After Highs and Lows, Experienced Scots Seek to Reclaim Lacrosse Throne

Senior-laden HP roster to play national schedule to prepare for state championship run 

After Highland Park lost in the Texas High School Lacrosse League state semifinals last spring, Mike Pressler didn’t need a big inspirational speech heading into the offseason.

Instead, the HP head coach knew his 11 incoming seniors — most of whom played key roles in the Scots’ title run the year before — were aware of what was at stake.

“We got stung and got beat in the semis,” Pressler said. “The motivation for those seniors to get back to where we were is off the charts.”

The upset defeat against eventual champion Episcopal School of Dallas came one year after HP made an underdog run of its own to the title in Pressler’s debut campaign.

Whether it was a learning experience or simply a bump in the road, the Scots are optimistic they have the depth and experience to make amends in May.

The senior-laden roster includes varsity veterans and Division I recruits such as midfielders Ben Boyer and Paxton Smith, attackers Parker Addison and Duncan Zielke, and defender Benton Owens.

“This is their team and their senior year,” Pressler said. “The expectations are there and the accountability is there. We’re headed in the right direction.”

There are also some younger standouts, including Harrison Brown, who started last year as a freshman attacker, and faceoff specialist Owen Laszewski.

Pressler arrived at HP in late 2022 after more than three decades in the college ranks, primarily at Duke and Bryant. He immediately infused the program with a college-level approach and style of play, which is more aggressive and up-tempo than most high school systems.

“Our game is a pace that is second-to-none in Texas,” he said. “We play the transition game and the [substitution] game. All the parts that you see in a Division I game, we accentuate all of those.”

The Scots responded in 2023 with an 18-1 campaign that culminated in the first state title since 2015, and eighth overall for the perennial powerhouse Scots.

HP was banged up during the playoffs a year ago, but will look to reclaim the top spot with a roster that’s deeper and more talented — even with five fewer players overall.

“We’re attacking in everything that we do,” Pressler said. “We like our team. We’ve got guys at every position who can play.”