Dexter Rugby Team Named State Champions

The Dexter High School rugby team defeated Kalamazoo 25-12 to win the Michigan Youth Rugby Association Division 2 state championship May 28 at Holland West Ottawa High School.

For Dexter coach Paul Burke, the state championship was a perfect ending to an up and down season.

“As always, winning feels great,” he said. “Winning this championship is special for a couple of reasons. We had a very mixed start to the season. We would play poorly and lose, then we would play poorly and win, and then we’d play well and lose. Then right at the end in the state semifinals, we played to our full potential and won 45-7 versus Grand Blanc.”

With its victory over the Bobcats in the semifinals, Dexter braced itself for a battle with powerful Kalamazoo in the state final. The Dreadnaughts saved their best effort for their last contest of the year.

“The final was a tough game against a big team,” Burke said. “Everything we needed to do well we did. We had a huge defensive display against a very strong Kalamazoo forward pack and our offense really got it together and put them under pressure every time we had the ball.”

Burke said Dexter’s program, which began in 2004, is starting to make its mark at the state level.

“We are building a team to challenge for Division 1 states and to be competitive in the Midwest regional tournament,” Burke said. “This team is very smart. They have learned a lot in a short amount of time. They have given us the platform on which to build the program.”

Burke said the Dreadnaughts’ key to victory against Kalamazoo in the state championship game was defense and team unity.

“They were tough to beat (in the state final) because they defended so well,” he said. “Everyone worked together for the victory. I am proud of the way the team worked together and developed in a championship side. Everybody helped each other develop into their positions and to learn the game.”