The Jesuit Varsity Rugby team embarked on an epic 800-mile journey to Southern California on January 17, tackling two rugby matches, countless memories, and a couple of well-deserved stops at In-N-Out Burger along the way.
Friday Night Lights at Mira Costa
The Marauders hit the road early Friday morning, arriving in time to regroup at their hotel before facing Mira Costa High School under the lights. It was a spirited match that saw Jesuit shaking off the travel fatigue. Strong support play led to early tries from Luke Johnston '25 and Josh Baleiwelagi '25, but defensive gaps allowed the Mustangs to answer back quickly. The first half ended with Mira Costa in the lead, 15-10.
In the second half, Jesuit's forwards took control, pinning Mira Costa in their half. Impressive efforts from Barrett Saich '26, Jack Patock '25, and Cooper Getz '26 secured three more tries, sealing a 25-15 victory for Jesuit.
Saturday Showdown in San Diego
Despite the excitement from their Friday night win, Jesuit faced new challenges on Saturday morning as they traveled to San Diego to play Cathedral Catholic High School. Injuries forced lineup adjustments, and the lack of cohesion against a polished and skilled Cathedral team became evident. Mistakes were punished swiftly, and Jesuit found themselves trailing 38-0 at halftime.
In the second half, both teams took the opportunity to rotate players and experiment with combinations. Jesuit managed to score two late tries but couldn't close the gap, falling to the Dons.
A Grateful Reflection
"We want to extend a big thank you to the boosters for making this trip happen," shared Head Coach Andrew Acosta. "We also want to thank both schools for providing locker rooms, food, and trainers. This trip wasn't easy, but it was fairly smooth and allowed us to get some quality games and film for us to review."
While the results were mixed, the 40-hour road trip offered invaluable experiences for the team to grow and bond. Jesuit Rugby continues to build on these moments as they prepare for the next challenges of the season.
