ELKHART – The Warsaw Area Rugby Club put an exclamation point on its best season ever Saturday.

The talented team wrapped up the campaign by winning a Division II state championship.

The Warsaw team defeated Pike High School out of Indianapolis 31-10 in the state title match played at the Moose Rugby Grounds.

The state champions, made up of players from WCHS, Whitko High School and Plymouth High School, claimed their first state championship. It was the first time that the club had played for the state title since being formed in the fall of 2002.

Kyle Heckaman scored two tries for the champions. Tries were also scored by Austin Taylor, Jason Taylor and Luke Schumaker in the victory.

Ressano Garcia kicked two conversions and Jason Taylor one.

“I was very pleased with our team’s aggressiveness Saturday,” said Warsaw coach Mark Caruso. “The tackling took our opponents out of their game and they had no answer for our back play. Pike is definitely the toughest opponent we played this season and are incredibly well coached.”

“I am proud of the hard work all 25 of the players put in this year. There was an excellent focus on our goals and any one of these players who took the pitch gave it their all. I am incredibly excited for the lads. Truly sublime.”

Caruso, whose team was ranked No. 1 and finished with a 10-1 record this season, also praised the outstanding work of his back line coach Mike Burke.

Jason Taylor was named MVP of the title match.  The quartet of Heckaman, Jason Taylor, Brandon Bergman and Marcos Rodriguez earned All-State honors.