Rugby Trys for Number One

The 2025-2026 Charlotte Catholic Varsity Rugby season is up and running, and the cougars are off to a great start. The previous season marked a huge turnaround for the program, as they received new talented players as well as a highly experienced head coach. They made it to the State Championship against South Meck, which they unfortunately lost in a hard-fought match. The varsity team has turned into a national powerhouse and they have one goal on their minds: to win the State Championship.

Currently the boys hold a 5-0 record, and almost all of the wins have been dominant victories. Among some of their recent wins, they defeated South Meck 31-7, Marvin Ridge 29-3, and Ardrey Kell 80-21. Some of the key players in these wins include Thomas McKillop, Luke Zhemke, and Will Bishop. 

Junior Thomas McKillop runs by Marvin defender (Credit: Goff Rugby Report)

Junior Jack McFee accredits the team’s success to their great coaching. “Coach Zhemke is great. He pushes us to our limits every practice and he never hesitates to share his knowledge about the game of rugby.” Before coaching Charlotte Catholic Rugby, Coach Zhemke played professionally and most recently he coached the number one nationally-ranked Charlotte Cardinals HS Boys Team to the 2024 National Championship title in Elkhart, Indiana. The team is also led by assistant coaches Sean Kim and Iain McKillop. 

Now the boys are preparing for one of the most important games of their lives. This weekend, the entire men’s rugby team will be traveling to San Diego, California to play the current number one team in the country, Cathedral Catholic. Junior Will Dominguez expressed his fears before the game, stating, “Cathedral Catholic is unlike anything the team have seen and played against before. Many of their players are large Samoans and it will be hard to penetrate their defense.”

However, he remains confident in the team’s abilities and is positive they will put up a fight. Will hopes the team will earn the number one spot in the country. Jack McFee said, “It would mean the world to the team to win, as all our hard work would finally pay off.”