Christian Cook
Encyclopedia
Christian Cook is a retired professional lacrosse
defenseman who last played professional field lacrosse
with the Washington Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse
(MLL). He starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse
team from 1995 through 1998, where he earned National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) lacrosse defenseman of the year award, two United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
(USILA) All-American recognitions (one first team), four Ivy League
championships, and three national championships.
As a professional he has been recognized as the Major League Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year
and been a member of Team USA at the World Lacrosse Championships. He was twice named to the Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game
and has been a member of an MLL Steinfeld Cup
championship team.
, Jon Hess
and Chris Massey
. He was awarded the 1998 Schmeisser Award
as the best NCAA lacrosse
defenseman. He was a first team USILA All-American Team
selection in 1998 and third team selection in 1997. He was also first team All-Ivy League in 1997 and 1998. The 1995 team, which earned the school's sixth consecutive NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
invitation, was Ivy League co-champion, while the 1996–1998 teams were 6–0 undefeated outright conference champions. These undefeated league champions won the 1996
, 1997
and 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
s, becoming the first team to threepeat since Syracuse
from 1988–90 and the first to be recognized to have done so without an NCAA scandal since Johns Hopkins from 1978–80. He was a co-captain during his 1998 senior season. Cook was named to Princeton's All-Decade team.
In one game as a senior, he held the Ivy League's leading scorer, Mike Ferrucci of Harvard
, scoreless. In the 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
tournament semifinals he held the nation's leading scorer Casey Powell
of Syracuse
without a goal in the 11–10 victory, but he was injured and had to sit out the finals on crutches. He was named to the All-tournament team nonetheless.
during the 2001
through 2003 MLL season
s. The Pride traded him to the Baltimore Bayhawks
for a second round draft choice in the 2005 Collegiate Draft. He then played with the Baltimore Bayhawks
from 2004
through 2006
and stayed with the franchise when it became the Washington Bayhawks for the 2007
and 2008 seasons
. Cook was part of the Bayhawks' 2005 Steinfeld Cup
MLL Championship team. He is a two-time Major League Lacrosse All-Star
.
Cook missed four games of the 2006 season due to participation in the World Games. At the 2006 World Lacrosse Championships, he was one of four Princeton athletes on Team USA.
, American Enterprise Institute
and PriceWaterhouse Coopers. He competed in the AAU Junior Olympic Games
in skiing in 1990. Cook was named to the Colorado Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2003. His sister, Lauren, played lacrosse at Davidson College
in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is the son of Gary and Diane Cook. He earned his Bachelor of Arts
in Politics from Princeton University and his Master of Business Administration
from Georgetown University
. He is married to attorney Porter Wilkinson, daughter of Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson, III. Christian and Lauren have founded Play for Parkinson's Lacrosse after their mother was diagnosed with early stage Parkinson's disease
.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
defenseman who last played professional field lacrosse
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
with the Washington Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
(MLL). He starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse
Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse
The Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team represents Princeton University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
team from 1995 through 1998, where he earned National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) lacrosse defenseman of the year award, two United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association is an association of institutions with varsity college lacrosse programs in all three NCAA divisions, founded in 1885.-Awards:...
(USILA) All-American recognitions (one first team), four Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
championships, and three national championships.
As a professional he has been recognized as the Major League Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year
Major League Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year Award
Warrior Major League Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year Award is given annually to the individual judged to be, from amongst all MLL players, the best all-around defensively across a given season. Brodie Merrill has largely dominated this award, winning it a record six consecutive...
and been a member of Team USA at the World Lacrosse Championships. He was twice named to the Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game
Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game
Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game is the all-star game of the MLL.The inaugural 2001 All-Star Game, was not called the "All-Star Game"; instead it was titled the Major League Lacrosse LacrosseStar Game. From 2001–2003, the All-Star Game had the National Division playing the American Division...
and has been a member of an MLL Steinfeld Cup
Steinfeld Cup
The Steinfeld Cup is the trophy given annually to the winners ofthe New Balance Major League Lacrosse Championship. It is named after MLL founder Jake Steinfeld...
championship team.
College career
He anchored the defense of the teams that were led on offense by the record-setting trio of revered attackmen Jesse HubbardJesse Hubbard
Jesse Hubbard is a former professional lacrosse player who played professional box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League and professional field lacrosse in the Major League Lacrosse...
, Jon Hess
Jon Hess (lacrosse)
Jonathan A. "Jon" Hess is a retired lacrosse attackman who played professional box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League and professional field lacrosse in Major League Lacrosse...
and Chris Massey
Chris Massey (lacrosse)
Christopher G. "Chris" Massey is a retired lacrosse attackman who played professional field lacrosse in the Major League Lacrosse . He starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team from 1995 through 1998, where he earned three United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association ...
