Call it the double: PMHS varsity rugby team takes state title; day later Pelham Rugby founders honored

The Pelham Memorial High School varsity rugby team, in its first season in existence, won the Division 1 Tier 2 state championship on Sunday. The win over local rivals New Rochelle came on a penalty kick at the very end of the game that gave Pelham a one-point margin of victory.

A day later, Pelham Youth Rugby co-founders Matt Persanis and Tom Kleinberger were given the Pelham Recreation Commission’s annual Dr. John L. Marshall Award honoring volunteer service for the youth of Pelham.

Many of the winners of the state championship are pictured here with Coach Persanis and other coaches after the award presentation at the Daronco Townhouse.

Research is being done, but it is believed this is the high school’s first state title in a team sport.