Class of 2026

Thomas Schwan, Ithaca High School Class of 1977, excelled in both football and lacrosse, earning multiple letters and serving as tri-captain in both sports alongside Charlie Estey and Mike Biondi.

In football, he was a two-year starter, two-time First Team All-STAC, All-New York State honorable mention middle linebacker, team leader in tackles, and Most Valuable Lineman, helping his team achieve rare victories over Vestal and Union-Endicott.

In lacrosse, he was a two-year starter, First Team All-League, leading scorer, team leader, and two-time Section 4 champion.

At Ithaca College, Thomas continued his athletic success as a 3-year varsity football player and 4-year varsity lacrosse starter, co-captaining the lacrosse team and contributing to the 1979 Division III national championship football team, and later inducted into the IC Hall of Fame.

Thomas devoted 24 years as a Section 2 high school lacrosse head coach, leading teams to 5 Section 2 championships, 7 finalists appearances, a NYS regional championship, and a Final Four appearance, earning 5-time Section 2 Coach of the Year honors. He founded the Guilderland youth boys lacrosse program, helped create the Capital District youth lacrosse league, and served in numerous leadership roles with US Lacrosse, culminating in his 2022 induction into the NYS Empire North Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Thomas and his wife, Linda, reside on Great Sacandaga Lake and are proud parents of three children and five grandchildren. He continues his passion for lacrosse as a college play-by-play and color commentator and as a coach alongside his adult children, leaving a lasting legacy as a player, leader, and mentor in the lacrosse community.