Sues’ Dynasty Continues

Sues were crowned 2022 Intrasquads champions on Monday, February 14th in Oosterbaan Field House after a match day filled with exciting comebacks, riveting tantrums, and beautiful rugby. The semi-final match ended in 45-17 Sues’ victory over Dudes, and the final match between Sues and Bennies ended in a 24-22 Sues victory. 

First Side Results

Second Side Results

Final Power Rankings

#3 Dudes

The Dudes’ season did not go to plan. The preseason #1 ranked team got off to a hot start against eventual-champion Sues in the semifinal match, sprinting out to a 17-0 lead in the first half. Senior Bill Young was responsible for two of those early tries. However, that would be all for the prop, as his vocal disagreements with the officiating earned him a red card at the start of the second half. Whether Dudes’ early lead was forged through fortune or through skill, they weren’t able to hold it with just six men. Sues went on to score 45 unanswered points,ending the Dudes’ season in disappointing fashion.

Dudes’ second side had a stronger finals day than their first side. Devin Ekbote and Barry Dechtman–two promising young ruggers–carried Dudes through two tight games to claim the second side championship. Luke Boll and Tommy Hendricks–two first side fifteens players–joined the championship match to ensure Dudes’ season did not end without any hardwear. Cheers to the young boys! As the old guard storms off the pitch, the future is bright for Dudes. 

#2 Bennies

Bennies entered finals day with the #1 seed and a first-round bye. The rest that they were afforded was not enough to pull through in the finals against Sues, however. Bennies started strong and mounted a comeback at the end, yet a lapse in the middle of play–where George Janke scored three tries–sunk Bennies’ hopes of ultimate victory. Nathan Feldman, Shea Loughnane, Nic Granchalek and Hayden Foote each put up tries in the nailbiting 24-22 championship match. In a moment of sibling rivalry, freshman Shea Loughnane shook his brother, Braden, out of his shoes, with devastatingly quick feet. Happy trails, Braden!

Bennies’ second side made a strong appearance in their championship match, yet the hole in which they dug themselves against Dudes proved to be insurmountable. Despite the most valiant of comeback attempts, Bennies’ second side finished second. Matt Golub, a senior, scored two tries in the final. Underclassmen Jackson Cox and Justin Ladd figure to be prominent first side players in next year’s tournament. 

#1 Sues

It all came together in the end for Sues’ first side. Led by George Janke’s three tries and Braden Loughnane’s unflinching leadership, Sues pulled off a narrow 24-22 victory of Bennies in the final after romping Dudes 45-17 in the semifinals. Janke found success on the ground, punching in two of his three tries on grubbers–a new skill for the big man. The rugby, as suggested by Janke’s kicking, was free-flowing, with zero scrums in the finals. Grant Sasina had mixed success on conversions, but his mediocrity did not matter in the end, as Sues, a team with high expectations going into the year, managed to come together when it counted most. Sues will have high expectations going into next year, as all of their first-side starters will be returning. 

Sues’ second side did not turn in as strong of a performance as their first side managed. Jamie Willcox scored one try and two conversions in the semifinals, while Keith Hudson and Justin Chiang pitched in tries in the losing effort. As Sues’ second siders watched their first side counterparts win the championship and the Dudes and Bennies compete for the second side championship, they will surely regroup and come back as strong as ever next year. 

Play of the Week

This was a tricky one! Grant Sasina pulls of a nifty short kickoff, allowing prolific try-scorer George Janke to scoop the ball up and take it straight into the try zone.

Leading Scorers

Thank you for following our coverage of the 2022 Intrasquads tournament. The team goes on spring break tour next week, and the spring season officially kicks off on March 26. Otherwise, check back in next year for more Intrasquads rugby.