The Colorado Mesa University Men's Lacrosse program was introduced back in 2011, and although entering just its 10^th year, the program has already created a winning tradition.
Initially a member of the Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association from 2011-2015, in that time span the program won its first championship in 2012, and took home the title again in 2015.

In 2016, as an official member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference the program would stamp their names in the history books winning the regular season and tournament titles that year, and the two years that followed.

In addition to their regular season and conference tournament championships, the 2018 squad earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament – marking their first appearance in program history.

The all-decade team highlights 14 team members who have helped boost the program to new heights over the years.

We start our list in the front half of the field and work our way back, starting with the attack men.

Steve Brandenburg, saw time in 60 games over four seasons including 37 starts. Out of Seal Beach, Calif. Brandenburg racked up 181-points in his career, second most all-time. As a senior he set single season records in points (79), points per game (4.39), goals (58), goals per game (3.22). He also holds the top spot in the career record books for points per game (3.02), goals (145), and goals per game (2.42).

In their inaugural RMAC season, Steve took home RMAC Offensive Player of the Year honors, and defended that title the following season.

Calen Ketcham suited up for the Mavs from 2015-2018, playing in 65 games with 46 starts. Boasting a .709 shot on goal percentage, Ketcham contributed 95 goals and 50 assists for 144 career points, third most all-time. When determining the game, the San Diego native came in clutch recording 14-game winning goals the most of any Maverick.

In 2016 he was named to the RMAC All-Tournament team, and in 2018 he capped off his career as an all-RMAC First-Team attacker.

Rounding out our attackers is Reece Callies. Callies dedicated three seasons to CMU, towering over opponents to score 136 points, fifth best all-time.
His 80-goals puts him fifth in the record books, while his 56-assists are a program best.

In 2018, racked up 65-points on 41-goals, averaging 2.05 per game, to go along with 21 assists. After helping the team win both the regular season and tournament championships and reach the NCAA Tournament that season, he opted to enter the National Lacrosse League Draft, getting picked up by the Calgary Roughnecks in the first round as the 13^th overall pick.

Before the 2020 season shut down, Callies appeared in nine games for the Roughnecks recording two goals and five assists and caused eight turnovers.

We move back to the midfielders, starting with Jack Griffin. Out of Parker, Colorado and Ponderosa High School, Griffin ranks in the top-5 in numerous offensive categories. With just two more points than the aforementioned Steven Brandenburg, Griffin is the career leader in points with 183. In 2019, he recorded 72-points for the second-best single season record in that category.

His 135 career goals are second most all-time, and he is just the second player to record over a hundred goals.
Griffin is a four-time first-team all-RMAC midfielder, and a three-time RMAC Midfielder of the Year (2017, 2018, 2019). He 2018, he also earned United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-American Honorable Mention honors.

Teammate Brandon Wilson, joins Griffin as a middie out of Rolling Hills Estate, California. In 73 games played over his four-year career, Wilson found the back of the net 87 times. In addition to his 54 assists, giving him 141 points, fourth on the all-time list in career points.

Wilson also recorded seven game winning goals, and 14 goals while in a man-up. Named an all-RMAC honorable mention as a junior, Wilson went on to make the RMAC All-Tournament team and help the team to its first NCAA tournament appearance. During his senior campaign he contributed 29 goals and 24 assists, for 53 points earning him all-RMAC first team honors.  

Joe Wulforst IV is the most recent of the herd, and makes his way onto the all-decade team after having his senior season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a junior, he racked up 28 goals and 20 assists. Before the 2020 season was called off, he scored six goals and assisted on another nine. Over his career he tallied 57 goals and 36 assists, both place him eighth all-time in each category. His 93 points puts him sixth all-time in career points.  

An all-RMAC Second Team honoree as an attacker, Wulforst was also named to the all-tournament team.

Michael Marino, a midfielder from Laguna Niguel, Calif. Marino took care of 387 ground balls, the most of any Maverick. He also handled 1,245 face-offs, taking possession of 779 of them for a face-off percentage of .626. His 149, and 127 ground balls are the first and second most in a single season.

