Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
Rehfuss Bets on Himself
5/14/2020 4:31:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Stephen Rehfuss always bets on himself.
He first trusted himself that he could contribute in the sport's most successful program and transferred to Syracuse University in 2017. That decision has already led to career that could have been capped with an All-America nod during the shortened 2020 season. But Rehfuss decided to trust his gut once more, deferring law school admission and putting post-collegiate life on hold to return in 2021 to see if he can fulfill what he says he's always dreamt of.
A true leader on and off the field, Rehfuss was presented with the Doris Soladay Award during the annual 'Cuse Awards earlier this month. The award is the highest honor a Syracuse student-athlete can receive, honoring all principles of the student-athlete, for success academically, athletically and in the community in his Syracuse career – a career that isn't quite done.
To the delight of Syracuse fans, Rehfuss' journey will have another chapter, announcing earlier this month that he intends to defer his enrollment to law school at the University at Albany for one more year to come back to Syracuse, following the NCAA extending the opportunity for eligibility relief to student-athletes whose seasons were cut short due to COVID-19.
"For as long as I can remember I've always dreamt of playing on the biggest stage at the final four or for national championship," Rehfuss said. "I felt like owed it to my younger self and my family who sacrificed so many things growing up – for financially supporting me and driving me everywhere to play – to come back to chase that dream."
Rehfuss' road to being a three-year starter at Syracuse hasn't been a direct path. The Latham, New York native started his college career at Holy Cross after seeing limited offers out of high school. The youngest and only boy in a lacrosse-crazed family of six children, he grew up loving lacrosse with dreams of playing at the top-level with a chance to compete for a national title. Less than a week into fall ball at his first stop, he knew it wasn't where he wanted to be.
"Ever since I was little I knew I wanted to play at a high level," Rehfuss said. "Once I got to Holy Cross, I felt like it wasn't the place for me. After the first or second practice I called home and talked to my sister and told her it wasn't where I wanted to be. My parents took some convincing, they wanted to make sure I was making the right decision, but I knew it was wasn't right for me."
After transferring in as a redshirt-freshman, Rehfuss made an immediate impact with the Orange. In his first season, he played in every game, scoring 12 goals and contributing 13 assists, including a four-point effort in a late comeback win at North Carolina.
"A lot of it started in the fall my first year," Rehfuss said. "I had the support from the seniors, we had a great group of leaders and I remember getting a lot of confidence from a guy like Evan Molloy. Anytime I did anything in practice, he'd always make jokes about it. They instilled confidence that I could make an impact… I remember any time I was on the sideline about to go in, older guys telling me 'we need you.' I always had confidence in myself and teammates were really helpful in that. They told me I wasn't out there to just run around or pass it, [Nick] Mariano telling me to dodge and letting me know I was on the field to contribute."
The Syracuse redshirt-senior has quietly and consistently climbed up the storied Orange lacrosse record books, working his way into the top-20 all-time in assists and was having his most productive year to date – leading the ACC in assists – at the time the 2020 season was halted due to COVID-19. He's also made an indelible impact in all facets of the program.
The true student-athlete, Rehfuss earned his undergraduate degree in 2019, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in communication and rhetorical studies and earned his certificate of advanced study in information technology management in 2020. He has also interned at Nike in 2018 and worked as a paralegal assistant in the summer of 2016 and 2017.
Rehfuss is just the fourth lacrosse player in Syracuse history to earn the award, joining Rob Kavovit (1997), Greg Rommel (2006) and Mike Leveille (2008).
Set up for law school in the fall, Rehfuss could have moved on, but he couldn't pass up one more run at Syracuse.
"Syracuse has been a place where I've been able to meet my best friends that I know I'll have my entire life," Rehfuss said. "I've had experiences of a lifetime between this school and lacrosse team. One of the special things about Syracuse is the passion that everyone has for the sport on and off the field and you can be yourself and be accepted by everyone in our program."
The Orange finished the shortened 2020 season undefeated and ranked No. 1 in every major poll. 'Cuse will return nine All-Americans in 2021.
