One glance at the state’s top high school rugby club, and you’d think its players had been on the pitch for years. They’re actually football players and wrestlers without rugby ties.

Taking skilled athletes from other sports then making them just as gifted at rugby is what has fueled the Colorado Springs Grizzlies, the three-time defending state champions who lost against a Welsh team 52-20 on Wednesday at Mountain Ridge Middle School.

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Most players with the Grizzlies, an under-19 club that competes from January until May, come from Pine Creek, and only after the high school wrestling season ends in February does New Zealander John Paterson discover the strength of his team. Within weeks of his full team getting together, Paterson must teach the game to new players and reinforce the fundamentals to returning players – hoping to build depth by capitalizing on athleticism.

A team-first mindset was vital this season, despite the return of high school All-American Michael Black, as the Grizzlies reloaded after losing most starters from last year’s squad to graduation. Paterson received support from a staff of four assistants, including his son, James, a back with the national team, and the Grizzlies were worked into shape by fitness instructors Marc Phillips and Ed Stedman. As always, Paterson demanded physical play, while placing an increased emphasis on the tactics and strategy that often go unnoticed.

“We were fortunate in getting above-average athletes, and they picked up the game very quickly,” said Paterson, whose club produced all eight Springs-area players, most notably Tyler Black and Jeremy Chacon, on the Lindenwood University squad that captured the Division II national title this month in its inaugural varsity season. He added that “it’s not about the game. It’s about building team camaraderie. The sooner we had that chemistry, the sooner the team started to click and play as a team. It’s very much a team sport.”

Winning has become a way of life for the Grizzlies, given their string of five state titles in the past eight years. The Grizzlies weren’t tested this month at state, hammering Cherry Creek 35-8 in the finals on the heels of a 69-0 semifinal victory against Aurora and a 54-8 quarterfinal win against Littleton. They finished third at the national championships this month in Salt Lake City, their lone loss to an Indiana squad that won the eight-team pool.

In his team’s first trip to nationals, Paterson conceded that “some of the boys, they only picked up a rugby ball 12 weeks ago. … We would love to have these kids for five years. In reality, that doesn’t happen.” So Paterson stressed, “Don’t try to complicate the game. … We keep it basic. If we overcomplicate it, that’s when you run into issues with boys not fully understanding it.” Plus, Paterson said, “We took every game as it came to us.”

Welsh coach Gareth Nicholas has seen “some really good athletes” during a three-match U.S. tour that concludes Saturday. “Their game knowledge is improving,” Nicholas said. “Their kicking game is improving. Their game management is improving.” Still, there’s a need “to bring every guy up to speed,” noted Grizzlies captain Dallas Frye, a Pine Creek graduate headed to Northern Colorado. “Most of these guys are seniors. But it’s their first year playing, so we have to download the knowledge. We have to teach them the basics.”

Expectations have grown so high for the Grizzlies that “it would be a disappointment if we didn’t place high at nationals or win state,” Frye said, insisting “I think we can keep it going.” Looking toward next season, “For the new boys coming in, it’s something to look up to,” Paterson said, “which drives them. … As long as we keep making forward steps.”

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazettedev.gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazetteskysox. Google+: Brian Gomez.