Michael "Mikey" Powell (born October 29, 1982) is one of the most decorated lacrosse players in NCAA history in the last decade. A four-time First Team All-American at Syracuse University, Powell is the only player to win the Jack Turnbull Award as the top attackman in Division I lacrosse four consecutive times. Powell was also a four-time finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, the lacrosse equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, and is the only player to win the award twice.[1] He led Syracuse to two national championships and holds the school record for most career points.
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Powell attended Carthage Senior High School in Carthage, New York, where he was a high school All-American.[2] He set the New York State high school records for most points in a season with 194 points in 2000, most points in a game with 15 points in 2000, and most assists in a season with 120 assists in 1999 and 115 in 2000.[3]
Powell enrolled at Syracuse in the fall of 2000 as one of the most anticipated recruits in college lacrosse history. He wore the #22 Syracuse jersey, the same number previously worn by both of his older brothers Casey Powell and Ryan Powell, and by lacrosse legends Gary Gait and Charlie Lockwood.[4]
In his freshman season, Powell tallied 30 goals, 40 assists, and 69 groundballs while leading Syracuse to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship title game against Princeton University. In the championship game, he scored an unassisted goal with just 16 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, but Syracuse ultimately lost to Princeton on a B.J. Prager goal. Powell became the first player in Syracuse lacrosse history to be named a First Team All-American as a freshman. He was also awarded the Jack Turnbull Award as the nation's top attackman, and was a finalist for the inaugural Tewaaraton Trophy.[5]
In 2002, Powell tallied 42 goals and 42 assists en route to leading Syracuse to a national championship. With four goals and three assists in the championship game, he was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player and won his first Tewaaraton Trophy.
Powell missed the fall 2002 semester and fall practice at Syracuse but was able to regain academic eligibility before the 2003 lacrosse season. Despite the aggressive defenses that targeted him during the season,[6] he helped lead Syracuse to the Final Four for the 21st consecutive time, where Syracuse eventually fell to Johns Hopkins University 19-8 in the semifinals.
[[Image:Mikey Powell.jpg|left|200px|thumb| Michael Powell scores for
Following his graduation, Powell surprised many in the lacrosse community when he chose not to play professional lacrosse for Major League Lacrosse in the 2004 season. Instead, he pursued a career as a professional musician. Powell, along with his two older brothers, also signed an endorsement contract with lacrosse equipment manufacturer Brine, Corp., with Mike working out of Brine's west coast office. Casey and Ryan had previously been employed by Warrior Sports.
In 2005, Powell joined the MLL and was drafted by the Baltimore Bayhawks, where he and teammate Gary Gait led the Bayhawks to the league championship. Powell also played in the MLL All-Star Game, where he was selected as MVP. He sat out the 2006 MLL season. On March 21, 2007, Powell, along with Ben DeFelice and a 2008 conditional draft choice, was traded from the Baltimore Bayhawks to the Boston Cannons in exchange for Ryan Curtis and Conor Gill.[7]
Powell was a member of U.S. World Team in the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship, where he was the U.S.'s leading scorer and was selected to the All-World Team. The U.S. team fell to Canada in the championship game, 15-10, marking the second time the Americans had lost to the Canadians in 14 contests. In 2011 Powell plays for the Boston Cannons.
Powell is a traveling musician and a prolific writer with over two hundred songs. [8] He has traveled the country for the past three years playing in any place that will let him play he can find. Heavily influenced by Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, John Prine, and Townes Van Zandt. He has released two albums since becoming a solo performer, "Replevin" in 2009 and "The Night The Date Was Tied" in 2010.
In addition to his older brothers, Casey and Ryan, Mike also has a younger brother, Mason.
| Preceded by Doug Shanahan |
Men's Tewaaraton Trophy 2002 |
Succeeded by Chris Rotelli |
| Preceded by Chris Rotelli |
Men's Tewaaraton Trophy 2004 |
Succeeded by Kyle Harrison |
| Preceded by Ryan Powell |
Jack Turnbull Award 2001, 2002, 2003, & 2004 |
Succeeded by Matt Danowski |
| Preceded by Gary Gait |
Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game MVP 2005 |
Succeeded by Kevin Cassese |