Rugby team secures second place

Diving+over+an+Ankeny+opponent%2C+Bryce+Rowland+%E2%80%9817+attempts+to+keep+hold+of+the+ball.++The+rugby+team+lost+to+Ankeny+21-0+April+14.

Diving over an Ankeny opponent, Bryce Rowland ‘17 attempts to keep hold of the ball. The rugby team lost to Ankeny 21-0 April 14.

On May 1 the rugby team Placed second in a tournament consisting of ten Iowa teams. The team lost to Southeast Polk in overtime, after beating Roosevelt and Valley. JV teams from all over the state came to participate. Coached by Dave Oldham, the team is made up of 23 juniors and seniors.

The team will compete May 12 at the sub-state tournament. Their placing at the tournament will determine if they compete at the state tournament. “I don’t care if we win or lose,” Oldham said. “I just want the kids to have a good time and a positive experience and typically when we win the kids have a more positive experience.”

The team practices twice a week for one and a half hours. Oldham hopes the program grows in the following years. His goal is to have enough athletes to create a varsity and JV team.