Mike Culver (2010)

Mike Culver, a 2002 graduate, is one of the top lacrosse players in the history of Ridgewood High School. He was named The Record's Boys Lacrosse Player of the Decade this past spring. Culver is the youngest athlete to be inducted into the RHS Athletic Hall of Fame for his play not only in lacrosse and football but for his success on the lacrosse field for the University of Virginia, the Chicago Machine of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and the United States World Champion U-19 team, as well as his continued dedication to the sport of lacrosse on a national level. While at Ridgewood, Culver was a three-year varsity letter winner and co-captain on the gridiron for Chuck Johnson's football teams and garnered first team All-League, first team All-Suburban and first team All-County honors while playing linebacker for the Maroons as well as being awarded the prestigious Stroker Award in 2002. On the lacrosse field, Culver was a three-year varsity letterman and a multiple All-League, All-Suburban and All-State honoree, capped off by his senior season, when he was named first team All-League, first team All-Suburban, first team All-State, Gibbs Division Player of the Year, All-Suburban Player of the Year, Bergen County Player of the Year, New Jersey Player of the Year and All-America. He moved on to Charlottesville and the University of Virginia, where, in his freshman year, he made the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Honor Roll, and the Cavaliers won the ACC championship. In 2003, Virginia claimed the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's lacrosse national championship. Culver capped off the year by captaining the United States U-19 Team to the gold medal in the 2003 World Championships. In his next three years, Culver accumulated numerous All-ACC and All-America awards, and, in 2006 as the captain of the Cavaliers, he led Virginia to an undefeated season and his second NCAA lacrosse national championship. At the conclusion of his senior season and his career with Virginia, he was honored with the UVA Team Leadership Award as well as All-ACC, Academic All-America, first team All-America and the NCAA National Defenseman of the Year awards. He was the sixth overall draft pick in the MLL Draft and went on to start for the Chicago Machine. He made the MLL All-Star game and was voted as the Sportsman of the Year for not only his athletic performance but for his work with charities and youth lacrosse programs in the State of Illinois. Culver works for MetroLacrosse, an organization driven to provide urban youth the chance to learn and experience the game of lacrosse as the director of external affairs, where he concentrates on fund-raising and connecting the inner city lacrosse programs on the East Coast.