CINCINNATI — Classes may be finished at most high schools across Ohio, but some lessons in rugby will be learned on the field in Obetz this weekend: the state championships.
What You Need To Know
- Withrow HS takes on defending champs Watkins in Boys State Div. 2 finals
- Withrow is coached by Nathan Myers, who started the program in 2016
- It's the first time the inner-city Cincinnati School has made it to a state championship in any sport since 1994
- The finals are Saturday at 10 a.m. at Fortress Obetz
The Withrow Tigers in Cincinnati earned a spot in the Division 2 finals after beating Perryville 55 to 13. They’re taking on defending champs, the Watkins Warriors, at the Fortress Obitz, Saturday morning at 10.
Spectrum News first introduced you to the Tigers last year. The inner-city school has been making headlines because all of their players are still newcomers to the sport. They all learned how to play in high school, compared to other teams that have kids who started playing when they were as young as 4 years old.
“Each year, we have the tall task of taking kids who’ve never played a meaningful minute of rugby in their lives and put them together with guys who’ve been playing for two, three or four years,” said Nathan Myers, head coach and a teacher at the school who started the program back in 2016.
“We really lean on veterans to be patient but also to model the game for rookies,” Myers said.
One of those veterans is fly-half Ja’Mez Early, a graduating senior who has received several offers to play for college programs.
“It’s amazing because rugby isn’t a popular sport at Withrow I think being able to be at state will get a lot of spotlight that we need to give more guys that one to play the confidence to come out here with Coach Myers and the team,” Early said.
Early, who was forced to sit out his freshman year because of an injury, says he’s learned and grown a lot in the three years he’s played on the team.
“Rugby gives you a chance to be you. If you like to carry the ball, it gives you a chance to carry the ball and it gives you the chance to be aggressive to tackle,” Early said. “It also helps you work on being a man because you have to dial in your emotions and channel them into something positive as well.”
It’s the pursuit of excellence that Coach Myers has ingrained in his players since the first practice every year.
“Coming up this Saturday, we really have the opportunity to come through on the promise that we’re making to each other, to be excellent and to support each other in that pursuit,” Myers said.
It’s the first time a Tiger team has made the state finals in any sport since the men’s basketball team in 1994.