Kirk’s Captain Corner is a regular feature that will allow Carver County residents to get to know the student-leaders of the various teams in our high schools. Today, we feature senior captain Riley Syverson of the Chanhassen Boys Lacrosse team.

Lacrosse is still kind of a “new” sport when compared to other spring season sports. What initially attracted you to lacrosse?

I was initially drawn to lacrosse because of the speed of the game and the physicality.

What advice do you have for younger athletes looking to get into lacrosse?

I would recommend working on their stick skills as much as they can. It will open many options and allow them to play any position and excel.

What has been your favorite memory of Chanhassen Lacrosse?

My favorite memory with Chanhassen Lacrosse was when our team went to Colorado in 2024 for our preseason varsity trip. We had two scrimmages and got to volunteer on a ranch a couple miles away from the mountains.

You also played on Chanhassen’s football teams, with three trips to the state tournament. How have those experiences shaped your game on the lacrosse field?

I have learned a lot from my time playing football and built some very strong habits that have allowed me to succeed in other places in my life, including lacrosse. The work ethic and team culture of our varsity football team, which Coach Nelson has created, is something I have tried to bring over to our lacrosse team as well.

What are your goals for Chan lacrosse this year, both personally and for the team?

My personal goal is to become a two time All-American and to create a strong and winning culture on our lacrosse team. A goal we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season was to have a winning season despite our strong schedule and young team.

You will continue your lacrosse and academic career at Yale University next year. Congrats to you! Walk us through the admissions process at Yale, and what being an Ivy League athlete will be like. 

The admissions process is the same as any other university. All Ivy League athletes are expected to be able to apply and get accepted into their school. Several players on the team told me that the life of an athlete is very manageable due to Yale’s abundant student resources and excellent teachers. I will have classes in the morning/during the day and practice/lift in the evening.

What does it mean to you to be a team Captain?

To me a captain is someone who leads by both example and by holding those around them to their highest standard.