Tuesday, December 31, 2013

A comment on the pursuit of excellence ...


The comments below from a team seeking to compete at the National Tournament jumped off the page as we read it this morning.  It pretty much sums up why this event is such a positive endeavor for so many teams.   Their coaches have the kind of perspective a student-athlete coach should have, in our opinion; in creating meaningful, positive experiences and memories for growing young athletes.  Best wishes to those who don't let being good get in the way of being great.

"These girls deserve the chance to compete at an even higher level so they can challenge themselves and have this incredible experience to add to their memories.  If we can make it to Nationals it will help with outreach in our high schools to make rugby more known in our community."
"We are hoping for the NIT to be a huge learning experience for the girls and help them refine their skills."

Monday, December 30, 2013

Girls National Championship Tournament --- Turn in Applications Soon

Applications for the 2014 Girls High School National Championship Tournament hosted by Berkshire United in Massachusetts, May 17th-18th are due next week.

Please complete the short online app at RugbyMag (click here)

Info and questions can be answered by contacting, either:

David Colli:  Tournament Host,  collirugby@gmail.com
or
John Klein:   NGCC Chair, chinnychinchin_2000@yahoo.com

The field of teams should continue to expand again this year, as several new applications and the return of some old powerhouse teams could make for an interesting challenge in all divisions.

Word on the street is that Morris, NJ, the New Jersey Champs have already thrown their hat into the ring, along with Colorado Finalists Ft Collins, a team that won the first-ever Nationals back in 2000.  Throw these and some other new teams into the mix along with many of the perennial powers and the competitiveness and diversity of the brackets should continue to grow.


Saturday, December 28, 2013

2013 Coach of the Year



The 2013 RUGBYmag Women's Coach of the Year was announced yesterday.  John Klein, the DSHA head coach since the Fall of 2000, was awarded with his second national coach of the year award.  The first being the USA Rugby Coach of the Year Award in 2008.

What struck our offices as memorable is that this award is for "women's coach of the year" not "high school coach of the year" or some other designation.  When early word of the award leaked out to WGR we knew we had to quick pay a short visit to "the office" and put up a sincere congratulations!  When we contacted Coach Klein for a comment, he was completely surprised.  He didn't yet know he was receiving the award.

It was quite a year for Coach Chin and the Dashers.  But it was clear the award was for more than their incredible on the field success.  While the Dasher's only loss in all of 2013 was a 22-20 National Semifinal nailbiter, the award was also for Klein's contributions to growing the girls game at the grassroots level beyond his own players.  His countless hours spent working to grow the National Tournament into an opportunity for girls teams anywhere to compete for a national title, in several different divisions, helped give more teams and young adults the opportunity to experience greater competition in a true team setting.   Klein chaired the NGCC, the National Girls Coaches Committee, and pulled together highly respected coaches from programs around the country.  With them, they worked together to grow the National Tournament into a 20-team magnum opus of girls rugby. 

One of many standout quotes from the Rugby Mag article:
"It was as professional as an event outside of a stadium can get, and important to the development of girls high school rugby as a whole. And it was all thanks to the efforts of the NGCC and the support they garnered."

The actual hosting of the event was also thanks to the effort of a tremendous group of committed parents from both Catholic Memorial High School and Divine Savior Holy Angels High School. Together they brought in volunteers from the Wisconsin Rugby Union, the RASA Racine Area-Soccer Association, and local women's teams as well.  It was a true team effort.  And Klein helped bring them together.
Of course, the culmination of 2013 for the Dashers was their convincing victory over Fallbrook at the USA Sevens High School Challenge. Dubbed an unoffiical national 7's championship, the field of east coast teams plus Fallbrook and Catholic Memorial was challenging.  And the Dashers squared off against Fallbrook in the PPL Park final, coming away with a 41-0 victory and the championship they'd been questing for

.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Merry Christmas from WGR

WGR is shutting down their offices for the holidays.  Its been a great year.  Thanks to all the coaches and board members who volunteer to give girls the opportunity to participate in a life changing team sport.  Thanks to all you parents for letting your daughters play.  We've been especially lucky in the last year to have several volunteers who are not involved in coaching teams step up to help run WGR.  That's one of many ways our rugby community can stay involved and grow the game, even if you don't have the time to coach a team. 

