Six high school teams to compete for state rugby titles
Cincinnati high schools will be represented in the state rugby tournament this weekend conducted by the Ohio Youth Rugby Association.
Moeller, St. Xavier, Walnut Hills and Withrow will compete this weekend at the Fortress Obetz complex in Columbus.
Semifinal games in several divisions will take place this weekend, with the state finals also in Obetz June 1.
Moeller and St. Xavier will play in the varsity boys semifinals, as well their Varsity B teams.
Moeller plays St. Ignatius 4 p.m. Sunday, followed by St. X vs. Lakewood St. Edward on Sunday.
Moeller lost to St. Ignatius in last year’s state final, 38-7. Ignatius is the top seed this year and the Crusaders fourth. St. Edward is second and the Bombers third.
In the Varsity B bracket, St. Xavier will play St. Ignatius at 1 p.m. Sunday, followed by Moeller vs. St. Edward at 2:30 p.m. Ignatius is the top seed there as well.
St. Xavier has several seniors going on to play rugby in college. Philip Bottomley, Derek Kautzmann, Aaron Pankey and Brendan Teiken signed with Cincinnati.
William Batton IV signed with Kent State. Brendan Lucey signed with Notre Dame, Mason Moore with Bowling Green, Landon Smoot with Howard and Oliver Weidner with Kentucky.
Moeller has Charles McCown signing with Norwich, and Bryson Shelton with Kentucky
Withrow will play in the single school boys semifinals. The fifth seed in the bracket, Withrow plays top seed Medina 10 a.m. Saturday.
Withrow won the single school boys Division II championship last season.
Walnut Hills plays in the competitive club girls team division. The Eagles are a club team based at Walnut Hills with students from several schools.
Walnut is the No. 4 seed, playing No. 3 Perrysburg 1 p.m. Saturday. The winner faces No. 2 seed Brunswick June 1.
Tickets will cost $10/adults; $5/students; $20 family pass (2 adults and 2 students); children 5 and under are free. You can purchase tickets in advance through the box office.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Six high school teams to compete for state rugby titles
