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Dasher Rugby Dynasty Continues with 13th State Championship Title

3/12/2024

FALL SEMESTER 2023 OF THE WORD MAGAZINE | by Erin McCarville

The DSHA A-Side Rugby team continues to dominate the field. After a perfect 3-0 fall season, the team entered the Wisconsin Girls’ Rugby State Championship as the top seed on October 21. They defeated Stevens Point Area High School in confidence, 86-0. The athletes then defeated rival Catholic Memorial 38-7 to secure back-to-back state championships. This is the 13th state championship for the team.

Throughout the season and state tournament, Dashers scored an impressive 289 total points against their opponents, averaging 48 points per game. The team gave up its only points of the season against Catholic Memorial in the state tournament, and otherwise shutout their opponents throughout the entire season.

Eight man Melanie Sanchez, DSHA ’24, acts as one of the team’s captains and also serves as the team chaplain. She attributes their success to the accountability they hold one another to. “The most important thing I have learned from playing rugby at DSHA is the importance of holding yourself accountable and working together as a team,” she shares. “If one of us is not giving it their all, it affects the team. We are all one unit, and none of what we have accomplished would have been possible without that mindset.”

As the team looks forward to securing their 11th national title in the spring at the Single School National Invitational Championship, Sanchez and the team are ready to bring home the trophy. Sanchez stated, “The biggest thing we are all looking forward to is coming out on top at our Midwest and national tournaments. Most of our team is seniors and we are all very experienced. We have been able to guide our younger teammates in becoming the best quickly, and we are eager to prove that again.”

As for the years ahead, Sanchez shared some advice to the underclasswomen stating, “I hope my younger teammates work hard to live up to the legacy that has been built up before them. If they keep that in mind, they will go very far next season. I hope they seize every opportunity they get to be the best version of themselves!”

Overall Record: 3-0 regular season; 5-0 overall

Team Captains: Evie Coffou, DSHA ’24; Meghan Finerty, DSHA ’24; Flannery O’Keef, DSHA ’24; Greta Rehmann, DSHA ’24; Melanie Sanchez, DSHA ’24; Madison Turcinovic, DSHA ’24; and Meghan Walsh, DSHA ’24

Team Chaplain: Melanie Sanchez, DSHA ’24

Team Coaches: John “Chin” Klein, Boris Turvinovic and Joe Kloiber

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