First Team as Swarthmore had its first winning season since 1970. As a junior captain, Valis netted 35 goals in 13 games to help lead the Garnet to a 10-3 record and a MAC Championship. The Baltimore, Md. native earned United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-America Honorable Mention in 1983 after recording 55 points on 34 goals and 21 assists. He remained active in the lacrosse community after studying and playing at Oxford, coaching at Kelly Post and Maryland Lacrosse Club, where he served on the Board of Directors. Valis' lacrosse prowess certainly runs in the family; his daughter, Posey, plays attack at the University of Virginia and his son, Brinton, is a midfielder at Johns Hopkins University.