The DSHA Rugby Team won the Wisconsin State Championship against Sussex Hamilton with a score of 36 to 26. The tries were scored by Yesenia Morales (‘23), Ellie Gonzales (‘23), Melanie Sanchez (‘24), Tobie Dahm (‘23), and Mary Czarnecki (‘23). Captain Janie Retzer stated that “our success came from everybody’s motivation. We lost State last year, and I know I can speak for everybody on the team when I say that we didn’t want to have that feeling again.” The team was determined to take back their place as #1 in the state after a devastating loss the year prior. They worked hard every practice and fought to get better as a team every time they stepped on the field. When asked what she learned from this season, Retzer said, “I learned the importance of holding my teammates accountable and holding myself accountable. We especially focused on conditioning and tackling throughout the season to put our best foot forward against Sussex Hamilton.” Much of the DSHA rugby team’s success was due to the tight-knit community of both their A-side and B-side. Retzer says that “we made sure to make time for each other outside of rugby, and I think that makes us want to support each other when we’re on the field. It’s hard to not be motivated by the people you love.”