TACKLING THE COMPETITION | CFHS rugby team qualifies for State

Grace Boezinger Photos

The CF rugby team played Mason City on Tuesday, May 7 and beat the Mohawks 41-0, taking them to State. 

The rugby team vaulted into State as it easily beat the Mason City Mohawks, 41-0, on Tuesday, May 7, in Waverly. The Tigers are currently second in their division and boast a 9-2-1 record. 

Cedar Falls alumni, assistant coach and and UNI rugby executive Ben Boezinger said, “The boys have worked hard all season to get to this point. We have many new players and some veteran leaders who have worked as a team. I’m proud of them.” 

In Tuesday’s win, senior Aaron Foust started the Tigers off with a five-point try about midway through the first period. Junior Ryan Dunlop finished off the Tigers scoring spree with a late in the game try. 

Eight teams advanced to the state tournament on Friday, May 10 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Ankeny. The Tigers must win three games to win the state title.

Cedar Falls is going into the state tournament as the sixth seed. Their game begins at 7 p.m. against Des Moines Roosevelt. 

According to head coach Brent Piper, “Tigers have made the most improvement on tackling safer, and our attacking on defense. In order to win on Friday, we’re going to have to keep pressuring on defense, spin the ball out while we’re on offense and we’re just gonna have to play really hard. We have a lot of tough competition.” The two captains, senior Chip Custer and senior Jackson Gilbert, said they are ready for their substate game. 

According to Gilbert, “It was a war out there. It’s non-stop, and you just have to keep going.” Custer said, “It’s different from football, ’cause when you get tackled, the play just stops, but in rugby, you just keep on going and you gotta keep on spinning the ball. The play is never dead.” 

The Tigers are attempting to secure the first state title in Cedar Falls rugby history.