Michael Bienkowski

TIFFANY ON BIENKOWSKI
2023 – “Pure happiness to have Mike on the field full-time, healthy and playing the game he loves.  We have moved Mike to the other end of the field, focusing him as a short-stick defensive midfielder.  He is providing us with a fast, aggressive athlete that loves to push transition:  due to his extensive focus on offense most of his life, Mike is a legitimate threat here.  Mike’s two-handed checks don’t go unnoticed:  he delivers an impact that the dodger feels immediately, and possibly the next day.” 2022 – “Liberation from the injured reserve list, which he has been on for most of his time in Charlottesville, is very near. An impactful offensive midfielder with an exciting burst down the alley … Brings heat with his shot, both on the run and with his feet set … Loves this game.” 2021 – “Attitude: any day without lacrosse is a wasted day … always has a stick in his hand … lives to compete … dangerous goal-scoring midfielder … looking to expand his role this spring.” 2020 – “The burst of speed is clearly evident, allowing Mike to create separation as he dodges to the cage.  But what is distancing him from many of the rest is his playmaking ability, both with his ability to score on the run and the poise to understand opposing defensive slides in the moment.  Playing meaningful minutes in his first spring in Charlottesville is anticipated.”

2023

• ACC Academic Honor Roll

2022

• Appeared in six of UVA’s 16 games
• Scored one goal against Quinnipiac (April 16)
• Dished out his first career assist at Towson (Feb. 19)
• Collected two ground balls at Syracuse (April 23)

2021

• Did not appear in any of UVA’s 18 games
• Missed season with an injury

2020

• Appeared in all six of UVA’s games
• Scored first career goal in the season-opening win over Loyola
• Also scored goals against High Point and Air Force

HIGH SCHOOL

• Listed as the No. 94 recruit in the country by Inside Lacrosse
• Listed as the No. 30 midfielder in the country by Inside Lacrosse
• Two-time captain
• Honorable mention All-American
• Two-time all-county
• Three-time all-league
• Four-time NYPHSAA Scholar-Athlete
• BSN Sports State Championship MVP
• 2018 Dellacave Award nominee
• First-team All-Long Island
• Suffolk County Player of the Year
• First-team all-state in 2018
• Third-team all-state in 2017
• 2017 honorable mention All-Long Island
• 2016 Unsung Hero at Islip High School
• Gatorade Player of the Year nominee
• Helped lead Islip to the 2018 Suffolk County and Long Island championships
• Also helped lead Islip to the 2018 state championship.
• Also competed in track & field and cross country
• In track he was a two-time All-League 300m, 2017 All-League 2018 League Champs 4x200m Relay Team, 300m event record holder Islip High School (Broke own record 3 times), LI Elite Meet Invitee (All-Long Island Meet), 2018 Top 10 time in 300m event on LI, medal earned at Armory national meet, 2018 Team Captain, 2x Sprinter MVP, 2018 Overall Team MVP

PERSONAL

• Son of Erin and Ted Bienkowski
• Majoring in American Studies
• Recipient of the 2022-23 E. Doyle Smith, Jr. Endowed Men’s Lacrosse Scholarship