For Taylor Cullen, getting onto the Michigan women’s lacrosse team was a testament to her perseverance and self-belief. Arriving as a walk-on and working her way up to a starting role, the junior defender’s story is a display of resilience and hard work.
Cullen grew up in Huntington, N.Y., surrounded by competitive sports. Throughout her life, she juggled multiple sports such as high-level soccer, before ultimately committing herself to lacrosse. Although many athletes dream of being the one to score the winning goal and basking in offensive glory, Cullen loved defense from early on.
“I’ve always played defense,” Cullen told The Michigan Daily. “I take so much pride in being a defender, and I really don’t care about scoring goals or having your name everywhere. I always tell myself that defense wins championships, and that was just a great way to keep myself motivated.”
Unlike most of her teammates at Michigan, Cullen’s recruitment process was very unique being a walk-on. She knew in high school that she wanted to play collegiate lacrosse, but it wasn’t until her senior year that playing for the Wolverines became a real possibility.
“I ultimately made the decision to start applying to colleges and work my way onto the team,” Cullen said. “Michigan was probably my top choice when I was a senior, which is funny because when I was looking initially to play lacrosse when I was younger, Michigan was definitely not something that really stood out to me. It wasn’t until I visited it in my senior year that I thought, ‘Wow, this is the place I want to be.’ So I ultimately applied, and then was able to walk on the team.”
Despite being a walk-on, Cullen’s determination never wavered. She reached out to the Wolverines’ coaches and was given the opportunity to play for Michigan as a preferred walk-on. The process ultimately led Cullen to where she is today — a pivotal player on one of the top teams in the Big Ten.
Transitioning from a walk-on to a starter wasn’t easy. Cullen’s freshman year was a challenging period of growth, as she had much to learn about adapting to lacrosse at the collegiate level, while building back the confidence that pushed her through high school. But through a combination of hard work, self-confidence and persistence, Cullen continued to improve.
“Coming back from my sophomore year, I feel like that was a big jump for me, which ultimately led me to become a starter,” Cullen said. “I have all the pieces in me, you just have to go and not care what other people think, not worry about external factors or anything, and just be confident and show up.”
This shift in mindset to build internal confidence helped Cullen make the transition from a walk-on to starter, who anchors the Wolverines’ defense. Her style of play is a mix of grit and intelligence, always aggressive but thoroughly calculated. Cullen learned the importance of playing confidently, but not letting external pressures affect her performance by pushing through setbacks.
“I love to play gritty defense, pick up ground balls, win 50-50s, be super aggressive, which sometimes comes back to hurt me,” Cullen said. “… Something that has helped me is just putting in that extra work every single day, no matter what, whether it be on the field, watching film, no matter the good or bad days. If you’re doing it alone or with your teammates, just keep grinding it out.”
The supportive culture and shared goals within the Michigan program has been instrumental in Cullen’s success. Whether it’s a senior, fifth-year or freshman, every player is dedicated to helping one another and striving toward the same objectives, creating an environment where collaboration thrives.
The supportive atmosphere within the program has been essential to Cullen’s growth, both as an athlete and as an individual. She is incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with such a dedicated coaching staff, who has believed in her potential since she walked on. Now that she has reached a new height in her career, she’s instilling some of that inspiration into athletes who are on a similar journey to her own.
“Never give up and bet on yourself,” Cullen said. “Keep working hard. Just remember that you do this and believe in yourself, and I always tell myself, ‘Prove them wrong. Prove every single person who doubted you wrong.’ ”
Cullen’s advice especially resonates with young athletes who may feel the pressure of others’ expectations. But through her own journey, she remains focused, always believing that her hard work pays off.
“Coming from Long Island, every single person that I knew that played lacrosse was committing to top schools,” Cullen said. “And I think just canceling all that out, like I always say, ‘That’s just noise, and focus on yourself.’ ”
Cullen’s journey is a powerful reminder that success isn’t always immediate, and that determination and confidence can lead to great things — like earning a starting role. As Michigan’s defense continues to succeed, Cullen will remain at the heart of it, always working to prove that hard work and belief can turn collegiate sports dreams into reality.
The post Taylor Cullen’s journey as a walk-on turned starter for Michigan appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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