Previewing DeForest boys' lacrosse season

The snow has melted from the turf at DMB Community Bank Stadium, signaling only one thing: the start to the 2026 DeForest Norskies boys’ lacrosse season is finally here.

The Norskies will look to build off a strong 2025 campaign in which DeForest finished the regular season with a 9-6-0 overall record, including a third-place 3-5 mark in the Badger Conference. The Norskies’ season ended in a 12-4 loss to Appleton United in the second round of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) state tournament.

Last year marked a significant improvement for the Norskies, who finished just 6-11 in 2024.

Entering 2026, the Norskies will look to continue their momentum, entering the season with plenty of noteworthy buzz, as evidenced by receiving votes in the Wisconsin High School Lacrosse Coaches Association/Wisconsin La Crosse Hub Preseason Coaches Poll.

Of note, the Badger Conference will also have a much different look this year. Last season, only five teams competed in the Badger-Large Conference: Waunakee, Madison Edgewood, Oregon, Sauk Prairie and, of course, DeForest.

This season, however, the Badger Conference increased from five teams to 11 teams, welcoming Janesville, La Crosse, Sun Prairie, Middleton, Verona and Wayland Academy. This realignment was approved by the WIAA Board of Control in March 2025.

While the conference may look different this season, the Norskies return to the field with plenty to be excited about.

Despite losing key departures in Carson Volenberg, Gavin Vander Velde, Taryn Callaway and Carson Manthe, the 2026 roster is far from depleted this season.

Notably, the Norskies return a unanimous First Team All-Conference honoree in Bryson Callaway. Callaway, a junior, was a standout defender for the Norskies last spring, playing primarily as a longstick midfielder and short stick defensive midfielder. According to Wisconsin Lacrosse Hub, Callaway picked up a team-high 47 ground balls and forced another team-high in turnovers with 31.

In addition, the Norskies also return sophomore Braxton McGuigan, who received honorable mention All-Conference honors as a freshman last spring.

McGuigan, a midfielder, scored nine goals and dished 10 assists for DeForest, while picking up 18 ground balls.

The list of returnees continues for DeForest, with senior Michael Zulkoski — who also received honorable mention All-Conference honors last season — set to re-enter the fold.

Zulkoski, a midfielder, was the Norskies’ specialist in face-offs, where he won 75 face-offs as a junior last season. In addition, Zulkoski picked up 34 ground balls.

DeForest’s Michael Zulkoski earned honorable mention All-Conference honors last season, expects to take another step forward this spring.

Other names poised to make an impact this spring for DeForest include senior Casen Moore and junior Cashton Leatherberry.

Moore, an attacker, scored 11 goals and dished eight assists last season, while Leatherberry, a hybrid blend of a midfielder/attacker, totaled 22 points on the year thanks to 15 assists and seven goals. Leatherberry’s 15 assists were the second-highest on the team.

DeForest’s Casen Moore celebrates after scoring a goal last season.

On the other side of the field, junior defender Owen Taylor is another name to circle this spring. Taylor picked up 15 ground balls and forced 10 turnovers last season.

The season is just around the corner for DeForest, who will open its highly anticipated spring campaign by hosting Sun Prairie United on Tuesday, March 31, at 7 p.m.

DeForest will then hit the road at Madison Ultra (at Madison La Follette High School) on Monday, April 6, at 7:15 p.m., before closing the week with a non-conference home tilt against Stevens Point on Saturday, April 11, at noon.