Jesuit, Highland claim youth titles

(Salt Lake City) Nick Boyer delivered a pair of vital tries as Jesuit raced past Xavier 50-27 for the high school championship.

Also on Saturday, Highland bested United 38-24 to farewell longtime coach Larry Gelwix with a third under-19 title, to go along with 17 schoolboy crowns won under the old format.

Both contests matched the 2010 champs against the teams they unseated, and duly the 'single school' final's lead changed hands 3 times in the first 30 minutes.

Chris Mattina opened Xavier's scoring account with a penalty goal, before Jesuit wing Ryan Shuler darted into tryzone after a bruising run from skipper Chris Fry.

The injury departure of Marauder flyhalf James Poindexter after 13 minutes marked a turning point, leading to Xavier backs Nicholas Conte and Ed Sullivan scoring inside 5 minutes of one another. The second touchdown, initiated by Sullivan's tap move and also converted by the fullback, gave the New Yorkers a 15-7 edge.

Back came Jesuit with a trio of tries showcasing the Sacramentans' trademark support play. Each of the deep three backs figured in flanker Clancy Smith's unconverted score; Patrick Barrientes was prominent in the phases leading to eightman Michael Bush's go-ahead try; and then Boyer dotted the afternoon's most elegant score.

Coming as Xavier was driving just before half, the long-range score featured skillful passing among wing Mathew Chipman, Bush, and Boyer, and transformed Xavier's hopes of reclaiming the lead into a nine-point Jesuit advantage, 24-15.

Moments into the second period, Chipman flummoxed three sideline defenders from a standing start for a sensational solo goal. By now it was evident that Xavier was struggling to contain their up-tempo rivals, particularly when yielding turnovers.

Jim Wolfer answered with a converted try in the 43d-minute -- halves being 35 -- after flanker Adam Duignan broke Jesuit's line. Again Boyer answered, this time beginning from a scrum pickup and using Chipman as a decoy.

Ahead 36-22, Jesuit copped a yellow card but Chipman again evaded Xavier's defense for a score that clinched the game. Duignan and Barrientes, whose improbable rebound from a semifinal injury proved important to Jesuit's surviving Poindexter's exit, then traded tries as time wound down.

Gonzaga downed Charlotte Catholic 17-15 for third place, after racing back from a 15-5 deficit. With the Carolinians down a man, Joe Taylor scored the game-tying try and Sam LaPaille booted a pressure conversion. The Eagles were overwhelmed 45-7 in their semifinal clash with Jesuit, while Charlotte dropped an 18-17 contest to Xavier in a penalty shootout.

In the U19 final, Highland ran in four tries after intermission as the 12-7 affair turned into a contest notable for solo playmaking and one-on-one matchups. Anthonly Lavemai nabbed a pair, and the center's contest against opposite number Kisi Unufe, who also claimed a brace, was among the most interesting battles.

At the second half's outset, Lavemai's 36th-minute try was quickly countered by a Russ Parai penalty goal and Unufe's intercept touchdown. Eightman Douglas Ferris than cruised over the line from a setpiece pickup to make the count 24-17, where it remained until 10 minutes to go.

A brokenfield scoring run by Joshua Faagalu, his second, stretched the lead to 14, until Unufe's 35-yard effort, made by Parai's simple cutout pass, brought the game back to a single score with 6 minutes to go. Lavemai's second proved the decider.

With the win, Highland presented Gelwix a retirement gift to embellish his place in American rugby history. Only Cal's Jack Clark has a national record worthy of comparison.

A father figure to players and tenacious opponent to rivals, some of whom have wondered about the team's Polynesian cast, the local businessman started coaching at Highland in 1975, a year before USARFU's formation. Many years before the school game was fashionable, Gelwix lead the union's youth committee, championing investment in participation and also nationalized competition. Dozens of his players became All-Americans and several won caps. In 2008 his successes were portrayed in the movie Forever Strong.

Jesuit 50 Xavier 27 (halftime: Jesuit 24-15)

Jesuit
Tries: Nick Boyer (2), Mathew Chipman (2), Ryan Shuler, Clancy Smith, Michael Bush, Patrick Barrientes
Conversions: Nick Boyer (5)

Frank Ramos; Mathew Chipman, Todd Cameron, Patrick Barrientes, Ryan Shuler; James Poindexter (Matthew Tiernan), Nick Boyer; Andrew Cowie, John Brown, Trevor Breault, Patrick Rockwell, Chris Fry (captain), Willem Bos (Anthony Calnero), Clancy Smith, Michael Bush

Xavier
Tries: Nicholas Conte, Ed Sullivan, Jim Wolfer, Adam Duignan
Conversions: Christopher Mattina (2)
Penalties: Christopher Mattina