His ability to win face-offs gave him the nod as a two-time first team all-RMAC honoree, and 2019 RMAC all-tournament team member.

Shane O'Neill lands on our all-decade team as a defensive midfielder from 2012-2015. In 49 games, he scooped up 136 ground balls, third all-time, and won 10-of-31 face-offs. On the defense, he also caused 43 turnovers, sixth all-time. During the 2013 season, he caused a season high 15 turnovers.

A part of the WILA era, O'Neill earned all-WILA second team honors as a defensive midfielder and FO, as well as was a four-time academic all-WILA awardee.

At long stick midfielder, we recognize Zach Bullett. Bullett played for CMU from 2012-2015, seeing time in 49 games. The Draper, Utah native picked up 99 ground balls, ranking among the top-10 all-time in that category.

With the ability to travel the field, and the defensive mentality he caused 43 turnovers. His efforts earned All-WILA accolades, including first team recognition following the 2014 season.

We continue to move back down the field, recognizing four defenders.

Ryder Clark was a consistent starter for the Mavs from 2016-2019. The defenseman out of Denver and Cherry Creek High School finds his efforts in the all-time records books with 116 ground balls ranking fifth, and his 83 caused turnovers the most of any Maverick player thus far.

A three-time all-RMAC first team defender, Clark's accolades also include making the 2019 RMAC all-tournament team.

Brady George started his career during CMU's WILA era, and continued on with the Mavs through their transition to the RMAC. Ninth on the career all-time list for ground balls with 102, he is also the ninth Maverick with over a hundred in that stat line. Over his four seasons, he also caused 80 turnovers, second most in the program record books, just three behind Ryder Clark.

Listed as a defenseman, George did get the opportunity to switch gears as a senior, scoring his first collegiate goal on March 12, 2017 against Maryville. He would also assist on another goal in that same match. He would finish his career, as one of the few to receive all-WILA and all-RMAC recognition.

Johnny Nitti was member of the inaugural men's lacrosse team back in 2011. As a freshman he recorded 48 ground balls, 28 caused turnovers, and chipped in a goal and an assists as a primary starter for the Mavs. Upon completing his career in 2014, he etched his name in the record books with 142 ground balls – 2^nd most all-time, and 64 caused turnovers- 3^rd most all-time.
 
A three-time all-WILA first team defender, Nitti also took care of business off the field. In 2014, he earned USILA Scholar All-American honors, and was a two-time academic all-WILA honoree.
 
Alex Utt played in the midst of the team's transition into the RMAC, dedicating three seasons from 2014-2016. After starting just one game as a freshman, he would go on to be a primary starter the following two seasons.
 
The defender out of Terrace Park, Ohio grabbed 60 ground balls, and caused 39 turnovers over his career, and as a senior earned the right to be named all-RMAC first team.
 
As we close out the men's lacrosse all-decade team we can't leave out a critical position – the goalie.

Brad Brandenburg gets the nod, suiting up for the Mavs from 2011-2014. Brandenburg, tallied 474 saves, sitting in the top-spot for career saves in the all-time record books. With a 25-16 record, he maintained a .616 save percentage, holding on to the top spot in that category in the record books as well. He averaged nearly 10 saves per game, racking up 2,382 minutes in the goal.

In 2014, as a senior, he recorded 121 saves, and an 8-3 record. His .617 save percentage earned him the NCAA Division II Individual Statistical Title. His list of accolades extend back to his freshman year when he was names WILA Freshman of the Year. He would then sport back to back WILA Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2013 and 2014.

Previous All-Decade Team Releases
Women's Lacrosse - Dec. 3
Track & Field - Nov. 25
Men's Basketball - Nov. 19
Women's Basketball - Nov. 12
Men's Wrestling - Nov. 5
Women's Swimming & Diving - Oct. 29
Men's Swimming & Diving - Oct. 29
Women's Soccer - Oct. 22
Men's Soccer - Oct. 15
Football – Oct. 8
Men's and Women's Tennis – Oct. 1
Volleyball – Sept. 24
Men's and Women's Cross Country – Sept. 17
Men's and Women's Golf – Sept. 10