The Utah Lions swept all six games at the High School Rugby Challenge competition held during the Collegiate Rugby Championship 7s in Philadelphia this past weekend, beating Malvern Prep 26-0 in the final to cap off a superb run of 12 wins in 2014.

The Lions are an invitational academy squad begun by Michael Cressler in Utah. The players are hand-picked from mostly the Salt Lake City area (to ensure players can travel to practices). They are chosen for their rugby ability and also for their character.

"Team chemistry is more important than skills on the field," said Cressler. 

But rugby ability matters, too. These are players that Utah Youth Rugby thinks have the potential to go far in the game. Throughout the year these players have met on a regular basis to develop their skills. They entered the Boys Open HS bracket at the Las Vegas Invitational, and won that, beating British Columbia's 3rd team, Bingham, ICEF, Bermuda, and two all-star teams from Tennessee. In fact, they dominated, outscoring opponents 165-29 and never allowing more than a try a game.

In Philly, the story was much the same, with only one game - a pool game against 2012 HSRC winners Perry Street Pride that the Lions won 12-10. In that game, the Utah kids were finally challenges. They dominated possession in the first half, but saw their pattern break down in the second half. The Pride punished the Lions for their indiscipline, and almost won. However, sweeper Aleni Aiono made two brilliant try-saving tackles to preserve the victory.

In one of those tackles, the Pride player was diving over the line when Aiono flew in, grabbed his opponent, and turned the ballcarrier in mid-air so that they both landed on their backs, and the ball was held up.

"I have played rugby for a long time," said Cressler, "and I have never seen a natural rugby player like him. That play, I just couldn't believe it."

The Lions allowed only three tries in six games - two from Pride - and outscored opponents 153-17.

"We work on skill development and other things as well," said Cressler, who will take his team to the Denver 7s and the Calgary Stampede 7s this summer. "We work on fitness, kinesiology, nutrition, sports psychology ... We wanted to create a true team of athletes who were also well prepared. With a lot of teams we just pressured them until they started to play as individuals, and then we tore them up. Our guys understand the team aspect and how the team comes first. What pleases me mor than winning the tournament is that a referee told me we were the classiest team, high school or college, he saw all weekend. I was very pleased to hear that."

Cressler is not a shouter, and lets the players use their training on the field. Instead, he takes copious notes during a game, and gives his observations to the bench players who will, after all, soon be on the field to impart the wisdom to their teammates.

All the players contributed, but there is always a player who sticks out a little bit more. Aiono (Wasatch) was named MVP of the tournament, and Man of the Team by the rest of the Lions. Matt Minder (Highland) was a creator and motivator, while Matt Larson (Bingham) was the quiet rock who just kept the team moving.

Darian Power (United) led the team with 34 points, while Elliott McDaniel (Highland) led the team with four tries. Thirteen of the 15 players in the squad scored tries on the weekend.