News Detail

Rugby Wins National Championship

7/20/2017

Grace Becker, DSHA '17

For the past eight years, the DSHA Rugby Team has vied for a national championship title, coming so close with six third place finishes and one fourth place finish. Finally, on May 21, 2017, with a 6-0 win over Kahuku, Hawaii, the Dashers became National Champions once again!

Following a 27-12 defeat of McNinn, TN in the quarterfinals and a 41-5 win over Orchard Park, NY in the semifinals, DSHA beat Kahuku with the help of veteran and novice players alike. Freshman Jaclyn Jarosz scored all of the team’s points with penalty kicks. “She is one heck of an athlete,” said Dashers coach John “Chin” Klein of Jarosz, whose position he compares to the quarterback in football. “She ran the team like an experienced vet.” Other key performances came from seniors Genevieve Ruesch and Katie Ullrich, and sophomores Makenzie Youngblood, Sarah Brennan, and Maggie Leffler.

On Monday, May 22, DSHA welcomed the team home with an all-school assembly full of cheers, support and standing ovations for the newly crowned national champions. “We had a rare combination on this team of experience and young talent, and I knew that combination was going to take us very far,” said Klein.

The Dashers finished the season with an undefeated record of 16-0 before winning their 15th straight Midwest Championship, outscoring their opponents 132-0. For senior second-row player Catherine LaRosa, the National Championship perfectly capped a strong season: “Especially after Midwest when we defeated all of the other teams, the National trophy was icing on the cake.”

The celebration concluded with an official proclamation from the Office of the Mayor as a testament to the team’s outstanding dedication, character, and athletic accomplishments. May 22, 2017 was officially declared DIVINE SAVIOR HOLY ANGELS HIGH SCHOOL RUGBY TEAM DAY throughout the City of Milwaukee.

After accomplishing the ultimate goal, DSHA eagerly anticipates the program’s continued success in coming seasons.

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