Syracuse Lacrosse: Ryan Powell is finally headed to the Hall of Fame
By Neil Adler
Some really wonderful news here to share, as one of SU lacrosse’s all-time greats, Ryan Powell, is going to the Hall of Fame.
While I typically focus my coverage at Inside The Loud House on the Syracuse basketball squad, this lacrosse story is too juicy to pass up.
The ‘Cuse athletics department recently announced via a press release that Ryan Powell, an Orange lacrosse legend, will get inducted this fall into the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
SU’s second-leading scorer in the program’s history, Powell will represent the 28th member to get enshrined in the Hall of Fame, per the cuse.com announcement.
First and foremost, let’s give a huge shout-out to Ryan on this marvelous and well-deserved achievement!
When I attended Syracuse from 1996 to 2000, I’ll readily admit that my attention, when it came to SU sports, centered on basketball and, to a lesser extent, football. The same has held true since I graduated; actually, my passion for Orange hoops has only intensified to the point where it has reached an obsessive level.
I don’t have much institutional knowledge about ‘Cuse lacrosse, or the game in general. However, I do possess an enormous amount of respect for what the Orange lacrosse unit has achieved, which includes 10 national championships in the modern NCAA era, as well as more than two-dozen trips to the Final Four.
That’s totally insane.
Sure, I get that in recent years, Syracuse lacrosse hasn’t performed as well in the post-season. Fine. But we should keep in mind that lacrosse’s popularity has surged, resulting in more schools fielding strong teams. Competition has vastly increased. SU is still a formidable lacrosse destination.
Powell, by the way, began his ‘Cuse career in 1997, and he proved a four-time All-American, says the press release. A native of Carthage, N.Y., Powell received the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award as the nation’s most outstanding player in 2000.
That same stanza, the Orange claimed the national title, going 15-1, with Powell producing 96 points, the second-highest amount in an individual term on the Hill, according to cuse.com.
Powell is the second of three brothers who absolutely crushed it during their tenures on the Syracuse lacrosse outfit. His older brother, Casey, is already in the Hall of Fame.
Interestingly enough, Casey and Ryan are tied with 287 career points, the second-most ever on the Hill, per the announcement. Guess who is No. 1? Their younger bro, Mike Powell, with 307 points, says cuse.com.
What a family.
After SU, Ryan Powell suited up professionally until 2010. Additionally, he participated at the FIL World Championships with the U.S. Men’s National Team, where he helped guide the Americans to gold, also in 2010, according to the press release.
Next: Syracuse Basketball: Top 10 3-Point Shooters in Cuse History
Powell and eight others will get inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sept. 29 in Hunt Valley, Md. That’s not too far from where I live. Maybe I’ll go cheer Powell on. But I, of course, won’t ask to take a selfie with him. Only those millennials do that.