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SoCal Varsity White Back From Break

irish rugby tours

SoCal Varsity White Back From Break

The Wilson HS 2019-2020 team after beating Los Alamitos in December.

Back after a short winter break, the Southern California Boys Varsity White teams are looking at an intense sprint to the title.

Saint Anthony has been looking strong despite being a fairly young team. The Saints beat Los Alamitos in a non-league game just before Christmas and a week before lost to Servite—Servite is a championship contender—but only by eight points. The Saints take on 0-2 California HS. 

Warren HS has shown well so far, beating California and now heading into a tough Saturday clash with Wilson HS. But this Wilson team, while not especially deep, is very talented. Led by HS All American Brett Dowgiewicz, this senior-heavy Wilson team also can look to the talents of No. 8 John Jaster, and flanker Zach Desebra (going to Grand Canyon next year).

"Every one of our seniors is going on to college and will play rugby there," said Wilson Head Coach Tony Balasuriya. "That's our goal. That's a huge achievement for us and what we set as our goal rather than worrying about wins."

(Highlights of Wilson HS - if you don't see the video, refesh the page.)

Still, winning is nice and Dowgiewicz has emerged from a strong 2019 season to become a really well-rounded attacking force wherever he plays, although he's likely a flyhalf he could probably play anywhere through the back row or backline. He won't have to, and in part that's because of an exciting talent moving up the ranks in Peter Sio. If you recognize the name, that's because longtime Belmont Shore star and later coach Peter Sio is his uncle. Sio the nephew is a very smart and skilled scrumhalf who also brings a physicality to his game tat could project him to the next level, or two.

Also in action, Los Alamitos plays an up-and-coming Marina HS team that has a ton of potential. Servite plays a non-conference game against Norco, San Juan takes on a new team Corona Del Mar HS.

Corona Del Mar's rugby team was started by one student who convinced the shool to allow a rugby club to get going. That student, Christopher Biagi, recruited players and Back Bay Head Coach Jeff Bonnett, who led Back Bay to a national HS club title last spring, is now coaching. So many of these players are new to the game, but Bonnett, who coaches with Eagle Impact Rugby Academy as well, should have running well in short order.

This will be the first game for both San Juan and Corona Del Mar.

Murrieta Valley is at Roosevelt HS in what is Roosevelt's first run-out.  

Southern California Varsity White Games This Weekend:

1/3/20 Los Alamitos High School vs Marina High School SoCal Varsity White
1/3/20 Murrieta Valley High School vs Roosevelt High School SoCal Varsity White
1/3/20 Great Oak Boys vs Corona Centennial SoCal Varsity White
1/3/20 Servite High School vs Norco High School SoCal Varsity White
1/4/20 Saint Anthony High School vs California High School SoCal Varsity White
1/4/20 Warren High School vs Wilson High School SoCal Varsity White
1/4/20 San Juan Stallions vs Corona Del Mar High School SoCal Varsity White