By Tom Witherspoon / HSSTM Central Kansas
tom.witherspoon@hsstm.com

The Wichita area high school Spartans Rugby Club is nearing the end of its first season of competition. On May 17, the club will travel to Lawrence to play in the Kansas High School Championships.

Kickoff is at noon against Kansas City Schlagle at the Westwick Rugby Complex. According to one of the club's coaches, Britton Harper, the tournament bracket will be filled out by St Thomas Aquinas, Lawrence, Shawnee Mission East and Olathe. The South Central Spartans currently number 16 players from six different area high schools.

Harper, currently a player for the Wichita Rugby Club, which was responsible for spawning the new high school program this past winter, coaches the team along with Wayne Janne and Charles Ford, both former players for the club. Janne's son, Bryce, who attends Goddard High, became curious about the sport last fall, so Janne tested the waters with the club for the creation of a high school team. Harper's son, Ttorbin, who had stepped in to play for the men's team before, also was looking for the opportunity, so the two joined forces.

The Spartans played their first match against the club's men's team in March and have competed against a couple other area men's teams. They are 2-0 against high school competition this spring, coming off a 22-19 win over Edmond, Okla., this past Saturday at Harrison Park in Wichita.

For more information on scrums, switches, skips and the game of rugby played at the high school level, contact Wayne Janne at 729-0448.