Jesuit Rugby won the 2015 Rugby Texas Plate Division State Championship this weekend, beating Houston St. Thomas 22-7 on Saturday, then beating Round Rock 23-14 in Sunday's final. The team adds the Plate trophy to its list of accomplishments this season, which includes a tournament victory at the Jesuit Dallas Rugby Showdown, and recognition in state and national rankings.
 
Four Rangers were named to the All-Tournament team: seniors Chris Madonna, Juan Martin Day, and Joey Nuchereno, and junior Christian Schoeberl. Senior Matt Slovak was named the Championship Game MVP.
 
"We played like a family this weekend," said head coach Anthony Mattacchione after the victory. "This really epitomizes the seniors' four years of formation. They realized they were playing for something bigger than themselves. They played for the community. And it really showed."
 
In the state title game, Jesuit chose not to wear its regular jerseys. The team instead wore pink jerseys, in honor of Mariana Day, mother of senior Juan Martin Day. Mrs. Day is battling cancer and had surgery just three days before the state championship tournament began. Her son, playing in his final Jesuit Rugby game, felt the significance.
 
"To see my teammates in the pink jerseys – it really gave me hope," Day said. "It reminded me of what this team is all about. Coach always tells us 'Rugby is like life.' This showed me that."
 
Day had a spectacular game in the finals, kicking three PKs and going 2-for-2 on conversions, while wearing his pink jersey. Day's kicks were responsible for 13 of the Rangers points Sunday.
 
In Saturday's semifinal, Jesuit scored early off a Cole Wilson try and a Day conversion, then added to the lead with a Matt Taylor PK to carry a 10-0 advantage into the half. Matt Slovak scored early in the second frame, and with another Day conversion, Jesuit's advantage increased to 17-0. After a St. Thomas score, Emmet Flood registered a try in the game's final minute to give Jesuit the 22-7 victory.
 
In Sunday's final, Round Rock scored first to go up 7-0, then a pair of Day PKs pulled the Rangers within one. With 18 minutes to play Christian Schoeberl scored a try and Day hit the conversion to give Jesuit a 13-7 lead. Round Rock responded quickly with a try and conversion of their own to go back on top 14-13.  Moments later, Day nailed a PK to put Jesuit ahead 16-14, then Matt Slovak iced the victory with an 80 meter breakaway try. After Day's conversion, the Rangers carried their 23-14 victory to the final horn.

Click here for photos from Sunday's championship game, courtesty of Jowdy Photography
 
Jesuit hosted the Rugby Texas State Championships, as planned all season. It was the second trophy the Rangers hoisted on home turf this season.  The Plate Division Championship is roughly equivalent to a "Division II" title. Jesuit won "Division I" titles in 2001 and 2010, but this year was placed in the Plate playoff bracket.
 
The 2015 season featured a number of accomplishments for Jesuit Rugby. In addition to Jesuit Dallas Rugby Showdown and Rugby Texas Plate Division trophies, the team helped Coach Mattacchione to his 200^th career victory, watched a former player earn induction to the Jesuit Dallas Sports Hall of Fame, and earned national recognition through high rankings.  These accomplishment further solidify Jesuit as one of the prominent high school rugby programs in the state of Texas.