. He was awarded the 1998 Schmeisser Award
Schmeisser Award
The William C. Schmeisser Award is an award given annually to the NCAA's most outstanding defenseman in men's college lacrosse. The award is presented by the USILA and is named after William C. "Father Bill" Schmeisser, a player and coach for Johns Hopkins University in the early 1900s. ...
as the best NCAA lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
defenseman. He was a first team USILA All-American Team
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
selection in 1998 and third team selection in 1997. He was also first team All-Ivy League in 1997 and 1998. The 1995 team, which earned the school's sixth consecutive NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
invitation, was Ivy League co-champion, while the 1996–1998 teams were 6–0 undefeated outright conference champions. These undefeated league champions won the 1996
1996 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1996 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 26th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
, 1997
1997 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1997 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 27th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
and 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 28th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
s, becoming the first team to threepeat since Syracuse
Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse
The Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team represents Syracuse University in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. The Orange have won 10 NCAA championship titles, and currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse conference...
from 1988–90 and the first to be recognized to have done so without an NCAA scandal since Johns Hopkins from 1978–80. He was a co-captain during his 1998 senior season. Cook was named to Princeton's All-Decade team.
In one game as a senior, he held the Ivy League's leading scorer, Mike Ferrucci of Harvard
Harvard Crimson men's lacrosse
The Harvard Crimson men's lacrosse team represents Harvard University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
, scoreless. In the 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 28th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
tournament semifinals he held the nation's leading scorer Casey Powell
Casey Powell
Casey Powell is a lacrosse player in the United States. He was the captain of the US national team in the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship. He currently plays indoor lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League for the Rochester Knighthawks. He also plays Major League Lacrosse for the Hamilton...
of Syracuse
Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse
The Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team represents Syracuse University in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. The Orange have won 10 NCAA championship titles, and currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse conference...
without a goal in the 11–10 victory, but he was injured and had to sit out the finals on crutches. He was named to the All-tournament team nonetheless.
Professional career
Cook played with the New Jersey PrideNew Jersey Pride
The New Jersey Pride were a men's field lacrosse team formerly based in Piscataway, New Jersey, United States. They played in Major League Lacrosse from 2001-2008.-Franchise history:...
during the 2001
2001 MLL season
The 2001 Major League Lacrosse season was the 1st season of the league. The season began on June 7 and concluded with the championship game on September 3, 2001.-General information:...
through 2003 MLL season
2003 MLL season
2003 Major League Lacrosse season was the 3rd season of the league. The season began on May 31 and concluded with the championship game on August 24, 2003.-General information:Schedule was reduced from 14 to 12 games....
s. The Pride traded him to the Baltimore Bayhawks
Baltimore Bayhawks
The Chesapeake Bayhawks are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Annapolis, Maryland. They have played in the MLL since the 2001 season. From the league's inception in 2001 through 2005, they were in the National Division and from 2006 to 2008, they were in the...
for a second round draft choice in the 2005 Collegiate Draft. He then played with the Baltimore Bayhawks
Baltimore Bayhawks
The Chesapeake Bayhawks are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Annapolis, Maryland. They have played in the MLL since the 2001 season. From the league's inception in 2001 through 2005, they were in the National Division and from 2006 to 2008, they were in the...
from 2004
2004 MLL season
2004 Major League Lacrosse season was the 4th season of the league. The season began on May 22 and concluded with the championship game on August 22, 2004.-General information:...
through 2006
2006 MLL season
2006 Major League Lacrosse season was the 6th season of the league. The season began on May 20 and concluded with the championship game on August 27, 2006.-General information:...
and stayed with the franchise when it became the Washington Bayhawks for the 2007
2007 MLL season
2007 Major League Lacrosse season was the 7th season of the league. The season began on May 12 and concluded with the championship game on August 26, 2007.-General information:...
and 2008 seasons
2008 MLL season
The 2008 Major League Lacrosse season was the 8th season of the league. The season began on May 17, 2008 and concluded with the championship game on August 24, 2008.-Pre-season:...
. Cook was part of the Bayhawks' 2005 Steinfeld Cup
Steinfeld Cup
The Steinfeld Cup is the trophy given annually to the winners ofthe New Balance Major League Lacrosse Championship. It is named after MLL founder Jake Steinfeld...
MLL Championship team. He is a two-time Major League Lacrosse All-Star
Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game
Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game is the all-star game of the MLL.The inaugural 2001 All-Star Game, was not called the "All-Star Game"; instead it was titled the Major League Lacrosse LacrosseStar Game. From 2001–2003, the All-Star Game had the National Division playing the American Division...
.
Cook missed four games of the 2006 season due to participation in the World Games. At the 2006 World Lacrosse Championships, he was one of four Princeton athletes on Team USA.
Personal
Cook has worked for the United States Secret ServiceUnited States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
, American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
and PriceWaterhouse Coopers. He competed in the AAU Junior Olympic Games
AAU Junior Olympic Games
The AAU Junior Olympic Games are the pinnacle competition held annually by the US Amateur Athletic Union.-Sports currently held:The following is a list of sports that currently take place at the Junior Olympic Games.* Aquatics - Diving and Swimming...
in skiing in 1990. Cook was named to the Colorado Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2003. His sister, Lauren, played lacrosse at Davidson College
Davidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is the son of Gary and Diane Cook. He earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Politics from Princeton University and his Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. He is married to attorney Porter Wilkinson, daughter of Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson, III. Christian and Lauren have founded Play for Parkinson's Lacrosse after their mother was diagnosed with early stage Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
.