Valuable Lessons for Denver East on SoCal Trip
Valuable Lessons for Denver East on SoCal Trip
Denver East HS is back from its City of Angels tour, the 29th tour the team has taken.
The East team took a trip to Southern California, and thanks to fundraising and generous community support, all 47 players were able to travel to Southern California to compete.
Upon arrival, the team held its traditional goals banquet, where each player stood before their teammates, coaches, and more than 40 family members to share personal and team goals for the weekend—a powerful kickoff to the experience.
Saturday’s matches against Belmont Shore Rugby tested the team’s mettle. Despite a strong start, the East A-side fell 51–12 to Belmont Shore's formidable U19 squad. The B-side and C-side also took the field, with the C-side earning the only win of the day. The afternoon wrapped up with some well-earned beach time and a spontaneous game of touch rugby.
Sunday brought renewed energy as East faced off against the South Orange County Raptors. In a gritty comeback effort, the A-side erased a 14-point second-half deficit to earn a hard-fought tie, 19-19. The B-side and C-side both played with resilience, but lost their games.
The tour concluded with the achievements banquet, where players reflected on their experiences and growth. Senior scrumhalf Cole Conforti was named Player of the Tour for his standout offensive play and leadership.
Head coach Zach Levek expressed pride in his team’s performance and gratitude to everyone who made the trip possible:
“We wanted to challenge ourselves and take on some of the best high school competition in the US, and I am proud of the effort of all the players. We’ll need to keep improving to make a run in the Colorado state playoffs.”
