Theo Deberghes claims first NAIA All-America honor in Pride men's lacrosse history

DECATUR, Ala. - Entering the final week of the 2026 men's lacrosse season, Clarke University junior Theo Deberghes was named Third Team All-America by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) on Sunday evening.

The announcement came at the national honors banquet for men's lacrosse prior to the start of the national championship tournament taking place in Decatur, Ala. from Tuesday, May 12 with the championship game to take place on Sunday, May 16.

With this honor, Deberghes becomes the first member of the Pride men's lacrosse team to receive an All-America nod in their 11th season of competition in total and 10th full season with the 2020 season only consisting of three games.

At his position of long-stick midfielder, there was only one representitive on each of the First, Second, and Third Teams for NAIA All-America selections, meaning Deberghes was the third-best player at his position in the entire division as voted on by the selection committee, with the three teams in total comprising of 40 total players, 14 on the First Team and 13 each on the Second and Third Teams.

Deberghes joined the Pride as a transfer from Adams State University prior to the start 2026 season and impressed in his first season in Dubuque as the starting long stick midfielder for CU's 2026 squad leading the team in caused turnovers and ground balls.

The junior from Howell, N.J. was top 10 in the NAIA in both of those primary defensive stat categories finishing the regular season with 44 caused turnovers, which was a top two mark before postseason play but now sits fourth, while his ground ball total finished at 98 to currently sit in 10th in the entire country among qualified NAIA players.

Part of the midfield group in the faceoff unit for Clarke, Deberghes helped primary faceoff man Josh Pote and the rest of the Pride faceoff takers win over 62 percent of their draws on the season to create plenty of possession time for CU that allowed Deberghes to also help contribute six points on the season with five goals and an assist.

His first three goals of the season came in exciting fashion as his first two came in a home matchup against Carroll University when both of his shots came from beyond midfield, the first in his own defensive zone and the second to beat the third quarter buzzer from right around the midfield stripe.

That third goal of the season helped the Pride earn their first victory in conference play when he produced the double overtime winner at Midland on Mar. 21 to help Deberghes earn his first Heart Player of the Week honor, receiving the Defensive Player of the Week recognition on Mar. 23.

Full Heart Release: https://heart.prestosports.com/sports/mlax/2025-26/releases/20260502dg76j4

Deberghes will highlight a young group of returning members to the Clarke men's lacrosse team that finished 2026 4-8 overall and 3-6 in the Heart.