Boise local Josh Norton uses his talent and nearly two decades of experience to grow lacrosse in the Treasure Valley, bringing players from all backgrounds together to compete on the new semi-professional team, the Boise Bighorns.
Norton first picked up a lacrosse stick in third grade and never looked back. He played in local youth leagues and later earned a spot on the All-Idaho team. He also played for Eagle High School, Boise State University, and in Washington, D.C. In 2017, he landed his childhood dream job at LaxID.
“I get to gear kids up, teach them the sport, string sticks, and do design work for local teams,” Norton said. “My job is amazing, and I’m grateful for it.”
Norton aspires to grow lacrosse in the Treasure Valley by starting the first and only semi-professional lacrosse team in Idaho. "Lacrosse has given me so much, I want to give back and grow it as far as I can," Norton said.
When naming the team, Norton considered various ideas—from birds to frontiersmen—but ultimately wanted something uniquely Idaho. “The Box Lacrosse League handled the design and naming—but as soon as I saw it, I was sold,” Norton said. “My family’s full of hunters, and my mom has a bighorn sheep mounted at home.”
On April 19th, the Boise Bighorns competed in their first exhibition game in Draper, Utah against the Wasatch Whalers. The team plans to travel back to Utah multiple times for games and to Colorado. Norton hopes to eventually host games and events in Boise.
Norton envisions launching youth programs and creating a Bighorn’s youth team—perhaps called the Billy Goats. These younger players would be coached by Bighorn’s pros, forming a strong pipeline of athletes committed to growing the game the right way.
“Lacrosse is a medicine game. Through the ups and downs of life, it’s always been there, helping me through the darkest times and celebrating the brightest. It’s the Creator’s Game for a reason, and I can’t wait to see what it brings to Boise.”