The State College Area High School girls rugby team emerged as the No. 3 team in the country this weekend at the National Invitational Tournament in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
State College finished the tournament without a loss, picking up two wins and a tie decided by shootout.
Action began Saturday against the Michigan state champion, Grandville High School. State College got out to an early lead with tries by seniors Gigi Agliardo and Joannah Skucheck and conversion kicks by Mia Wicks. But Grandville came back late in the second half to tie it a 22-22 before winning the deciding shootout.
Later on Saturday, State College took on South Mecklenburg High School from Charlotte, N.C. It was an even battle with both teams scoring three tries, but Wicks’ kicking made the difference to give State College a 19-17 win and spot in Sunday’s third-place game.
There State College took on Tennessee’s McMinn County High School and played what head coach Bernie Cantorna called one of the team’s hardest-hitting games of the season. Seniors Ally Sommer and Chloe Spencer, sophomore Allaina Wagner and freshman Maya Mondock turned in standout defensive performances as State College earned a 34-14 win and third place nationally.
‘The most rewarding part of this trip to nationals was to see the team grow and improve during the course of the three-game tournament,’ Cantorna said. ‘The 34-14 win featured great team tries with long runs and multiple players handling the ball.’
