Syracuse, N.Y. —Syracuse University has announced the third men’s lacrosse legend to have his jersey retired to the rafters of the JMA Dome.
Paul Gait’s No.19 will be honored on April 20, 2024 when Syracuse takes on Virginia at the Dome.
Paul will join his twin brother Gary Gait and Mike Powell in the honor.
Gait helped Syracuse to three-straight NCAA Division I National Championships (1988, 1989, 1990). He was selected as the 1989 NCAA Division I Championship Most Outstanding Player.
Gait, a three-time All-American, is a member of nearly every Hall of Fame imaginable, including the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2005), Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2014) and Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame (2006).
Gait is one of 17 players in program history with over 200 points, scoring 127 goals with 85 assists during his time with the Orange. His 45 career postseason points (27g, 18a) still rank sixth all-time in program history while his 27 NCAA Tournament goals are the fifth-most at Syracuse.
Over the course of his Syracuse career, the Orange went 51-5, including perfect seasons in 1988 (15-0) and 1990 (13-0). During Gait’s career, Syracuse was never ranked outside the top 10, and was only outside the top five twice.
Gary and Paul Gait helped revolutionize lacrosse by popularizing innovative moves such as behind-the-back passing and scoring.
Gait suffered an accident last November left him partially paralyzed and unable to walk again.
Gait fell from a platform about 20 feet off the ground while installing insulation during a winterizing process in a warehouse he owns for his company, Gait Lacrosse.
He has recovered from the accident and is back to work running Gait Lacrosse and adjusting to life in a wheelchair.
“My life is still going to be as enjoyable as it would have been if I could walk,” Paul Gait told USA Lacrosse Magazine in January. “I’m going to live it to the fullest and have as much fun and success as I would have had. What more could you want at 55?…
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