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He first trusted himself that he could contribute in the sport's most successful program and transferred to Syracuse University in 2017. That decision has already led to career that could have been capped with an All-America nod during the shortened 2020 season. But Rehfuss decided to trust his gut once more, deferring law school admission and putting post-collegiate life on hold to return in 2021 to see if he can fulfill what he says he's always dreamt of.
A true leader on and off the field, Rehfuss was presented with the Doris Soladay Award during the annual 'Cuse Awards earlier this month. The award is the highest honor a Syracuse student-athlete can receive, honoring all principles of the student-athlete, for success academically, athletically and in the community in his Syracuse career – a career that isn't quite done.
To the delight of Syracuse fans, Rehfuss' journey will have another chapter, announcing earlier this month that he intends to defer his enrollment to law school at the University at Albany for one more year to come back to Syracuse, following the NCAA extending the opportunity for eligibility relief to student-athletes whose seasons were cut short due to COVID-19.
"For as long as I can remember I've always dreamt of playing on the biggest stage at the final four or for national championship," Rehfuss said. "I felt like owed it to my younger self and my family who sacrificed so many things growing up – for financially supporting me and driving me everywhere to play – to come back to chase that dream."
Rehfuss' road to being a three-year starter at Syracuse hasn't been a direct path. The Latham, New York native started his college career at Holy Cross after seeing limited offers out of high school. The youngest and only boy in a lacrosse-crazed family of six children, he grew up loving lacrosse with dreams of playing at the top-level with a chance to compete for a national title. Less than a week into fall ball at his first stop, he knew it wasn't where he wanted to be.
"Ever since I was little I knew I wanted to play at a high level," Rehfuss said. "Once I got to Holy Cross, I felt like it wasn't the place for me. After the first or second practice I called home and talked to my sister and told her it wasn't where I wanted to be. My parents took some convincing, they wanted to make sure I was making the right decision, but I knew it was wasn't right for me."
After transferring in as a redshirt-freshman, Rehfuss made an immediate impact with the Orange. In his first season, he played in every game, scoring 12 goals and contributing 13 assists, including a four-point effort in a late comeback win at North Carolina.
"A lot of it started in the fall my first year," Rehfuss said. "I had the support from the seniors, we had a great group of leaders and I remember getting a lot of confidence from a guy like Evan Molloy. Anytime I did anything in practice, he'd always make jokes about it. They instilled confidence that I could make an impact… I remember any time I was on the sideline about to go in, older guys telling me 'we need you.' I always had confidence in myself and teammates were really helpful in that. They told me I wasn't out there to just run around or pass it, [Nick] Mariano telling me to dodge and letting me know I was on the field to contribute."
The Syracuse redshirt-senior has quietly and consistently climbed up the storied Orange lacrosse record books, working his way into the top-20 all-time in assists and was having his most productive year to date – leading the ACC in assists – at the time the 2020 season was halted due to COVID-19. He's also made an indelible impact in all facets of the program.
The true student-athlete, Rehfuss earned his undergraduate degree in 2019, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in communication and rhetorical studies and earned his certificate of advanced study in information technology management in 2020. He has also interned at Nike in 2018 and worked as a paralegal assistant in the summer of 2016 and 2017.
Rehfuss is just the fourth lacrosse player in Syracuse history to earn the award, joining Rob Kavovit (1997), Greg Rommel (2006) and Mike Leveille (2008).
Set up for law school in the fall, Rehfuss could have moved on, but he couldn't pass up one more run at Syracuse.
"Syracuse has been a place where I've been able to meet my best friends that I know I'll have my entire life," Rehfuss said. "I've had experiences of a lifetime between this school and lacrosse team. One of the special things about Syracuse is the passion that everyone has for the sport on and off the field and you can be yourself and be accepted by everyone in our program."
The Orange finished the shortened 2020 season undefeated and ranked No. 1 in every major poll. 'Cuse will return nine All-Americans in 2021.
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