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Following Victory over No. 1 Gonzaga, Rugby Cats Move to No. 3 in the Country

By Joe Ginley '12 , 03/05/20, 1:45PM EST

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The Wildcats will host Avon Lake on Sunday.

Following an upset of the preseason No. 1 team in the country, the Wildcats are climbing the national rankings.

Goff Rugby Report has set the Saint Ignatius varsity rugby team as the No. 3 squad in the country in its latest rankings.

Entering the year, the Wildcats stood at No. 10 in the nation. And then on Saturday, the Rugby Cats bested No. 1 Gonzaga, 24-15. The Wildcats also did it on the road after a bus trip of nearly three hours.  

Entering the season, the Wildcats' head coach, Dan Arbeznik '00, knew he would have a young team. Saint Ignatius lost many of its veteran starters from last year, including Seamus McCarthy (Arizona), Janniel Badeas (St. Bonaventure), Ricky Rose (St. Bonaventure), John Stuhldreher (Bowling Green State University), and Declan Boldy (Xavier). But Arbeznik adjusted his strategy to a more finesse game, and it worked to perfection in the season opener. 

The Wildcats will look to keep things rolling on Sunday. The Clevelanders will host Avon Lake for a 2 pm match, with freshmen to follow at 3:30, and JV wrapping things up against the Shoremen at 5 pm. 

The only other Ohio squad in the Goff Top 50 rankings is St. Edward, checking in at No. 11. The Wildcats and Eagles will play on April 2. 

Other ranked schools on the Wildcats' schedule are No. 9 Fishers (March 14 at Dublin Jerome), No. 16 St. Joe's Prep (April 14 in Philadelphia), and No. 24 Saint Louis University HS (March 22 on Wasmer Field).