The fall high school sports season is quickly coming to a close.

Over the past two weekends, the Summit High School girls rugby team finished off its schedule of league games. On Saturday, Oct. 11, the Summit’s top varsity team traveled to Highlands Ranch High School to play a pair of marches against the No. 2 Monarch Coyotes and the Hammers from Fort Collins.

Summit came away with a 26-10 and 34-0 victories in Highlands Ranch, giving the team momentum heading into the final weekend of league games.

Despite windy conditions, Summit racked up three wins in Arvada on Saturday, Oct. 18. The team knocked off the No. 3 Lumberjackies from Conifer/Evergreen, Valor and East High School.

In the first match, Summit managed to score nine tries, shutting out the Lumberjackies, 47-0.

“The first game was the worst wind I have ever competed in and it took a lot of adapting, reducing our spacing and adjusting our tactics, but the team performed well under pressure and I feel very prepared for the upcoming challenges we will face in Idaho,” junior Hannah Webb said.

Summit then went on to take on Valor where the team managed to reach a historic milestone. In the middle of the program’s 30th season, Summit defeated Valor 33-0 to record its 500th win.

Summit would soon capture its 501st win with a 39-5 tromping over the Angels of East High School.

Summit was led offensively by senior Hailey Russer’s 41 points (seven tries, three conversions), senior Teagan Barth’s 33 points (three tries, nine conversions) and sophomore Avery Russer’s five tries. Junior Jenavive Bradford and junior Deidre Dalzell also contributed numerous points for the team, cashing in on four tries each.

“It was a great couple weeks as a team really building on our defensive principles,” head coach Karl Barth said. “Avery Thisted was a defensive force and our line speed and aggression were a real focus. We faced a series of different challenges and it was a great team effort across the board.” 

Summit’s second varsity-level team, The Tigers, recorded close wins against Valor, the Hammers and Lumberjacks during the two weekends. The Tigers fell to Monarch and East.

With the regular season now wrapped up, the Summit girls rugby team will travel to Boise, Idaho for the Western 7’s rugby tournament on Saturday, Oct. 25. The Tigers meanwhile will stay in Colorado to compete for the program’s 18th-straight state title in Aurora on Saturday.