By Anna Grosshans, PHS Correspondent
Michael Irving, a senior at Princeton High School, had been waiting for the summer after his junior year since he was thirteen years old; it’s the season when most college coaches recruit high school lacrosse players for their teams. He had the talent to play for a Division I team, and coaches were beginning to look at him even before the recruiting season. Last spring, however, Michael’s lacrosse career came to a screeching halt.
PHS was winning eleven to two in a game against Northern Burlington. Michael was in his usual defensive position of “long stick middie.” As he ran for a ground ball, something went wrong.
“I saw Michael’s knee twist. He grabbed it and fell over backwards. Everyone on the sidelines was holding their breath,” said teammate Griffin Peck. Michael sat on the bench for the next several games to rest his knee, and was finally allowed to play again in a game against Rancocas Valley.
“I started really well by stealing the ball three times in their first three possessions. My position is the most strenuous and I felt fine playing,” said Michael. He was able to continue playing in the next few games and even had, as he put it, “the best game of [his] life” against PHS’ rivals, West Windsor North.
“I got hurt three times during the game, but I played through it because I was playing really well,” said Michael about the West Windsor North game. It wasn’t until a few days later during a warm-up that he realized how serious the knee injury was. He had torn his ACL and could not play for the rest of the season. He required surgery on his knee in June and was unable to participate in the showcase tournaments that summer.
Although Michael lost the opportunity to play during the recruiting season, he did not give up. He has been training diligently to recover and make a full comeback. His coach, Jason Carter, said, “He’s worked extremely hard this summer coming back from the injury. I see Mike on the lacrosse field in the off-season. I see him in the gym and on the treadmill. He has been one of the most consistent athletes that I have seen training on his own.”
Michael has also regained his presence on the team. Peck said, “He’s kind and friendly off the field, but he has a hidden intensity that comes out when he plays.” He has earned a position as co-captain for this coming season and has again begun to receive letters of interest from college coaches.
“He has a ton of potential. The adversity that he’s been through may have made him stronger,” said Carter. Although Michael has earned the option to play in college, he is not sure how he will proceed.
“I don’t want to push competitive lacrosse. I’ve learned my lesson about putting all my focus on athletics. I don’t want my lacrosse career to be over though, so I will play for a school team or a club team in college,” said Michael.
Carter said, “I know [Michael] possesses the talent and ability [to play in college] it’s just whether or not he wants to do that.”