Ed Sullivan; Charles Guiraud, Joseph Wolfer, Nicholas Conte, Jim Wolfer; Christopher Mattina, Andrew Brosnahan; Thomas Boule, Luna Mishoe (Martin Freda, Christian Mattera), Ricky Comis (Bryan Carley), James Kondrat, Connor Sweet (Michael Gorman), Patrick O'Grady, Adam Duignan, Joseph Corrado (captain)

Referee: Aruna Ranawera (Pacific Coast and United States)
Attendance: 750 (estimate)

Highland 38 United 24 (halftime: Highland 12-7)

Highland
Tries: Anthony Lavemai (2), Joshua Faagalu (2),  Jayce Hansen, Douglas Ferris
Conversions: Kobi Harris (4)

Jayce Hansen; Richard Vakapuna, Anthony Lavemai, Joshua Faagalu, Moses Lotulelei; Kobi Harris, Kepu Lauti; Kesni Tausinga, Kingston Liava, Logan Daniels, Kapi Pauni, Alai Motuapuaka, Josh Randel, John Kacinski, Douglas Ferris. Replacements unconfirmed

United
Tries: Kisi Unufe (2), Siona Hausia,
Conversions: Russ Parai (3)
Penalties: Russ Parai

Brandon Benavides; Zach Webber, Kisi Unufe, Mateaka Hausia, James Schultz; Russ Parai (captain), Marlin Green; Avalisi Bloomfield, D'vairo Auelua-Notoa, Wlater Murray, Brandon Wilde, Thayne Soloai, Robin Rudolph, Siona Hausia. Replacements unconfirmed

Referee: Paul Bretz (Pacific Coast and United States)
Attendance: 1,750 (estimate)

Comments

[high school fan]

Under-19 rugby is DOA. Lets get these high school rules corrected.

Single school high teams where ever this makes sense and multi-school high teams in the other areas is the way forward. Multi-school HS teams need to be comprised of HS students, not foreign students in their 9th-10th semester. What does this prove other than to flatter the coaches win-loss record. Same with junior college students, not in the HS multi-school competition, go start a JC team.

The current USAR administration screwed up this HS eligibility and its the current USAR administration that needs to fix it.

Lets grow the sport by having two national HS championships comprising 100% high aged students!

[Sergeant Hulka]

Lighten up Francis. U-19 is an internationally designated age grade and does not have to coincide with High School age, even though it does. What throws you off, the 'U' or the '19'? Dang near everyone in HS, barring flunking a few times, is under 19. If you picked up a law book, you'd notice in the back the 'U-19' laws variations. Its U-19 for a reason. Nothing needs fixing.

[Schultz is missing a piece]

Schultz, the issue is not U19, being understood by international competitions, or the like. U19 in 90% of other US sports is "club" based, not withstanding that most HS Teams are "club" I refer to clubs not affiliated with any school. Kid's or young adults that play on multi-school teams all have different requirments by their school or the teams depending on if they play on a campus, etc. The debate is wheter to include already graduated HS students.
So, neither of you is correct in that it is as easy as one or the other, the decision was made for U19 or HS age rather than HS eligible or attending. Is this inside or outside of where we should be and what imperical data suggests either more kids play because of the U19 designation, how it may or may not affect the building of single or multi-school teams, affect insurance or on campus activities, etc.

Will U19 clubs affiliated with after school programs, mens or womens clubs continue to grow and should they play against multi school teams built in a different way?

This is a good debate regardless.

[Graduated at 16 but not evil demon]

I graduated from high school at 16. I'm bright but not overly athletically advanced. I'm large, but normally developed for 16. You want me to play for my college (actually a Junior College that doesn't even have a rugby team)? Why? There's nowhere else in the world I'd be forced to forgo rugby or play for a men's team rather than to play with others my age on a community team.

You, sir, are age bigoted. Why do you hate me just because I'm graduated from high school, as if that matriculation changed me into some sort of demon threatening the welfare of my team mates and opponents.

[come on]

Demon- that's weak. HS is HS. Once you've graduated you are out of HS. This case doesn't happen that often and US rugby will have to live without your services, if you decide to not play for a club or college.

What US rugby needs to grow rugby isn't to make rules around less than likely situations or what a handful of U19 coaches want. US rugby needs to propel the HS game forward, played by HS students in both single school and open teams.

[Sergeant Hulka]

@come on:
There is a HS bracket and a U-19 bracket. If your HS has a team then great. Ohters in that age range can play for a U-19 club. When is U-19 not high school age??? Why make it more difficult for players to play the game? If an 18 year old player graduated high school, he is not going to be on a U-19 club team for very long. If that team functions as a club, then again, who cares if that player is still enrolled in high school?

[any more questions?]

