The Schoolhouse Rugby Club finished their season with a 45-10 loss in the championship round against the Kent Crusaders. Their overall record was 9-3, going undefeated in their division.

The State tournament for Rugby started May 17. Schoolhouse started in the quarterfinals against the Prairie Mustangs from Yelm. The Mustangs went 8-0 in the season and “fully expected to be in the championship,” according to Schoolhouse head coach Aron Branam. In that match, Schoolhouse was down 12 points with 10 minutes left. Then, “with some outstanding play on everyone’s part,” they ended up winning 29-26.

Branam called the victory, “The best I have ever seen our team play in the team’s history. It was an honor to be a part of that match.”

Then came the match against Kent, who had previously beaten Schoolhouse twice, their only two losses in the regular season. In that game, Kent came out on top once again, marking the second year in a row Schoolhouse came out short in the championship game.

The optimism for the future of the club is very real though. “I couldn’t be any prouder of all the men of the Schoolhouse Rugby Club. They are a very tight knit group and they all played like brothers,” Branam said. “This is a very special group who made it a very special year.”

Many key players from this year will be returning for next season, including juniors Britt Parkhill and Chris Torres. However, many won’t return, including seniors Luke Melvin and Aidan Maher, the latter of which was given the “man of the match” award after every game but one, with that game’s being Parkhill.