The Jupiter High Rugby club has once again advanced to the state championship eliminations. Under the dedicated direction of Coach Sean Simon the club has remained undefeated this season. With two matches remaining, the Warriors are assured a spot in the state finals. Last season the club lost in the Championship match of the Florida Youth Rugby Union to the Naples Bears in a thrilling last minute try (score).
Four top teams have risen to the top of the standings out of the 20 teams in the FYRU. In addition to Jupiter, the Tampa Pelicans, Naples Bears and Cape Blackhawks have qualified for the single elimination playoffs.
After playing only three years in the FYRU, Jupiter boasts one of the most powerful teams in the Southeast. In addition to playing in the Florida League, the Warrior squad traveled to North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia earlier this year. They played the state champion of each state and came home from their tour with an un-defeated record.
The squad is led by seniors Sebastian DelValle, Tommy Black, Nicolas Lopez, Ben Waddington, Sam Lieberman and assisted by junior Roger Amidon.
The Jupiter girl's squad is current state champion and gunning for another championship this year. The girls have had the opportunity to take two tours since the beginning of the school year. One trek took them all the way to Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee where the team had the opportunity to work out and learn from some of the top college coaches in the country. The Girls Team traveled to the University of Georgia on February 23rd to play in the annual Georgia High School Girls Rugby Invitational. They won four matches by decisive margins, defeating Campbell, Kennesaw, Oconee, and Merryville.
Coach Simon states that he has received overwhelming support from over 110 members of both the boys and girls squads and their parents. He is assisted by Carlos Silver, Tim Connell, Greg DelValle, and Warren Burton. Unfortunately the team has yet to find a local Pitch (field) and plays their home matches at Jessica Clinton Park in Port St. Lucie.
For more information check out
www.jupiterrugby.org.