John F. Zulberti (January 20, 1967 – August 1, 2021) was an American four-time All-American NCAA lacrosse player at Syracuse University from 1986 to 1989. The Orange won the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships in 1988 and 1989 with Zulberti teaming up with perennial all-timers Gary Gait, Paul Gait, and Tom Marechek.[1] He drowned at the age of 54 in August 2021.[2]

John Zulberti
BornJanuary 20, 1967
DiedAugust 1, 2021(2021-08-01) (aged 54)
Sandy Springs, Georgia
NationalityAmerican
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight180 pounds (82 kg)
ShootsRight
PositionAttack, Forward
NLL teamsBuffalo Bandits
NCAA teamSyracuse University

Syracuse Orange

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In the 1988 championship, Zulberti teamed with high scoring teammates the Gait brothers and Tom Marechek to lead the Orange to a 13-8 win over Cornell. These same four offensive leaders again teamed up to win the 1989 championship 13 to 12 over Johns Hopkins.

Zulberti was named the Jack Turnbull Award winner as the nation's top attackman in 1988 and 1989. He is among the all-time leaders in NCAA scoring, is 6th all-time on the Syracuse scoring list, and even ranks among the all-time point getters in New York Public School history.[3]

MILL

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John played professionally in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League for the Buffalo Bandits, playing in their inaugural season of 1992 and again teaming with Marechek to win a championship.[4]

West Genesee

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Like fellow Syracuse alum Brad Kotz, Zulberti played high school lacrosse at powerful West Genesee High School, where he had 361 career points. In his junior and senior years at West Genesee, Zulberti had 129 and 139 points, respectively.[5]

Syracuse University

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Season GP G A Pts PPG
1986 17 33 41 74 4.35
1987 13 24 22 46 3.54
1988 15 22 47 69 4.6
1989 15 30 48 78 5.2
Totals 60 109 158(a) 267(b) 4.45
(a) 12th in NCAA Men's Division I all-time Assists
(b) 19th in NCAA Men's Division I all-time Total Points

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Syracuse Lacrosse Media Guide" (PDF). Syracuse University. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2005.
  2. ^ Kramer, Lindsay (August 2, 2021). "West Genesee, Syracuse great John Zulberti dies: 'He was a face of lacrosse'". Syracuse.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Syracuse Men's Lacrosse Statistics Page". Syracuse University. 1989. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007.
  4. ^ "West Genesee Wildcat Lacrosse". West Genesee High School.
  5. ^ "New York Public Lacrosse records". New York Public School Records. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010.
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