HOF Class of 2025: Chris Bluse

(Photo by Dave Adams)

ATLANTA – Chris Bluse enters the MCLA Hall of Fame as an outstanding player.

Bluse was a four-year starter for the Buffaloes from 2001-04, earning All-America honors in each season, including First Team All-America is final two years. In his final season, he was named the Colorado Athlete of the Year. The Buffs were ranked in the Top 10 for every season and qualified for the national tournament three times, including a No. 3 seed in his final campaign.

He is considered one of the best goalies of his era, lifting the Colorado program to new heights each season despite continuous coaching turnover and two national heavyweights -- Colorado State and Brigham Young -- in his conference.

“As I look back on Chris' career in Colorado at the high school, collegiate and at the professional level for the Chicago Machine, I am reminded of the countless memories and moments that define one of the most impactful players to suit up in the Black and Gold,” said former Colorado coach Christopher Spangler. “Those memories highlight an illustrious career from one of the best athletes and teammates I have ever had the pleasure of coaching.

“From the very first week of freshman tryouts in the fall of 2000, it was clear that he was destined for greatness. Over the years, Chris has demonstrated not only exceptional skill on the field, but also an unwavering commitment to his teammates and the values of the University of Colorado program.

“Beyond Chris' impressive statistics and accolades, it is his character that truly sets him apart. He embodies the spirit of competitiveness, sportsmanship and dedication. Whether he was celebrating a shutout or facing a rare tough loss, he maintained a level of integrity that earned him the respect of our families, fans and opponents alike.

“And in a trend I am glad to see growing in frequency, Chris continued his career beyond college and with his experiences in the MCLA, he was propelled into a successful professional career. Back then, it was extremely rare for one of our hardworking MCLA players to make the jump to the professional level, but Chris did it and represented not just Colorado, but the MCLA community to a level we all can take pride in.

“Off the field, Chris has continued to be a beacon of positivity within the lacrosse community. His willingness to mentor young athletes and give back to numerous programs throughout his coaching and training career speaks volumes about who he is as a person. He has shown us that greatness is not just about personal achievements, but also about lifting others up along the way.”

Outside of Boulder, Bluse was named the MVP of the Friendship Games for USA West, which was held in Tokyo.

“My experience as a student-athlete in the MCLA has been a formative one that positively impacted my life, while in school and after graduation,” said Bluse. “During my time playing goalie for the Buffs, I had the distinct pleasure of forming lasting experiences and life-long relationships with players, coaches, referees and league administrators.

“The MCLA is the culmination of student-athletes striving for success in the classroom and on the field. The successes that the teams and players have achieved, even though they are mostly self-funded and often without the full support of their respective athletic departments, is remarkable. That many of the individuals I have shared the field with have gone on to play at the professional level—whether in the MLL, NLL, or now PLL—is a testament to the caliber of the talent in MCLA.

“I am honored to join the third class of MCLA Hall of Fame inductees and join those inductees that have come before me. I can unequivocally say that I would not be in this position without the unwavering support of my family, teammates, the University of Colorado at Boulder, the MCLA, the RMLC and of course my coaches: Chris Spangler, Peter Cooke, and John Galvin.

It is an honor to be a part of such an incredible organization in the lacrosse community.”

The induction for the MCLA Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will take place on Friday, May 9, in Round Rock, Texas. The class will be honored on Saturday in between the title games at the 2025 MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance.

Information about the championships can be found HERE.