LCI, Winston Churchill rugby teams capture provincial championships

By Lethbridge Herald on June 9, 2025.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward The LCI Clippers varsity girls rugby team celebrate after winning the Alberta Schools' Athletic Association 4A provincial banner for a second consecutive year on Saturday at Lethbridge Sports Park.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Two local high school rugby teams captured Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association provincial championships on home turf over the weekend at Lethbridge Sports Park.

The LCI Rams varsity girls team repeated as 4A provincial champions and did so by beating the same team they did last season in the Raymond Comets by a score of 17-12.

“It’s probably what we would’ve wished for from the beginning of the year,” said Samantha Wiersma, LCI head coach.

“ I think we’re the top two (teams) in the province, so I think it’s a pretty accurate representation, and so for us to come away with the win and go undefeated this year, it was extra special.”

Wiersma says more pressure  was on them this year compared to when they won the championship last season.

“It felt almost like we deserved and we expected to be here,” said Wiersma.

“So, to just mentally know what it feels like to get to the top already, I think it helped the girls to just take that one more step and win it again.”

Madison Kutsch, an LCI captain, finished her  high school career as a repeat champion with having been on both rugby teams.

“We just really dug in as a team, “ said Kutsch.

“That was definitely a rough game but we all worked super hard.”

Kutsch was a part of a group of players that had been playing since together since Grade 9.

“This game is our last time playing together, last time playing rugby in high school, so we all left it on the line,” said Kutsch.

LCI opened up their provincial championship tournament with a 54-7 win over Red Deer’s Notre Dame followed by a 43-0 win over Strathcona  on Friday before reaching Saturday’s final.

The provincial championship capped off an undefeated season through 10-0-1 season for LCI.

As for the Winston Churchill Griffins varsity girls team, they defeated W.R. Myers 46-5 in the gold medal match on Saturday to take the 3A girls provincial title.

“It was working together,” said Shanelle Mann, who went out a championship as a Grad 12 player.

“We found where our strengths were and put the people where they needed to be.”

Churchill head coach Shannon Court spoke about what made the girls successful.

“They gave it their all,” said Court.

“There was no sag, they did exactly as we asked, I gave them goals and they did the goals.”

Court  saw the players step up in the championships.

“They just really hit  their stride starting  with zones and this weekend and it’s just been really awesome to see them grow,” said Court.

Churchill opened their tournament with a 29-0 win over Strathmore and a 53-0 win over Matthew Halton on Friday before Saturday’s gold medal match.

The Churchill boys won the  4A bronze medal after defeating Henry Wise Wood 40-5, while the LCI boys won the 4A consolation final 17-0 over McNally.