In the 33 years since Larry Gelwix started the Highland (Utah) team, it has become the premier high school rugby team in America.
But Brother Gelwix, the only head coach the team has ever had, said, "It's not about rugby. It's about turning out championship boys. It's much easier to turn out a championship team than to turn out championship boys. We're trying to teach young men to be forever strong on the field, so that they will be forever strong off the field."
To make that happen means applying gospel principles, Brother Gelwix said during a Church News interview. He began doing that as a seminary teacher when he started the team at Highland and the results have been remarkable on and off the field. Among LDS team members, more have gone on to serve missions than the coach can keep track of. There is great satisfaction in the general outcome for all Highland rugby players academically, career-wise and in society.
Applying gospel principles, he noted, doesn't mean preaching Mormonism. It includes principles such as morality, cleanliness, honesty, integrity and avoiding dangerous things and circumstances.
Since rugby is not a sanctioned high school sport, the Highland team operates as a club. That means that though most players in 9th-12th grades are from Highland, some come from other schools. The club has to support itself by raising its own funds.
As he spoke of the team's on- and off-field success — the subject of the newly released movie titled "Forever Strong" after Highland's principle motto — Brother Gelwix explained his leadership philosophy.
There are two leadership styles in the world including sports, business and families, he said — vertical and horizontal.
Vertical is where the leader is at the top and everyone else is below and other than his or her circle of favorites, no one is good enough. The methods of motivation are such things as intimidation and fear, and though they may lead to short-term behavior change, it doesn't motivate sacrifice for the good of the team.
Horizontal leadership, he continued, recognizes everyone's claim on human dignity and respect. There is a clear outline of goals and expectations of what is required. Different responsibilities are understood and respected. Members are willing to sacrifice for the team and share the credit.
Highland has only one team rule, he said: "Don't do anything that would embarrass you, your family, your faith or this team."
At a team meeting for players and parents at the beginning of each spring season, parents are told they have 48 hours to have a detailed discussion with their boys about alcohol, drugs, pornography, lying, cheating, stealing and staying morally clean.
When players tell their coach they've made a mistake, he said he deals with it on a case-by-case basis as far as their status on the team but, no matter what, he encourages each to talk to their parents and religious leader about it.
For the more than three decades Brother Gelwix has led Highland rugby, he has been pleased with overall success, not just with the "good" boys, but with many boys who overcame troubles in their lives.
He said, "As long as we can help these boys grow up with their feet on the ground, their heads screwed tight on their shoulders, avoiding a lot of the junk of life, to be forever-strong boys, I hope to be a part of this program."
E-mail to: ghill@desnews.com
Highland rugby
• The Highland varsity team win-loss record is 379-9.
• Of the 24 national high school championships sponsored by USA Rugby, Highland has won the championship 18 times, finished second five times and third one time. Highland is the only team that, through a series of regional playoffs, has qualified for all 24 national championships. Highland is the defending champion.
• Highland has a no-cut policy. Head coach Larry Gelwix says, "If a player is willing to do the work, we have a place for him."
• Highland is a club team; the Utah High School Activities Association does not currently sanction rugby.
• All Highland coaches and medical staff are volunteers.
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