2026 Wisconsin Boys High School Rugby All-State Selections

Championship impact, repeat excellence, and the next wave of Wisconsin rugby talent

The 2026 Wisconsin Boys High School Rugby All-State selections recognize 50 players across First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention honors.

This year’s selections reflect a season defined by Eastside Exiles’ undefeated championship run, Elkhorn’s surge to the state final, and strong senior leadership across the state.

The list also highlights returning All-State players and younger standouts who should continue shaping Wisconsin high school rugby in 2027 and beyond.

First Team All-State Player Summary

The 2026 First Team reflects the top tier of Wisconsin high school rugby, led by a strong mix of proven veterans, championship performers, next-level athletes, and rising underclassmen. The group includes eight seniors, five juniors, and two sophomores, with five players returning from the 2025 First Team list: Derek Wallace, Teddy Sieber, Aleckzander Dictus, Guardian Harris and Avantae Martin.

Several honorees also carry college rugby plans, military commitments, prior All-State recognition, or defining roles in their team’s season, giving this year’s First Team added depth beyond one year of performance.

• Derek Wallace, Oshkosh Razorbacks — Senior back, 5'6", 160 lbs

Wallace closes his high school rugby career as one of Wisconsin’s most consistent elite backs. After earning Second Team All-State in 2024, he moved up to First Team in 2025 and repeated as a First Team selection in 2026. His quickness, field vision, and ability to change matches from the backline made him one of the state’s top senior players, and he will continue his rugby career at Arkansas State University.

• Teddy Sieber, De Pere Red Dogs — Senior forward, 6'4", 255 lbs

Sieber repeated as a First Team All-State selection, closing his De Pere career as one of the state’s top senior forwards. After also earning First Team honors in 2025, his size, strength, and forward presence helped support De Pere’s continued rise as a consistent top-half program in Wisconsin. He will continue his rugby career at Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina.

• Aleckzander Dictus, Fox Cities Jesters — Senior back, 5'11", 165 lbs

Dictus closes his high school career as a repeat First Team All-State back, after also earning First Team honors in 2025. One of Fox Cities’ top playmakers, he helped give the Jesters a dangerous attacking presence throughout his career. He will continue his education at Milwaukee School of Engineering while staying connected to the game through club rugby.

• Eli Law, Eastside Exiles — Senior forward, 6'3", 225 lbs

Law was a central piece of Eastside’s undefeated state championship season, anchoring the Exiles’ pack with power, work rate, and senior leadership. Recognized as the club’s Forward of the Year, he gave Eastside a physical foundation throughout its title run and will continue his rugby career at Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Missouri.

• Van Klopfer, Elkhorn Demon Elks — Senior back, 5'9", 175 lbs

Klopfer helped drive Elkhorn’s run to the 2026 state final and a runner-up finish, giving the Demon Elks attacking ability and big-game production from the backline. After a standout senior season, he will take his next step by joining the U.S. Military.

• Simon Blom, De Pere Red Dogs — Senior forward, 6'1", 215 lbs

Blom earned First Team All-State honors as one of De Pere’s top senior forwards, helping reinforce the Red Dogs’ strength up front during another strong season, and he will continue his rugby career at Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

• Alex Unke, Elkhorn Demon Elks — Senior forward, 6'2", 215 lbs

Unke earned First Team All-State recognition after a strong senior season in the middle of one of Wisconsin’s top forward groups. His physical play helped strengthen Elkhorn’s pack throughout its state runner-up campaign.

• Tyler Nowak, Pulaski Roos — Senior forward, 6'4", 225 lbs

Nowak earned First Team All-State honors after another strong season from Pulaski, helping the Roos remain one of Wisconsin’s most competitive programs.

• Corbin Rose, Green Bay Leprechauns — Junior forward, 6'1", 185 lbs

Rose earned First Team All-State honors as a key part of a competitive Leprechauns forward group, his impact up front helped Green Bay finish third in the state.

