Myrt Gaines was a top offensive threat on the high-scoring, successful Washington College men’s lacrosse teams of the second half of the 1970s.
As a freshman attackman in 1975, Myrt played on a veteran-laden offense and still managed to score 26 goals and assist on seven others before the team advanced to the NCAA Division II/III Tournament. The Shoremen easily dispatched of Morgan State to advance to the semifinals. The following season, Myrt upped his scoring output to 32 goals and 38 assists, leading the team in the latter category while finishing third in the former. His 70 total points were also second-most on the team. The Shoremen again reached the NCAA semifinals.
Tying for the team lead with 70 points and again finishing first in assists with 29 and third in goals with 41, Myrt was named a third-team All-American as a junior in 1977 as the Shoremen advanced all the way to the NCAA Championship Game. He finished his career in 1978 with 34 goals and 23 assists, finishing second on the team in both categories as well as in total points. He repeated as a third-team All-American as the Shoremen reached at least the NCAA semifinals for the fourth consecutive year. Following his senior season, Myrt was chosen for the North-South Senior All-Star Game.
In addition to four appearances in the NCAA Semifinals and one NCAA Championship Game berth, the Shoremen won 42 games and lost just 17 during Myrt’s four years. The 42 victories claimed by the class of 1978 were tied for the second-most for a Shoremen’s graduating class at the time.
Washington College considers it an honor and privilege to induct Leonard Myrton Gaines II into its Athletic Hall of Fame on this 17th day of October, 2015.
