Franciscan Rugby Reaches the Summit
When the final whistle sounded in Houston, Texas, Franciscan University’s men’s rugby team had done what no team before it had accomplished. With a 29–17 victory over Slippery Rock University on December 14, the Barons claimed the first national championship in program history, capping a stellar season defined by discipline, resilience, and faith.
Franciscan finished the year 12–2 and repeatedly proved it belonged among the nation’s elite. Twice during the season, the Barons defeated the No. 1-ranked team in the country. But the road to the title demanded far more than talent.
After earning a spot in the National Collegiate Rugby Tournament with a play-in win over Susquehanna University on November 15, Franciscan traveled to Rock Hill, South Carolina, to face top-ranked Virginia Military Institute in the Round of 16. Calm under pressure, the Barons delivered a 29–19 upset that set the tone for what was to come.
They followed with a commanding 36–10 victory over Duke University in the Elite Eight before heading to Houston for the Final Four. There, Franciscan overwhelmed Holy Cross 44–20, earning a championship matchup against familiar opponent, Slippery Rock University.
The two teams had split the pair of games they played against one another during the season. The national final would be the ultimate decider.
From the opening kickoff, Franciscan played with urgency and composure. When the final whistle confirmed the victory, sophomore captain Joseph Moleski of Carrollton, Texas, felt the weight of the season lift.
“Playing on the team has meant everything,” Moleski says. “It took a lot of work and a lot of prayer, but I was surrounded by the tightest-knit group of guys. They poured themselves out for the team day in and day out. Seeing the final seconds expire didn’t feel real. Our whole season came down to that moment.”
For Moleski and his teammates, the championship carried a deeper meaning.
“This season would not have existed without Our Lady of Victory,” Moleski says. “At the end of the day, the rugby team does not exist to win big games. It exists to glorify God by doing what we love to do. At every practice and every game, we went to Our Lady with that intention, and she gave us her full support. This national title belongs more to her than to any of us.”
Junior Jacob Leerkes of Ypsilanti, Michigan, embodied the team-first mentality throughout the postseason. Named the Division III Rugby National Championship MVP, Leerkes emphasized the collective effort behind the honor.
“It’s cool to be MVP, but I really look at the award as a team award,” Leerkes says. “I am only one of 15 players on the field. We worked so hard all game long and all season. I’m so proud of these boys.”
Senior Paul Wolf of Pittsburgh reflected on the brotherhood that defined his final fall rugby season.
“These guys are all very solid men who care very deeply about their faith,” Wolf says. “Whether it was confession before practice with our chaplain, Father Seraphim (Beshoner, TOR), or a holy half hour the morning before every game, that foundation made all the difference.”
Head coach Jason Adams saw the championship as the fruit of steady growth and shared resolve.
“We focused on one game at a time and on supporting each other,” Adams says. “After the Slippery Rock loss earlier in the year, the boys immediately said they wanted them again in the finals. With each match that followed, they became better finishers. That’s when I knew we could go on a massive roll.”
Athletics Director Danny Andersen believes the title reflects a mission that has been patiently cultivated for decades.
“This championship is a testament to the men who founded and built the program over the past 25 years with a mission of spreading the Gospel and pursuing excellence through sport,” Andersen says. “The respect Franciscan earned from opponents on and off the pitch speaks volumes.”
Faith, Service, and a Season for the Books
Junior lacrosse standout Gianna Dinoto didn’t expect to make history her first year on the field for Franciscan, especially after giving up the sport in high school. But when the team needed players during her sophomore year, the former gymnast and multi-sport athlete stepped forward. By season’s end, she had shattered two program records, earned conference honors, and become one of the most dynamic forces in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC).
Dinoto, a nursing major, grew up playing sports in a family of athletes with a strong focus on servant leadership. Her father coached baseball and her mother was a club field hockey coach. Initially, Dinoto began as a competitive gymnast but switched to lacrosse in middle school. In high school, after balancing both lacrosse and volleyball, she decided to focus on just one and dropped lacrosse. In her sophomore year at Franciscan, however, she returned to the sport when she realized the team needed more players.
She scored a total of 44 goals and accumulated 81 draw controls, averaging 8.25 draw controls per game to take her spot as first in the conference. Dinoto was named 2025 PAC AllConference First Team and was on the 2025 PAC Academic Honor Roll. In one week, she scored 13 points against Bethany College and 9 goals against St. Vincent College, breaking the records of both points and goals per game.
“When I discovered I broke two records my first year playing for Franciscan, I was shocked and very excited,” Dinoto says. “Because my coach has taught me how to play selflessly for God and for my teammates, I was able to get out of my own head and play my absolute best and hardest.”
She also attributes her success to her greatest role model, her mother, Lisa Dinoto.
“My mom has such a strong and servant-like heart. She is always striving to do God’s will in her life and to serve him as best she can and thinking about how she can help other people, even if she has a lot going on in her own life. Her faith is so inspirational, and I want to grow in trust and form more of a servant’s heart like hers,” she says. “Working toward a servant’s heart involves bringing God into every encounter whether it is at home, at school in class, with friends, at the hospital with patients, on the lacrosse field, or simply just walking by someone and giving a smile. My goal is to serve God through all my actions to the best of my ability, glorify him with my talents, and give him thanks and praise for all he has done for me. Remembering this, I am equipped to go out and spread Christ’s joy to others.”
Student-Athlete SPOTLIGHT
Name: Dwayne Gethard
Hometown: Toms River, New Jersey
Year: Junior
Major: International Business
Sport: Track and Field
Honors: 2025 Outdoor PAC All-Conference Second Team (4×400 Relay), 2024 Indoor PAC All-Conference First Team (4x400m Relay), 2025 PAC Academic Honor Roll, and 2024 PAC Academic Honor Roll.
Favorite Saint: St. Pier Giorgio Frassati
On Faith and Athletics: “My faith is a deep part of my athletic philosophy. Athletics is an outlet for me to live out my passion for being faithful person. I believe athletics provides a powerful proving ground for many virtues such as discipline through difficult trials, humility in knowing there is always room to grow, and solidarity to work with others toward a shared goal. Faith is the greatest teacher of virtue, but athletics is absolutely a worthy tutor.”
What Competing at Franciscan Means:“Competing for Franciscan’s track and field team has been an incredible experience. I have met people who know what it truly means to be an athlete far more than many professionals. Most of all, I am surrounded by teammates, staff, and chaplains who put Christ first in all that they do. This has led to an emphatically faith-filled environment, which has empowered me to improve greatly since my freshman year. I plan to work with them to have our best season in program history.”