Q-"When is U-19 not high school age???"

A-When they graduate from HS.

[Age & Rugby]

I don't have a problem with U19 or HS rugby the way it is currently situated. What I do have a problem with is more and more college programs securing players that are 25 or more. Some are doing it with the Community College angle where a guy can pay a few hundred bucks to be a student for a semester and play on a CC team, which some people are calling Academy teams. There are also schools with scholarships that instead of giving them to HS rugby players, they find mens club players that aspire to attend college and give them a scholarship. Instead of developing a guy, just find a 6'5" 265lb man to play collegiate rugby. Basically, every college coach is looking for an angle to gain the system. Some are doing the above, others are loaded with South Africans and others are finding other ways yet to be seen.

It will not be long until we have a college team that is an online university (Phoenix, Beck, etc) that is made up of 25 year old players cherry picked from club rugby and paid a few hundred each to be "students" in the eyes of USA Rugby.

[Sergeant Hulka]

A-when they graduate high school? So, 6 months out of high school is just waaay too old of a man to compete with these other little tiny boys still in high school?? C'mon, talk about petty.

[I swear she said she was 18, your honor.]

High school football forbids guys from participating who are a mere 3 months out of high school. Ridiculous, right?

[adrian]

The US simply needs to do what Canada does - run a high school season in the spring and then have players play age grade with a local club over the summer. People in US rugby keep trying to create a false competition between clubs and schools. The best way to achieve success is to maximize the number of games that players are able to play.

[Sergeant Hulka]

That's high school football. Teams that are school sponsored and represented by students at that school. High School rugby should have the same regulation. U-19 clubs are separate from the school and should only have a birthday cutoff to be under 19 at a certain time in the year to compete for that season.

+1 Adrian. That's exactly the point.

[any more questions?]

That's what I'm going for...school sponsored, just like all the other sports. Having leagues with post HS kids playing against HS kids only hurts the end game goal.

[Leksan]

This is a rehash of an argument that's been going on since USAR changed the U19 eligibility.

To me, the two best arguments in favor of restricting U19 to only HS enrolled kids are: 1) It allows single-school programs and multi-school programs to compete against one another with basically the same eligibility standards; 2) It avoids the ugliness of having college underclassmen getting their rugby reps at the expense of available HS players.

There are relatively few single-school programs available for HS athletes. In NorCal, where there are a lot of youth and HS rugby clubs, if the single-school programs were limited to playing only one another it would greatly limit their opportunities for good competition. Because NCYRA requires HS enrollment as a condition of eligibility, single-school (HS) and multi-school (U19) programs can compete regularly on equal footing, to their mutual benefit. And the game gets stronger.

College players and non-HS players can make an obvious difference to a multi-school (U19) program - at the expense of otherwise qualified HS players (for both the host club and its opposition). It has been mentioned here previously that Highland has played eligible BYU players on its side. USAR eligibility standards allow this, stating that a player for one club, BYU, is eligible to play for another club, Highland, if the player has not participated in a 'Qualifying' match for the former, no matter the level (Section 6.2, USA Rugby Eligibility Regulations). If HS players cannot expect to compete against other HS players, then that is a problem. And the game gets weaker.

@Graduated at 16, I am sympathetic to your situation. My son was a young HS graduate and could have played two more years of U19 rugby after graduation (even if he was a B side player for his college side). But I don’t think that would have been good for him or for the game. I believe it best for the advancement of youth rugby that U19 players be enrolled in HS as a condition of eligibility.

[high school fan]

Jury is in...post HS, move on to college or club rugby. In HS play in one of the two competitions.

Grow rugby by investing in HS rugby.

[anon]

Near sighted rugby mean -

The issue isn't with the teams competeing RIGHT NOW.

To get teams into schools and to gain varsity status they have to be aligned with other sports.

Don't believe me? Walk into your local schools AD office and tell him you want varsity rugby - BUT your hs kids will be competing against some teams who have kids up to 2 YEARS out of HS. Safety and liability issue.

The safety isn't about an 18yo playing against a 19yo. It's about a 14yo freshman playing against a sophomore in college (U19 elegibility is you have to be 19 as of 9/1 in the current year).

If you are anywhere NEAR hs sports you see the developmental difference between 14-15-16-17-18-19 year olds.

And for the kids that graduate and "Aren't ready" It's not worth sacrificing the trust of administrators to let these kids back in.

Bottom line - the decision to allow this was short sited, agenda driven and undermined the efforts of ALOT of people who had attained or were pushing for official school status.

Thank you Kurt Weaver for fixing this problem.

[anon]

*Men

[Alan Airth]

@ anon
Amen!

[vegemighty]

No, I really think he meant to say "Men". "Amen" wouldn't fit at all.