Zach DeGoursey Caps Career as Two-Sport Hornets’ Captain
Zach DeGoursey recently completed his high school sports career by captaining the Branford boys’ lacrosse squad this spring. Zach guided the team alongside his twin brother Noah DeGoursey in a reprisal of the scenario they were in as senior captains for Hornets’ football last fall.
“It was pretty cool. I know football has a brotherhood, but there’s the other aspect that I’m out there with my actual brother,” says Zach. “It brings us closer and we have each other’s back. It was a nice experience.”
Zach, who was Branford’s goalie this year, loved leading each of his clubs as a captain. Zach appreciates the impact that previous captains had on him and he wanted to have a similar influence on the next generation of Hornets’ athletes.
“I remember going into my freshman year looking up to the captains. They were fantastic and had an impact on my four years, so I wanted to have the same impact on the kids below me,” says Zach. “I was prepared and I loved leading all of my friends. It was a good experience.”
Zach’s enthusiasm on the field is what boys’ lacrosse coach Jim May loves the most about him. No matter the situation, May could always count on Zach to step up and take charge.
“Zach has been, without a doubt, the most improved player on the team. He has great character and is the type of kid that will do anything for his teammates,” says May, whose squad was also captained by Steven Hacker and Tristyn Wooster. “He’s probably the most consistent, shining star on the team, doing everything we’ve asked him to do. Personally, as a coach, I’d love to have 10 Zachs on field at all times.”
Zach’s time on the football field was what ultimately led him to the goalkeeper’s position in lacrosse. Zach had played quarterback and, when he was told during his youth lacrosse days that the goalie was the QB of that sport, Zach knew that he was destined to man the net.
“They sort of go hand in hand. I had to tell everyone where they were and where to go,” says Zach. “I naturally had that and I didn’t mind getting hit by the ball, so it was pretty good.”
On the football field, Zach was initially a tight end and then made the move to quarterback in middle school. Zach admits that he wasn’t much of a passer, saying his consistency through the air was always a little suspect. After playing some varsity games under center as a sophomore and junior, Zach switched to halfback last fall and that ultimately proved a great decision.
“I wasn’t really producing well at passing. Out of 20 passes, I’d complete 10. Last year, I ended up hurting my shoulder and my backup played and had two passing touchdowns, so they had him play the next game and he stuck. [Head Coach John Limone] still wanted me to start, so he moved me to running back,” says Zach. “The position I was in wasn’t 100 percent suited for me. When I got to the position that was made for me, it showed. It didn’t take much learning as everything came naturally.”
Zach wound up putting together an All-SCC season as a running back in his senior year, compiling 783 yards to go with nine touchdowns on the ground.
“I was definitely more of a runner than a thrower, which is why it was a nice transition to running back. I liked getting the ball more. As a quarterback, we did have a few plays where I would run, but most plays were designed for me to specifically hand the ball off,” says Zach. “Now, I got to show what I was made of running through the line and juking kids out.”
Zach knows that his time on the gridiron is done, although he and his brother may continue their lacrosse careers in college. Zach and Noah, a defender, will both attend Keene State in New Hampshire, where they’ll have an opportunity to play together for a few more years.
“I might be a walk-on. The coach has e-mailed me to try out as they’ll need a goalie,” says Zach. “I think lacrosse was a different situation than football because he was defending me in goal. He had to keep the ball away from me for me to stop the ball going into the net. It put a whole new aspect on brotherhood. Playing in college would be a fun time and beef up our brotherhood.”