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News releasePITTSBURGH -- The Highland Rugby team capped off a perfect season by claiming the 2009 USA Rugby U-19 National Championship today at Pittsburgh's Founders Field.
In the all-Utah final, Highland defeated United 32-0.
"Defense wins championships. Offense determines by how much," Coach Larry Gelwix said. "We just played incredible defense."
Standout players included Aylma Kenny. Dion Stevens. Don Pati, Kody Thompson, and Sam Brookham - "I thought those four in particular played just tremendous game," Gelwix said.
Highland Rugby ended the season with a perfect 12-0 record, bringing Coach Larry Gelwix's overall win/loss total in his 34 years of coaching to an unprecedented 392-9. That 98 percent winning percentage is arguably one of the best - if not the best - records nationally.
The team‘s championship legacy is immortalized in the new DVD, FOREVER STRONG, which releases May 26. The film shows how Gelwix not only builds championship teams, but championship boys.
Following in the tradition of Rudy, Remember the Titans and We are Marshall, FOREVER STRONG offers sports action, drama and the results of following a strong ethical code to achieve victory on and off the field.
Coach Gelwix's motto throughout his 34-year coaching career at Highland, "Be forever strong on the field, so you can be forever strong off the field," has inspired countless teenage boys and serves as the driving force behind an unstoppable rugby powerhouse.
(Courtesy Crane Movie Company)
