Sports
St. Michael-Albertville U17s Win State Rugby Title
The Knights defeated Hopkins 36-12 on Sunday at The Blake School
A year ago, the St. Michael-Albertville U17 boys rugby team lost the state championship match to Hopkins. On Sunday, the Knights induced a little payback.
STMA jubilantly cheered and flew its flag following a 36-12 win over the Royals at Blake Stadium in Hopkins, collecting the team’s first state championship in the U17 program’s four-year history.
“They’re great kids, great kids,” coach David Dorholt said. “I couldn’t say enough about how solid these kids are.”
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The Knights rebounded from last year’s state title defeat with virtually the same group and the same experience. Dorholt said his team envisioned a state championship was possible from Day 1.
With the help of his assistants, Eric Cagle and Eric Pearson, the Knights moulded together and got it done.
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“We thought it was possible, and we showed it today,” Dorholt said, pointing the scoreboard. “It’s reality. I love it.”
The Knights put together a 9-0-1 record in 2011 and were the U17 league’s No. 1 team from start to finish, Dorholt said. Now, with the majority of these kids moving up to the U19 level, STMA’s feeder program must rebuild for 2012.
Dorholt said one advantage the group has is almost all the athletes grow up together. While most rugby clubs draw kids from different communities, all but two Knights athletes come from outside the St. Michael-Albertville area.
“It’s just a great program, good people,” Dorholt said. “I just can’t say enough about them.”
