GRR: Kansas Youth Rugby
St. Thomas Aquinas is hosting the 2016 Heart of America Classic this weekend, with 12 well-regarded HS teams from around the country.
Aquinas is on a role, having shown well at tournaments in Oklahoma and Lindenwood University, and having beaten their arch rivals, KC Jr. Blues, in a recent game.
Aquinas, along with the Blues, will field two teams in the HOA.
St. Thomas Aquinas of Kansas defeated their longtime cross-border rivals Kansas City Junior Blues 15-0 Saturday in wet, unpleasant conditions.
Aquinas struggled to get out of their own way a little bit in the first half, and entered the break up 3-0 thanks to a penalty goal from Sam Gasparovich. But, said Head Coach Tim Kluempers, it could have been more.
The second of two intense preseason tournaments in the middle of the country will kick off this weekend with the Lindenwood Invitational, one week after the Oklahoma Showdown.
St. Thomas Aquinas defeated the Kansas City Cougars 38-12 Saturday to take the Kansas Youth Rugby championship and exact revenge on a team that had beaten them earlier in the season.
Aquinas Head Coach Tim Kluempers said his team controlled the kicking game much better in this meeting of the two teams.
St. Thomas Aquinas finally got one over on their rivals, Kansas City Junior Blues this week, defeating the Blues 25-22 Wednesday evening.
Aquinas had lost twice to the Blues this season, 10-5 in the KC Tournament on March 29, and 31-24 a week later in Kansas City.