• Guardian Harris, Fond du Lac Stoutmen — Junior forward, 6'4", 225 lbs

Harris continues to build one of the most decorated high school rugby resumes in Wisconsin. A three-time First Team All-State selection, Harris has now earned top-team honors in 2024, 2025, and 2026. His combination of size, athleticism, and physical impact makes him one of the state’s most recognizable forwards, and his profile extends beyond rugby as a Division I football commit to North Dakota State.

• Avantae Martin, Green Bay Leprechauns — Junior forward, 6'6", 235 lbs

Martin returned to the First Team after first earning that honor as a sophomore in 2025, reinforcing his place as one of Wisconsin’s most impactful young forwards. With rare size, athleticism, and upside, he has become a major presence for Green Bay.

• Joe Ebel, Elkhorn Demon Elks — Junior forward, 6'3", 200 lbs

Ebel gave Elkhorn a major forward presence during its run to the 2026 state final, using his size, mobility, and physical play to help power the Demon Elks’ pack.

• Tyler Houtsinger, Oregon Rugby Club — Junior back, 5'10", 185 lbs

Houtsinger earned First Team All-State honors as one of Wisconsin’s top returning backs.

• Jaxon Zukowski, Eastside Exiles — Sophomore back, 6'3", 205 lbs

Zukowski earned First Team All-State honors after a breakout season as one of the top Flyhalf’s in Wisconsin. He became a key piece of Eastside’s undefeated state championship run and was recognized as the Exiles’ Club MVP.

• Alex Zincke, Marquette University High School — Sophomore back, 5'9", 170lbs

Zincke earned First Team All-State honors as a sophomore, placing him among the most promising young backs in Wisconsin.

Championship Spotlight: Eastside Exiles and Elkhorn Demon Elks

Coach Paul Stroede’s Eastside Exiles finished the season as undefeated state champions and placed eight total players across the 2026 All-State lists: two First Team selections, three Second Team selections, and three Honorable Mention selections. Eli Law and Jaxon Zukowski earned First Team recognition, giving the Exiles top-level representation from both the forward group and the backline.  Eastside’s Second Team selections were Kinley Endres, Melvin Hunter, and Dom Melone. Owen Hadden, Mason Hansell, and Hyland Schrader were named Honorable Mention, giving the state champions recognition across every level of the All-State list.

Coach Jeff Ghart’s Elkhorn’s state finalist team was also strongly represented, with seven players named across the 2026 All-State lists. Joe Ebel, Van Klopfer, and Alex Unke earned First Team honors after helping lead the Demon Elks to the 2026 state final and a runner-up finish. Thomas O’Brien was named Second Team All-State, while Cameron Perkins, Addison Dilner, and Mac Riemschneider earned Honorable Mention recognition, highlighting Elkhorn’s depth across its forward group and backline.

Class Breakdown of 2026 All-State Honorees

A total of 50 players received First Team, Second Team, or Honorable Mention All-State honors in 2026. The class-by-class breakdown shows both senior-heavy leadership and a strong group of underclassmen returning next season:

·         Seniors: 23

·         Juniors: 11

·         Sophomores: 13

·         Freshmen: 3

Team Representation

Across all three lists, the broadest representation came from: Eastside Exiles (8), Elkhorn Demon Elks (7), Pulaski Roos (7), Green Bay Leprechauns (5), De Pere Red Dogs (4), Oshkosh Razorbacks (4), Fox Cities Jesters (3), Marquette University High School (3).

As the state continues to grow, the 2026 All-State list serves both as a celebration of this season’s top performers and as a preview of the players who will help define the next chapter of Wisconsin high school rugby.

Selection Process Note

The Wisconsin Boys High School Rugby All-State selections are based on a coaches’ nomination process. Coaches may nominate players from their own clubs and may also nominate or comment on standout players from other teams. Additional coach feedback is used to help resolve close selections and create balanced All-State lists across forwards and backs. As with most coach-nominated teams, programs with stronger seasons often have more players recognized.

1st Team All-State

2026 Wisconsin Boys High School Rugby

2nd Team All-State

2026 Wisconsin Boys High School Rugby

Honorable Mention All-State

2026 Wisconsin Boys High School Rugby