Looking Ahead: Moeller Rugby

The rugby team is getting ready for another exciting spring season. With a heartbreaking loss in the state finals last year, the lads are ready to bounce back with more energy and ambition than ever. Throughout the offseason, the boys have been building their strength and honing their skills as rugby players in hopes of having an even better season than last year. As the team approaches their first scrimmage of the season, they continue to improve their fundamental skills in the game.

Moeller Rugby.

One of the biggest improvements to the Rugby team from last season is in the coaching staff. This season, the team will be adding five interns from different college teams around the city, as well as a student coach. With the numerous coaches available to the players, the team will be able to focus more on individual skills and improve each player in his role and respective position. Head Coach Dominic Denoma and Assistant Head Coach Chad Brookbank will continue to lead the lads in the 2024 season with two new assistant coaches and Moeller alumni, Joey Phipps ’18 and Wyatt Tepe ’22.

Over the offseason, players have continued to grow their skills and experience in the game through the Rugby Seven’s season. This season consists of smaller seven-on-seven games with shorter halves. The spring rugby athletes who don’t participate in fall sports play this to improve their skills for the main season. Although the seven’s team had a very average season last fall, all players still improved every aspect of their game and new players had a chance to learn the game before the regular season.

As the team enters their 14th season, players are ready to dive in and start playing. There are a lot of notable players to look out for this season. Senior leaders Eli Jacon-Duffy, Dominic Vallier, Ethan Watkins, and Bryson Shelton all have been working hard over the offseason to prepare to lead the team into success this year. Some other notable players to look forward to watching are Joe “Fitzy” Fitzpatrick ’25, Brennan Laake ’26, Addison Wendt ’24, Charles McCown ’24, and Andrew Bellman ’25.

One of the keys to Moeller Rugby’s success is Coach DeNoma’s conditioning. Every Monday, the team will run one mile around the track famously called “Mile Monday.” The team also does extra running at the end of every practice called, “ten for tens.” On top of all that, the team has conditioning drills each practice.

The team is looking very promising and could have a very successful season. The combination of new coaches as well as tenured senior leaders will lead to a very strong season with lots of wins. With all the work that has been put in by everyone in the offseason, the boys are looking forward to dominating their competition and potentially winning a state championship.