The #85 Award

 

In Honor of Jon Schoen

 

Each year, Coach Lisa presents one player with the privilege of wearing jersey number 85 — a

number that carries profound meaning for the Darien Girls Lacrosse program.

Number 85 was the jersey Jon Schoen wore as a standout football player for the Boston College

Eagles and later as a professional with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jon went on to build an

extraordinary life — spending over three decades as an executive at Morgan Stanley, raising his

children in Darien, and cheering on his two daughters as they not only broke records on this very

field, but went on to play lacrosse at Harvard and Stanford.But Jon Schoen was so much more than his remarkable résumé. He was one of the loudest,

proudest, most devoted fans this program has ever known. He showed up — for his daughters, for

their teammates, and for everyone around him — with an open heart and unconditional

generosity. He understood that the person standing next to you may be carrying something you

cannot see, and he led with that understanding every single day.

 

Jon lived by the principles of John Wooden — that failing to prepare is preparing to fail, that

success is peace of mind earned through full effort, and above all else, that you must make each

day your masterpiece. He believed in random acts of kindness, in putting others before

yourself, and in the quiet, powerful choice to simply be a good person.

His battle with cancer was ferocious. His life was beautiful. And it was cut far too

short.

 

The player who earns #85 is not necessarily the most talented player on the field.

She is the player who leads with selflessness. Who lifts others. Who is coachable, kind, and

someone every teammate is grateful to have in the locker room. She competes with everything she

has, prepares with intention, and never forgets that how you treat people matters more than any

scoreboard.

 

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Lisa Lindley Award

 

The Lisa Lindley Scholarship was established and endowed by DYLAX in 2023.

 

The recipient of this scholarship award will be given annually to a senior on the girls team who plans on continuing their education and athletic career in college.

 

The recipient of this award will possess the traists of intensity, preparedness, selflessness ,discipline and sacrifice.