2024:

• Elected team captain for the 2024 season
• All-Ivy League First Team selection
• United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team selection
• Appeared in and started all 16 games
• Second on the team with four goals
• Converted both attempted penalty kicks
• Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 30)

2023:

• Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year.
• All-Ivy League First Team selection.
• United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team selection
• Ivy League All-Tournament Team.
• CSC Academic All-District selection.
• Appeared and started in all 20 games.
• Played all but three minutes throughout 20 games.
• Scored two goals and added an assist.
• Converted both penalty kick attempts including game-winner against Boston College (Oct. 10).

2022:

• Second team All-Ivy selection.
• Named to the United Soccer Coach All-Northeast Region third team.
• Only player to start all 16 games.
• Played all but one minute in the 16 games.
• Scored two goals and added an assist.

2021:

• Honorable mention All-Ivy selection.
• Only player to start all 16 games.
• Led the team with 1,469 minutes played and was tied for third with three assists.
• First career point was an assist in his first career game, a 3-2 win at Fairfield.
• Assisted on the game-winning goal vs. Cornell and also tallied an assist in the victory over UMass Lowell.

Academy: in 2019-20 mostly played up on U19 for Columbus Crew Academy… At U17 Generation Adidas Cup was only Crew player to play every minute of every game… Helped Crew advance to semifinals of Generation Cup in 2019…Began training with Crew’s first team in spring of 2018… Selected to play in Elite Soccer Program in 2017… Captain of Crew’s 2017 U15 team that finished at the top of the Mid-America US Soccer Development Academy season.
 
Personal: Mother Melissa was the captain of the 1995 SMU women’s soccer team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament semifinals… Father Tom was a men’s soccer captain at SMU, played professionally with DC United and the Columbus Crew, won two MLS Cup championships and was an MLS All Star.
 
3 QUESTIONS FOR PRESTHUS
 
Biggest soccer influence? “My dad, Tom Presthus, is my biggest soccer influence. I was born into the Columbus Crew family, during the last season of his professional career. He was my club coach until I started playing for Crew PreAcademy. We share the same passion and love for the game. Although I was too young to remember his career, the  ideos/pictures I see and the stories I hear inspire me to follow a similar path. He is my biggest critic (besides myself), but he is also my biggest supporter; everything he does is to make me better. Nobody has taught me more than him, and I will always be grateful for his influence in my soccer career.”
 
Do you have an idol or hero? “My dad is also my idol and hero. His career and successes on and off the field inspire me. Although his professional career is incredible, I admire his desire to obtain a college degree, which allowed him to have the job he currently has; I wish to have a similar career path. Besides his achievements in the workplace, his personality is one of a kind. I admire his leadership, selflessness, and passion. Additionally, his knowledge and ability to speak with/to others impresses me. Most of all, he loves his family and friends, and will always strive to support their wishes and needs.”
 
Why Yale? “Without ever visiting campus, the connection I felt towards the soccer program and university was greater than any other college. Yale is the ideal destination for my soccer and academic career, and the opportunities provided are incredible. I already feel like I am a part of a family, with like-minded individuals who share similar desires and values.”
 
Stannard on Presthus: “TJ is one of the top defenders in the nation and has made great progress even during the challenges of the past year which shows his passion and commitment to the game and to his development.  He comes from a great environment with the Columbus Crew and says a lot about what they think of him by inviting him to train with the first team during their recent preseason.  I love his balanced qualities as a defender as he is equally adept as a strong and gritty defender, which is most important in that position, but he is also very calm and confident on the ball and also a good passer.  He has a good presence and a winning mentality.  We expect him to push our current group of players immediately.”