MILTON – In the MIAA Division 2 boys rugby championship held on June 18 at Curry College, Algonquin Regional High School fell to the number three seeded Weymouth team by a score of 57-14.
Despite a heart-wrenching loss in the state championship, the Algonquin High School rugby team can hold their heads high as they reflect on a highly successful season.
Algonquin Coach Dominic McNeil reflected after the game on how far his team has progressed since day one.
“We’ve got to credit Weymouth, they’re a tremendous team,” McNeil said. “But I love this team. They’re just resourceful, they play smart, they’ve challenged me to be a smarter coach because the way this team has evolved from day one is extraordinary.”
The season didn’t start off as planned for Algonquin, said team captain and senior Jace Golden.
“We started out slow. We weren’t taking it seriously at first, just fooling around. But once we realized we had a shot at the state finals, everything changed,” said Golden. “We also stick to our values. We call it warrior rugby. And I think the best thing that we did today at least was enjoy the journey. A warrior enjoys the journey.”
Indeed, the team’s transformation was remarkable. From day one to the championship match, they showed immense progress and a strong work ethic, said senior captain Cullen Doherty.
“It’s a tough loss, but we’re just a band of misfits. We’re all different sizes and builds and skills. And it’s so great how much we came together as a team,” Doherty said. “I think it’s super impressive and unfortunately, we couldn’t bring it home. But it’s definitely been a journey since day one, how we’re playing now since how we started is a crazy difference.”
Although the state championship slipped through their fingers, the Algonquin High School rugby team’s accomplishments are not overshadowed. And while the seniors bid farewell to the team, they have no doubt that the future looks bright for Algonquin rugby. All three senior captains, Jonathan Valentine, Golden, and Doherty, are eager to support their brothers on the field next year, confident that they will continue to build upon the foundation they established this season.
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