This year was a wild ride in Parry Rugby history, so I wanted to record some of the coolest moments . . .
1. Cody earning a starting spot at UVU for the Division IAA National Championship Game at Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City. He missed the fall season due to his LDS mission (and came home 30 pounds lighter due to the rice and beans only diet), so he needed to work hard all winter and spring to end up on the A squad. Wahoo!
2. "TRY!" on the big screen at Rio Tinto after Cody pushed aside defenders and used his long running legs to score, pulling UVU ahead in the second half.
3. "TRY!" again! Touche for Cody! Two tries in a row!
4. Cody on the television news that evening and on ksl.com. It's become our standard Parry casual remark: check out ksl.com/UVU rugby.
5. 3rd time is a charm. Cody has played twice before at Rio Tinto Stadium: in the high school national championship tournament (2011, Snow Canyon High School) and with UVU in 2012, but now he takes home a win.
6. This also has to tie for #1, just on the high school level . . . In the State Championship Game at the University of Utah, Snow Canyon and Herriman are tied at the end of regulation play, and Snow Canyon earns a penalty kick. In cold rain on a muddy and slippery field, at a very difficult angle . . . Sam Slivers delivers a miracle, curving the ball through the uprights for the State Title.
7. Watching Dylan move into the #10 spot for Snow Canyon, including the game against Cedar when he enabled just about every player to score, spreading the love (and winning by 100).
8. Watching little Snow Canyon stand up to and successfully maneuver around much larger teams. Seeing Polynesian-heavy East High come onto the field in the semi-final game was intimidating, but Snow Canyon used their speed game to score twice in the first five minutes and never looked back.
9. Traveling as UVU and Snow Canyon groupies (i.e. parents) to see games and tournaments from UCLA to Phoenix. Fun times.
10. Watching mighty mite and fearless Wyatt as #9 on Snow Canyon 9/10, hanging with players easily twice his size. They fought their way to the state semi-finals game (through 2 lightning delays). . . . Next year . . .
