Appleton United boys lacrosse embraces change heading into ’26 season

By Jim Dean
For AppletonSportsPage.com

APPLETON – Change is a central theme for Appleton United high school boys lacrosse as they enter the 2026 campaign and look to build upon their winning history.

The United aim to pick up where they left off after finishing the 2025 season with a 12–6 record, highlighted by a playoff run that ended in an 8–5 loss to Waunakee, the eventual state champions. The biggest change in 2026 comes at the top, as Matthew Puskarich takes the helm as head coach. He brings more than a decade of high school coaching experience to Appleton.

Coach Puskarich will focus on refining the skills of a program that has historically featured a strong pool of raw talent. Much of his experience comes from the highly-competitive Minnesota high school ranks, along with a recent stop in Neenah, where he played a significant role in leading the Rockets to the 2024 state title game.

Experience will be a strength on the offensive side of the field, where goals should be plentiful. The United return three of their top four scorers from 2025 in seniors Trevin Schultz and Jaylen Kempfer, along with junior Roen Willis.

A number of juniors with varsity experience, as well as emerging sophomores, will be called upon to fill key roles and contribute to the offensive firepower.

Another major area of change will come on defense. Appleton must replace nearly its entire defensive unit after graduating its goaltender and all three starting defensemen, including Bay Valley Conference Player of the Year Aiden Eckes.

Junior Tanner Dean is the lone returning starter on defense and will move from LSM to close defense in 2026. Stepping into the LSM role is junior Wes Post, who was a key contributor for the United in 2025.

The remainder of the defense, including the goalie position, will be filled by a largely untested but talented group.

The United will be tested throughout the 2026 season with one of the more challenging schedules in the state. In addition to annual conference rivalries, Appleton will face high-level non-conference matchups against Middleton, Arrowhead, and last year’s state finalists Kettle Moraine and Waunakee.

The United open their season Friday at Kenosha and begin their home schedule at Appleton East High School on Wednesday, April 8 against West Bend at 7:45 p.m.

APPLETON UNITED BOYS LACROSSE SCHEDULE
Fri., March 27                at Kenosha (at Westosha Central H.S.), 6 p.m.
Wed., April 8                   WEST BEND, 7:45 p.m.
Fri., April 10                    OREGON, 7 p.m.
Tue., April 14                  at Hartland Arrowhead, 6:30 p.m.
Thur., April 16                GREEN BAY NOTRE DAME, 7:45 p.m.
Mon., April 20                at Waunakee, 7:15 p.m.
Fri., April 24                    at Kettle Moraine, 7 p.m.
Thur., April 30                PULASKI, 7 p.m.
Fri., May 1                        at De Pere, 7 p.m.
Thur., May 7                    KIMBERLY, 7:45 p.m.
Fri., May 8                        at Stevens Point, 7 p.m.
Sat., May 9                       MIDDLETON, 1 p.m.
Thur., May 14                 WAUSAU, 6 p.m.
Sat., May 16                    IRONDALE, noon
Tue., May 19                   BAY PORT, 7:30 p.m.
Thur., May 21                 at Neenah, 7:30 p.m.
(Home games in CAPS, at Appleton East High School)