Joe Kenna

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Position:
Defenseman
Height:
6-3
Weight:
215
Class:
Redshirt Freshman
Hometown:
Chantilly, Va.
High School:
St. Stephen's and St. Agnes

Joe Kenna
Breschi on Kenna: Joe Kenna played the best I’ve ever seen him play this past fall…he’s in great shape…he is definitely the quarterback of the defense…he is tough…played against one of the best players in the country in Trey Leclaire of Ohio State in the fall scrimmage...his toughness, his voice, his quarterbacking of the entire defense was sensational…we’re excited for him to stay healthy and run our defense…solid on ground balls...a student of the game and understands it well…possesses an impressive defensive IQ.
2018 (Senior): Elected one of five team captains.
2017 (Junior): Played in 14 games…started on close defense against UMBC and Johns Hopkins…had eight ground balls and five caused turnovers…season high for ground balls was three against both UMBC and Hofstra…had season-high two caused turnovers at Notre Dame.
2016 (Sophomore): Played in 11 games as a reserve on defense...had seven ground balls and two caused turnovers...season high for ground balls was two at Marquette.
Prep: Attended St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes High School in Alexandria, Va., where he played for coaches Andy Taibl and Joe Trig…a 2014 Under Armour All-America…three-time All-State selection…two-time All-Conference honoree…2014 Virginia Player-of-the-Year…two-time All-Area choice…two-time Under Armour Underclass All-America…Alexandria Spring Athlete-of-the-Year…helped his team to three state championships and 2013 IAC championship…2012 Brine Shootout champions as member of Blackwolf Lacrosse Club.
Personal: Joseph Robert Kenna is the son of Raymond and Kimberly Kenna...double major in Management & Society and political science…was born March 22, 1996 in Fairfax, Va ...is the middle of seven children…has three brothers, Patrick (25), Nicholas (23) and R.J. (15), and three sisters, Mary Kate (27), Claire (19) and Anna (17)…St. Timothy Catholic altar server…Missionaries of Charity volunteer in southeast D.C....participated in Vs. Cancer event at UNC as well as UNC pediatric playroom visits.

Catching Up With Joe Kenna
Section #1: Lacrosse Related
My favorite thing about wearing Carolina Blue is the tradition behind it.
I love competing for this incredible coaching staff because of their passion for the game.
My most underrated strength about my lacrosse game is my competitiveness.
My best friend on my high school lacrosse team was Sam Beazell and he is now playing at Loyola.
Every high school recruit should dream of becoming a Tar Heel because of the drive to succeed.
Section #2: Your Interests
An ideal Saturday afternoon in the summer is hanging with family and friends at the pool.
My teammate with the best taste in music is Patrick McCormick because he has a large variety.
My favorite professional sports team is the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The best movie I’ve ever seen on a lacrosse bus trip is Why Him.
The foreign country I would love to visit most is Italy because of the history that has taken place there.
Section #3: Food
My favorite tailgate foods are hot dogs and hamburgers.
My favorite fast food restaurant is Chick-Fil-A because of Chick-Fil-A sauce.
Sweet, salty or both? Sweet.
My favorite food made by a relative is my grandmother’s pasta.
My favorite Chapel Hill dining spot is Lucha Tigre.
Section #4: Digging into your Personality
If I possessed the gift of time travel, I would go to North America during colonization.
The person in history I would most want to have dinner with is Ronald Reagan.
People would be very surprised to know I used to Irish dance.
In a quarter century I would love to be living in northern Virginia and working at the state department.
The most interesting or fascinating person I’ve met in my time at UNC is Ryan O’Connor because of his sense of humor.