Powell continued legacy in lacrosse

Greatest Athlete No. 77

Casey Powell established a standard of excellence in lacrosse.

As the younger brother, Ryan Powell did everything possible to match it.

Powell, a West Carthage native, followed the trail blazed by his older brother at Carthage High School and Syracuse University. He assisted the Comets in winning four consecutive Frontier League championships from 1993-96. As a sophomore, Powell propelled Carthage to a Section 3 Class B title in 1994.

The Empire State Games served as a platform for Powell to showcase his remarkable skills. He led the Central region to a gold medal in scholastic boys lacrosse in 1994 in Syracuse. He claimed a silver medal with Central the following year.

Powell's last two years of high school were his most productive campaigns. In his junior year, he tallied 130 points as Carthage cruised to another league crown. He contributed 123 points as a senior, was a high school All-American, and became the second leading scorer in the program's history with 439 points. Casey Powell still holds the mark with 533.

Lacrosse wasn't the only sport in which Ryan Powell thrived. He guided the Comets' football team to its first Section 3 playoff berth as a standout quarterback in 1995. He also played basketball.

Powell went to Syracuse and became one of just 13 players in school history to be a four-time All-American. He was a first-team selection at attack in 1999 and 2000. As a senior captain, Powell and the Orange won the national championship in 2000. It was his most decorated season.

Along with being named an All-American in 2000, Powell was chosen for the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award as the Outstanding Player in Division I. He also claimed the Lt. Col. Jack Turnbull Award as an Outstanding Attackman in Division I. Syracuse went 39-12 during Powell's tenure.

Powell is second all-time at SU with 287 career points, just like Casey. Younger brother, Mike, holds the record with 307 points. Ryan also ranks in the top 10 in career assists (150) and goals (137).

Upon graduation, Powell took his talents to the professional ranks. He inked a three-year contract with the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League in 2000. He played in the first Major League Lacrosse All-Star game in 2001. He was a five-time all-star, and he was picked as the league's Most Valuable Player in 2001 and 2006.

Last year, Powell set an MLL All-Star game record with six goals in the Western Conference's 31-15 win over the East. He'll try out next month to be one of 23 players chosen to represent the United States at the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships from July 10-24 in Manchester, England.

Powell is a representative for Nike Lacrosse and is running his own company called Rhino Lacrosse, which provides opportunities for kids to play the sport year-round. He lives with his wife, Lee, in Portland, Ore.