BGSU Men’s Lacrosse Alum Leif Elsmo Selected for USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University men's lacrosse alumnus Leif Elsmo has been selected for induction into the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame Class of 2025 as a contributor, recognizing his three-decade career as one of the sport's most influential broadcasters. Elsmo is the first person with ties to the BGSU men's lacrosse program to be selected for induction into the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Elsmo will be officially inducted during a dinner ceremony at the M&T Bank Exchange in Baltimore on Jan. 11, 2026. Tickets for the event will be available beginning Oct. 25 at usalacrosse.com/hof.
Elsmo served as the lead announcer for the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, National Lacrosse League and NCAA Lacrosse, and was the play-by-play voice for 24 consecutive NCAA Division I men's championship games. He also wrote, produced and hosted the sport's only weekly national lacrosse highlight show for 20 years, helping to elevate the game's national profile.
A member of Bowling Green's 1970 men's lacrosse team, Elsmo was part of one of the most successful seasons in program history. The 1970 Falcons finished 9-0, won the Midwest Lacrosse Association Championship for the first time and last year were inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
That team featured four All-America selections — John Brizendine, Joe Zimmerman, John Dohms and Bill Burch— and was ranked as high as No. 6 nationally, a rare distinction at the time for a school west of Philadelphia. The Falcons capped the season with back-to-back shutouts of Michigan State (12-0) and Notre Dame (9-0), outscoring opponents 35-6 over their final four games.
Elsmo joins a 2025 Hall of Fame class that also includes Ned Crotty (Duke), Matt Danowski (Duke), Margaret Faulkner (contributor), Tom Flatley (posthumous, coach), Christie Jenkins Kemezis (Maryland), Crista Samaras (Princeton) and Kristin Sommar Jenney (Maryland).
Established in 1957, the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame honors men and women who, through their achievements as players, coaches, officials or contributors, have made significant contributions to the sport. More than 480 individuals have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame, located alongside the National Lacrosse Museum at USA Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, Maryland.
National Hall of Fame Process
The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame selection process is managed by USA Lacrosse and utilizes an annual voting system. The voting group includes current Hall of Fame members, current or former U.S. national team players and coaches, elite-level high school or college coaches, members of the officiating community and individuals who have contributed to the sport's growth nationally or internationally. Final approval of the inductees is provided by the USA Lacrosse Board of Directors.
More information is available at usalacrosse.com/national-lacrosse-hall-fame-process.
About USA Lacrosse
USA Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a recognized sports organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. As the governing body of men's and women's lacrosse in the United States, USA Lacrosse leads the U.S. National Teams Program and establishes national standards for the game. With more than 400,000 members, USA Lacrosse unites players, coaches, officials, parents and program leaders to inspire participation, enrich the athlete experience and support the sport's growth.
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