Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

Special to WSN from Rick Dedrick & Jason McGillivray of Wisconsinhighschoollax

After 20 years of high school lacrosse being governed by the Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation, there will be a change at the helm starting this 2024 season. The WIAA sanctioning of boys and girls lacrosse came true in 2023 after several years of discussions. Lacrosse players, coaches, and parents are happy to finally get some recognition from fellow classmates, schools, and communities as a true WIAA sport. 

As I talked to some players and coaches across the state, there is genuine excitement, but also some caution and uncertainty moving forward.

Bay Port Head Coach Max Salscheider thinks there will be some growing pains the 1st year. “I think there might be rough spots in the first season but I feel it will be a great change down the line for rules and regulations. Everyone will be on the same page.”

Coach Salscheider added that when it was club he had to worry about paying refs and it was tough to schedule practice times among other things that he now won't have to worry about as much. Bay Port registration for lacrosse is up because of the school backing.

Logan Leatherberry, goalie from Oregon High School, sees upside. “I am super excited just with the fact that people in the school will see us as a varsity sport and getting some more recognition from teachers and other kids, and also excited just to be able to be part of something so big in the lacrosse world and just my community. The WIAA does a pretty good job with the other sports but I’m still on the fence about how they will treat lacrosse.”

Homestead attackman Mitch Coburn gave his thoughts on where he could see the WIAA taking lacrosse in the future. “Yeah, I think just simply everything becomes more meaningful to schools and players like games, state championships, conference awards. With it being WIAA I also think it opens a new door to expand at the youth level and eventually into the high school level. I think it’s very exciting seeing new guys come out and pick up the sport of lacrosse because of the talk that comes from it becoming WIAA.”

Growing pains are part of everything new but the future of lacrosse expanding down the line has a tremendous upside. One thing that I know we can count on is the passionate support of the lacrosse community in Wisconsin. We have talked about the possibility of our sport becoming sanctioned by the WIAA and that day has finally come. That debate is over and everyone is looking forward to what this sport will become.