Notable Names From HS Nationals
Notable Names From HS Nationals
A look at some notable athletes who made a name for themselves at the Boys HS Rugby National Championships.
The Boys High School Rugby National Championships have been a launching pad for some accomplished athletes. Here's a look at a few:
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Petri enjoyed a brilliant career with the Eagles and NYAC and then returned to teach and coach at Xavier as well as write a children's book, "R is for Rugby: An Alphabet Book."
Scott LaValla
Don't let the scowl fool you, he's actually a really goofy guy. LaValla played for Budd Bay out of Olympia, WA, at nationals, and it was a weird tournament for the team. Budd Bay tied its first two games but lost on penalty kicks before winning its final match outright. So in terms of playing in regulation, the team never lost and yet finished seventh. LaValla was named player of the tournament anyway.
He went on to pass up a chance to play college football to attend Dublin University and play for its rugby team, Trinity. He became the first American to captain Trinity and then followed that up with a stellar career for the Eagles and Stade Francais. His career ended when he missed the 2015 World Cup due to a broken elbow and then he retired from rugby to enlist in the U.S. Army.
Ngata helped Highland to multiple championships in 2000 and 2001, and he was hard to miss. The massive, light-footed lock was a steamroller in helping the Utah team physically dominate some very powerful squads. Ngata went on to play football at Oregon and was a multiple-time All-Pro in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens, helping them to the Super Bowl XLVII title. He finished his career with the Detroit Lions.
Cima won high school nationals as a member of Gonzaga (DC) College High School with a clutch touchline conversion. He then won a Junior World Trophy qualifier against Canada with a 50-meter penalty. And then he ensured the USA men's national team would secure the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship with more clutch kicking, including the conversion that tied the final game. All of those titles came in the space of less than three years.
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Mike Petri
The former Xavier (NY) High School scrumhalf was the Knights' captain and has held the same honor on each of his following teams -- the USA U19s, the Collegiate All Americans, NYAC, and occasionally for the USA national team.
Petri enjoyed a brilliant career with the Eagles and NYAC and then returned to teach and coach at Xavier as well as write a children's book, "R is for Rugby: An Alphabet Book."
Scott LaValla
Don't let the scowl fool you, he's actually a really goofy guy. LaValla played for Budd Bay out of Olympia, WA, at nationals, and it was a weird tournament for the team. Budd Bay tied its first two games but lost on penalty kicks before winning its final match outright. So in terms of playing in regulation, the team never lost and yet finished seventh. LaValla was named player of the tournament anyway.
He went on to pass up a chance to play college football to attend Dublin University and play for its rugby team, Trinity. He became the first American to captain Trinity and then followed that up with a stellar career for the Eagles and Stade Francais. His career ended when he missed the 2015 World Cup due to a broken elbow and then he retired from rugby to enlist in the U.S. Army.
Haloti Ngata
Ngata helped Highland to multiple championships in 2000 and 2001, and he was hard to miss. The massive, light-footed lock was a steamroller in helping the Utah team physically dominate some very powerful squads. Ngata went on to play football at Oregon and was a multiple-time All-Pro in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens, helping them to the Super Bowl XLVII title. He finished his career with the Detroit Lions.
Ben Cima
Cima won high school nationals as a member of Gonzaga (DC) College High School with a clutch touchline conversion. He then won a Junior World Trophy qualifier against Canada with a 50-meter penalty. And then he ensured the USA men's national team would secure the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship with more clutch kicking, including the conversion that tied the final game. All of those titles came in the space of less than three years.
Johnson Bademosi
The Gonzaga HS speedster went on to star at Stanford in football and play for the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions. Bademosi was also notable for waring "I Can't Breathe" written on his warmup jersey before a Cleveland game in response to the controversy and protests around the death of Eric Garner. He wrote an eloquent explanation of why he decided to do that here.
Maka Unufe
While Maka Unufe's United team would lose the 2011 High School National Championships club final to Highland, Unufe was the talk of the day as he scored two brilliant tries and was all over a huge impact for his team. Within five months he was playing for the USA sevens team at the Pan-Am Games, and he has not looked back, remaining a crucial player for the Eagles.
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