Tigers Rugby lost a very close match (17-10) to Regis Jesuit High School on Wednesday night, May 11th, but claimed the #4 ranking for the first time in our history. Tries by Nick Allen and AJ Shannon put the Tigers in position to tie the match and to go into overtime, but time ran out as the Tigers furiously battled through the waning seconds of this exciting match.
In the end, 18 of 24 Tigers Rugby players were nominated to play in the Rugby Colorado All Star Matches (U-19 an U-17), to be held at Heritage HS on May 21st.
Tigers RFC finished with a record of 13-13-3 overall, and 4-4 in Division I league play. This was the highest rated finish (#4) ever achieved for Tigers Rugby Football Club, which has never yet been rated lower than a previous year in 8 years with Rugby Colorado (formerly known as Colorado Youth Rugby).
This year we graduate 12 seniors, but we played 5 of the 12 underclassmen at skilled positions against Regis on Wednesday night, and 5 others played for our A side through out the year. The returning players have already initiated a strategic plan to recruit players for the 2012 season.
We are proud and hope to honor our team at our Annual General Meeting which will be schedule in June. Tigers Rugby, Inc. is Colorado Non-Profit Corporation founded to serve those who enjoy rugby as a member organization. The elections for the Board of Directors positions, and presentation of awards voted upon by the players and coaches are the primary agenda items.
In the past 2 years, the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union (ERRFU) took notice of the Tigers’ establishment of a Men’s Side, which is naturally fed by the Alumni of the HS side, and others who live in the northwest Denver suburbs. Some players have played before, and to some the game is a brand new experience. The Tigers Rugby Men’s Side will be the anchor of a new Division III for ERRFU in the fall.
This year was the first time in 8 years that we had knocked off Regis Jesuit HS and the Aurora Saracens in Division I play. Aurora knocked the Tigers out of the playoffs last year, and in the 2011 regular season by a score of 19-17, but the Tigers finally got revenge on April 30th over the Saracens 22-19 to advance to the Semifinals.
As rugby is a “players’ game”, ultimately, all the credit for our success goes to these boys:
Arvada West HS: Jonathan Thomas
Broomfield HS: Devin Weeks
Centaurus HS: Charlie Elwood
Holy Family HS: Jake Boselli, Michael Fagundo, Danny Fiorino, Jacob Gossman; Tyler Hsin, Robert Kaniecki, Jeff Madigan, Nick Martin, Rob Nees, Patrick O’Connor, Walker Prieb, Alec Walters, and Matt Wright
Peak to Peak HS: Ben Onaindia
Pomona HS: Warren Wood, Nick Allen, AJ Shannon, Jimmy Higdon, and Michael Bowman
Ralston Valley HS: Peter Loving, Jamison Escobar
Standley Lake HS: Andrew Hutchinson
Arvada West HS: Jonathan Thomas
Broomfield HS: Devin Weeks
Centaurus HS: Charlie Elwood
Holy Family HS: Jake Boselli, Michael Fagundo, Danny Fiorino, Jacob Gossman; Tyler Hsin, Robert Kaniecki, Jeff Madigan, Nick Martin, Rob Nees, Patrick O’Connor, Walker Prieb, Alec Walters, and Matt Wright
Peak to Peak HS: Ben Onaindia
Pomona HS: Warren Wood, Nick Allen, AJ Shannon, Jimmy Higdon, and Michael Bowman
Ralston Valley HS: Peter Loving, Jamison Escobar
Standley Lake HS: Andrew Hutchinson
After a tough loss to the Aurora Saracens in the Quarterfinal match last year, theTigers’ coaches encouraged players to, “Begin with the end in mind”. We are grateful for the players, whose preparation included the stated goal of “Playing on the last day” (meaning in the Rugby Colorado Championship matches).
This is the third time that Rugby Colorado has honored the Tigers with the Team Sportsmanship Award (2005, 2006 & 2011), the second time for Player of the Year honors (Andrew Hutchinson, 2011 and Kevin Scherr in 2004) and the second Coach of the Year award for Paul O’Brian (2005 & 2011).
The Board of Directors and sponsors (Paul O’Brian of Accelerate Physical Therapy, P.C.in Arvada; Pat Quinlan of Coffman & Companies in Arvada; Jim & Denise O’Connor of Gases & Arc Supply, Inc of Denver; and the Boselli Family of Broomfield) offer tremendous supplemental support, both financial and administrative. Jeff Gossman, Treasurer, and Dylan Lewis (Vice President) continue to add credibility and acute business skills for this organization. Tigers Rugby officers skillfully established Rugby Colorado as a 501-c-3 (tax exempt) corporation through the Internal Revenue Service in 2009.
The Tigers Rugby Board of Directors and Coaching Staff proudly offers our a hearty congratulations to the best Tigers team in club history.
