Defending champs ready to tackle gauntlet of national powerhouse opponents
The 2026 season will see Highland Park take aim at a second consecutive Texas High School Lacrosse League state title under head coach Mike Pressler.
Last year, HP downed rival Episcopal School of Dallas in the THSLL championship game, 8-4, after withstanding a mid-game charge from ESD.
It was the 13th state championship overall for the Scots.
HP again figures to be a top contender for the crown this season, as the program is littered with collegiate talent.
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North Carolina signee Jackson Bond is back for the Scots after earning Defensive MVP honors in the state championship game a year ago.
Offensive MVP Harrison Brown, meanwhile, returns following a three-goal performance against ESD and is bound for Yale, while Monmouth commit and attacker Colton Heinlen also registered points in last year’s finale.
Even in goal, where Jack Morse no longer resides, HP appears well-equipped as William White has already pledged his commitment to Saint Joseph’s.
Time will tell how often White is even tested between the pipes, as scoring chances could be few and far between with a defensive rotation that features Syracuse signee Harrison Cullum alongside Griffin Hamner (North Carolina commit), Pearce Powers (Holy Cross signee) and Mac Dixon (Monmouth signee).
The college talent doesn’t end there, however, with Dean Dulin (Georgetown), Hunt Henry (Duke signee), Owen Laszewski (Army) and Carter Sutton (Rollins College signee) among the players patrolling the midfield for the Scots.
On the attack is where HP certainly has production to replace, including championship game MVP Duncan Zielke, but Sewanee signee James Allen figures to combine with Brown and Heinlen to form a dynamic trio.
The Scots will test that experienced roster with another schedule featuring national powerhouse opponents. Teams from Oklahoma, Indiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, and California, as well as local rivals such as Jesuit Dallas and St. Mark’s, will all visit Highlander Stadium.
There’s also a March trip to Florida for three games against East Coast foes.
The regular season will begin on Feb. 7 against Tulsa’s Cascia Hall and conclude April 24 with a showdown at ESD.
