Rugby team wins DIII state championship

By Robby McGuire
Cardinal Staff

Oct. 19, 2008 is a day that will live in infamy for the Saint Mary’s University Rugby team. It took home the Division III State Championship title from a game played in Edina, Minn.
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Fourth-year rugby player Gerry Lentino described that his feelings upon winning the big game included: “proud, accomplished, ecstatic and on top of the world.”

The SMU Hellfish were a perfect 4-0 on their road to the final four. In the semi-finals, Saint Olaf fell to the Hellfish 43-12. The Hellfish entered the championship game against Bemidji State a perfect 5-0.

The final game was “One of the hardest 80 minutes I’ve ever played,” said Lentino. The Hellfish struck first, scoring on a pass from Andrew Noyes to Kevin Voris. Bemidji battled back and led 12-7 at the half. SMU struck first in the second half, but an unsuccessful conversion kick left the score tied at 12. Again, Bemidji State fought back and pulled ahead 19-12. The third and final try for the Hellfish was successful, as John O’Malley scored to put the Hellfish back in the game. A successful conversion kick by Ryan Bush tied the game up at 19. With eight minutes left in the game, a penalty kick was awarded to SMU. Ryan Bush capitalized, and his kick resulted in three points for SMU. It ended up being all they would need. The Hellfish dug in deep on defense and held Bemidji in check.

“Blood, sweat and tears was the price we paid. The greatest victory ever was our reward,“ said Lentino.

The SMU rugby team was founded in 1997 by Shawn Mowery. The next seven years proved rocky for the team. Practice attendance was poor, and the team lacked leadership and organization. In 2004, changes started to happen; a freshman, Josh Barrett, took the role of team captain. It was his initiative that put the Hellfish on the right track. Practice attendance improved, and the team started to win games.

These changes continued into the 2006-2007 season as Ryan Bush and Jared Ortgeisen took the helm. Their leadership and networking skills earned the Hellfish their first sponsor. Excel Images of Winona fronted the money for the team to buy a new set of jerseys. The team had a new look and a new attitude. It went all the way to the state finals before losing to North Dakota State University.

In 2008 the team continued to build on its new approach, gaining sponsorships from the National Guard and Kooga, a rugby outfitting company.

Lentino said, “We went in with the attitude that we had something to prove; most teams thought we made it to the playoffs last year on a fluke. We were out to prove that we are a great team, capable of winning and achieving our ultimate goal-winning the state championship.”