St. Ignatius Wildcat Rugby Wins State Championship Final

The St. Ignatius High School Wildcats claimed victory in the Ohio high School Varsity State Championship Final against St. Xavier with a final score of 26-15. In the game, which took place at Fortress Obetz in Obetz, Ohio, on June 1, the Wildcats' triumph marked the pinnacle of the school's rugby season in which they finished 2nd at the Boys HS National Championships, won their 7th straight state title, and finished 22-8. that season record includes games played by the St. Ignatius Varsity Gold and Varsity Blue lineups, including four losses on their tour of Argentina and two losses to eventual national champions Gonzaga. In the state championship game, the Wildcats asserted themselves early, using some powerful runs from Gavin Vollmer and Davey Kotnik and smart game management from scrumhalf Mark French and flyhalf Auggie Sowinski. Hooker Pat Cooney led the try-scoring for St. Ignatius with a brace, complemented by touchdowns from Davey Kotnick and Charlie Steen. The team's conversions were executed with Jimmy Collins notching three successful kicks. All of those were important as St. Xavier stormed back in the second half with two tries and a penalty goal to get within 11 at 26-15. They got no closer, however. Key Moments in the game included a pivotal sequence right at the start of the second half. After St. Ignatius kicked off, St. Xavier failed to collect the ball, providing an opening for St. Ignatius lock Vollmer to set up a swift series of passes from him to Kotnik to Steen. Having just taken the field as a reserve, Steen immediately paid off that trust with a hustle try that made it 19-0 and was, in the end, the game-winner. Recognition was also extended to the team's defenders, including Brian McGrath at center and French at scrumhalf, and strong performances from fullback Tommy Kilbain and No. 8 Charlie Shmelter. Special recognition is due co-captain Teagan Frain, who lined up at wing in this match and in fact played every single position in the backline this season: scrumhalf, flyhalf, center, wing, and fullback, giving his team whatever it needed. The second half was a tough one, however. "We were definitely on the wrong side of the penalty count and really had to defend most of the second half, but the boys did that and did a good job of it," said Head Coach Dan Arbeznik, who has guided the Wildcats to nine state championships and their 2022 National Championship. Though the Wildcats emerged victorious, their own Davey Kotnik echoed the team's introspective approach, saying, "I think we struggled to keep the ball in our possession and that was what we wanted to do." Charlie Shmelter emphasized the physical nature of their encounter: "We wanted to exert ruck dominance. It was a very physical game." This caps off the Wildcats' season, which includes a Varsity B state championship over St. Edward. Overall, the St. Ignatius Varsity A, Varsity B, JV, and Freshman squads were a combined 71-16-1.