Across the Grounds with Steve Brindle: Connor Shellenberger, A Cavalier Legacy of Success

Connor Shellenberger

*I think that most of us want to be the best we can be. We can embellish our accomplishments

if we fall short. High school yearbooks are filled with bogus activities that amount to one

meeting, out the door, and into the yearbook. Perhaps it’s like the Tar Heels creating classes

with no lecture hall, no professors, and no curriculum, serving 3,100 athletes for 18 years! I’m

hoping these aren’t rose-colored glasses that I wear when describing the UVA athletic

experience as one of hard work, honest grades, and a really good feeling while walking the

Lawn for the final time.

I’ve rambled so far with unflattering remarks about high school students and Tar Heel athletes,

both of whom overall deserve more credit. With great admiration, I deliver a message today

about SUCCESS. There may be many UVA student athletes sporting 6’1”, 195-lb frames but

none have accomplished what Connor Shellenberger has accomplished during four years of

eligibility.

A Charlottesville native and son of Stephanie and Scott Shellenberger, Connor attended St.

Anne’s-Belfield, a premier private K-12 Charlottesville-based school. He watched UVA LAX since

age 10 and attended UVA’s summer clinics. When it came to college recruiting, Connor

somehow, someway signed a commitment letter to Duke. He finally came to his senses and

could be seen in orange and blue at Klockner.

Shellenberger’s goal has always been to be the best teammate he can be. He has often said

that he’d rather assist on goals than to score them himself. If I’m an employer in the outside

world, I would hire Connor in a heartbeat, knowing of his drive towards excellence and his

commitment to team.

So what about the honors and awards that Connor has had bestowed? Below is a partial list of

accomplishments from a storied career that might qualify for UVA’s Mt. Rushmore. (His 4 years

started as a redshirt and included a no-play Covid year but he actually played 4 years. How

many college superstars stick around for 4?)

*High School Player of the Year

*Only 4-time USILA 1st- team All American in program history.

*NCAA’s Attack Man of the year (2024)

*Three-time Tewaaraton finalist

*Led UVA to the 2021 NCAA Championship in which Connor was awarded Tournament MVP

*UVA’s all-time points and assists leader

*Led the New York Atlas to the 2024 PLL championship as a rookie year in which he led the

league in most offensive categories.

All the above is about a lifetime of SUCCESS. The very good news is that Connor Shellenberger is

BACK. You will see him walking the sidelines at Klockner next spring as an assistant coach. I’m

guessing that his most valuable contribution will be in recruiting. If Connor Shellenberger is in

the living room of a recruit and his parents, his good looks, knowledge, gentlemanly approach,

and basket full of awards would be 1st-Team Impressive! Jim Thorpe and Jim Brown would be

proud!