This Saturday, February 25th, marks the halfway point in Jesuit Rugby’s 2023 season as they prepare to face off against Lake Travis down in Austin for the second time this season. Beginning this year’s run undefeated, many players and fans are optimistic for the later half of the campaign and the postseason. However, there is some sentiment of adversity facing Rangers rugby down the road.
Neil Lancaster ’23, one of the team’s two captains, had this to say: “We have started off the season very well, and have only gotten better with each week. I think our true challenges are coming up but we will only get better by playing better teams. Looking forward to how the season turns out.”
The teams Neil refers to are Strake Jesuit, a game postponed due to the ice storms, and St. Thomas, a team from Houston that’s always a formidable opponent. These matches will serve to be the only real challenges for a team that seems to be riding high on a spectacular season, and with even more blowout wins to Allen Rugby and Faith Family Academy (FFA), the past two weeks have only added to the team’s confidence.
Additionally, before the squad’s dismantling of FFA, Jesuit Rugby celebrated Senior Night, honoring its senior players and their parents with a delightful ceremony. A total of 19 seniors were celebrated before their final rugby home game as a Jesuit Ranger.
All in all, prospective opportunities for growth await Jesuit Rugby, facing strong opponents with an even stronger team. The team looks ahead to the postseason for a wide-open state title later this year.
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