Ryan Terefenko
Grit and Determination
Ryan Terefenko is among a generation of players who have turned the dirty work of a short-stick defensive midfielder into a thing of beauty.
Relentlessness, skill, hunger and focus have developed Terefenko into one of the best players in the sport — across every discipline.
The former two-time captain at Ohio State first latched onto the U.S. Men's National Team program as a volunteer coach for the U19 (now U20) team previously led by Buckeyes head coach Nick Myers.
Terefenko made the 2023 senior team as one of four short-stick d-middies on the squad, memorably navigating a gauntlet of Canadian defenders while maintaining possession in the fourth quarter to help the U.S. seal a 10-7 victory over Canada in the World Lacrosse Men's Championship gold medal game in San Diego.
The Lacrosse Network billed it "the grittiest play in USA history."
U.S. Team
- Made his international championship debut in 2023 at the World Lacrosse Men's Championship, helping the U.S. win gold in San Diego
- Key contributor for the 2024 U.S. box team, helping the U.S. to a silver medal, its best finish ever
- Made his sixes debut at the Atlas Cup in 2025, helping the U.S. to a 2-1 record
College
- Two-time captain at Ohio State
- First player to earn All-America honor recognition four times for the Buckeyes
- Two-time first team All-Big Ten
- Helped Ohio State reach final four in 2017, the first time in program history
- Ohio State's male winner of the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 2021, recognizing athletic and scholastic achievements
Pro
- Four-time All-Star in the PLL
- Named the PLL's SSDM of the Year in 2025 and has been named first team All-Pro twice
- Helped Denver reach the PLL championship game in 2025
- 12th overall pick by the Chrome in the 2021 PLL Draft
- Drafted in the second round by Halifax in the 2021 NLL Draft
- Has played five seasons in the NLL and ranked sixth in the league with 165 loose balls in 2024
- Has combined for 84 points over the last three seasons, including a career-best 38 (17g, 21) in 2025
- Helped Halifax reach the 2026 NLL championship series