The West Ottawa rugby team surged to the state finals for the first time in a decade.
It takes a lot of strength and leadership to put together a run like that.
The Panthers were led by Gio Loyola and Blayton Guy, and the senior duo was selected as the Holland Sentinel Co-Rugby Players of the Year.
“This season was nothing short of incredible,” Loyola said. “Reaching the state final is an achievement I’ll always be proud of, even though we didn’t come out on top, the journey was unforgettable. We faced our share of challenges especially with injuries, but we still pushed through. From our practices starting in early January to grinding every day with my teammates, all the hard work really did pay off.”
West Ottawa coach Garrett Daniel said Loyola was a big part of that.
“Gio brings positive energy and a big smile,” Daniel said. “He joined rugby his sophomore year as a way to get in shape and fell in love with the game and team. Put in the sacrifice to get better and this year, he exploded. He is a hard runner and tackler and embodied the culture of the team.”
It is something Loyola quickly learned from Guy.
“I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime. I couldn’t have asked for a better season,” Loyola said. “Big shout out to my teammates for making everyday fun, and thanks to my mom for the support she gave me everyday. And I wouldn’t have been happier to share this title than with my best friend, Blayton.”
Guy brought his own set of skills to the pitch every day as a four-year starter.
“He over came a major injury his sophomore year,” Daniel said. “He has one of the greatest passions for rugby that I’ve ever seen. Every team knew they needed to target him, yet he still found ways to make plays. One of the greatest captains I’ve coached. The other players love and respect him.”
And the feeling was mutual, which led to an extremely close group.
“I love these guys,” Guy said. “When I think about this season I think about all the fun we had. From fun at practice to our team dinners. You could lock all of us in an empty room and we would still have a good time. We’ve got a great group of guys this year. I met most of my best friends on this team. Sure, making it to the state final is cool, but the fun truly was in the process.
“I hope that I never forget these boys.”
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Rugby players of the year
Reporting by Dan D’Addona, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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