Have a blessed Christmas and we'll get back up and running after the New Year.

Before signing off, we've included a few vintage rugby Christmas Cards.



Wednesday, December 18, 2013

WGR Classic Matches, part ii


 WGR Classic Matches, part ii
     The first part of our series on memorable matches in WGR was one of our most read pieces in some time.  We also had some nominations from players and former players.  Thank you. 
 
    Part ii of our series, “The modern” era of WGR features a greater variety of matchups. WGR has become a league with twice as many teams, sometimes split in conferences geographically or by level of play (Division 1 or 2). We’ve seen national-level programs come and go based on waves of strong classes or coaching changes.  We’ve also seen rivalries come and go based on team and coaching make-up.  
   Part iii of our series will have to be written in 2020, which really isn’t that far off.  We at WGR predict that we’ll have to discuss the memorable 7’s matches, how the Olympics have affected the game, and how the Fox Valley area has developed and affected our conference structure. There have been murmurs of girls interested in playing around the Green Bay area for years.  Will that come to fruition?  Will Wisconsin and Illinois form a mega conference with larger numbers in D1 and D2 conferences or maybe a northern (Fox Valley), and southern conference?
  But, for now, onto the GREAT games:
Fall 2006  Vernon v DSHA     
     Vernon was the second-place dominant girls team for several years during this period and this was perhaps their high-water mark.  Brittany Houston, an eventual u-23 selectside MVP, who eventually moved out to Colorado to pursue her rugby career, was the face of a team filled with good athletes.   A hard-running #9/10, she also possessed incredible skill, with a great #9 pass off the deck.  She once famously nailed a drop goal in the national semifinal in 2006 to come close to upsetting perennial finalists Kent, Washington.  
     Problem was, DSHA was unbeatable in this era.  At the time, and perhaps maybe even to this day, DSHA’s #10 and #13 combo of “Coogan and Haas” were unparralled and a part of the their running off six straight national championships at one point.  By far the biggest, strongest running midfield in the State, teams were stymied by their defense and overrun by their combo of speed and power.  While this match wasn’t that close, it was two outstanding teams facing off in the heat of a big rivalry and in that sense the score was irrelevant.

Fall 2007 Vernon v DSHA
This was memorable for being the first state tournament championship game and it was held at Naga-Waukee Park.  A huge crowd assembled that day, thanks to Jeff Noe’s visionary plan to bring all the teams together for a final playoff atmosphere showcase set of matches.   It also marked the end of Vernon’s run as they were soundly defeated in the final.

Fall 2008  CMHS v DSHA  Oct 29th   5-0.
CMH made a remarkable debut in the league in ’07, making the finals the next year.  In the most competitive match the Dashers had seen since they last lost, the Crusaders, many would say, outplayed DSHA, but just couldn’t get over the tryline.  A try in the corner by eventual Nationals MVP and speedster Sarah Chimelewski proved to be the difference. 

Fall 2009 Brookfield v Vernon   State Semifinals
     In the biggest upset in state playoff history, Brookfield under Head Coach Dan Chanen knocked off Will Traber’s talented Vernon Park 19-14.   Making the game all the more dramatic was the fact that Brookfield had never defeated Vernon until that moment.  Brookfield had quickly amassed a talented core of players who were stabilized and unified under the tutelage of Coach Chanen.  Players like Bri Klein at #7, an eventual USA u19 regular, and Kaissee Weissmueller, who would go on to earn a Higgins Scholarship to continue rugby in college, were part of a team athletic 1-15.  Brookfield’s heart and soul, though, seemed to revolve around their tough scrumhalf Rachel Santulli.  Santulli’s game, a nice mix of passing and sniping around the fringes, could at times carry her team and could at other moments just help get the ball in the hands of their other athletes, as any good distributor should.
    Vernon had more experience in recent state finals and especially playing in Midwest regionals.  Both their props made the All-Tournament team, and their standout wing, Emily Zemplinski was a strong defender and athletic finisher.  But it was Brookfield's time.
     In the match, Brookfield got up early and were able to punch in two tries.  Vernon woke up and fought back.  The match, with an unconverted try separating the teams the last ten minutes, was tense and intense until the final whistle.  The victory gave Brookfield its first and only finals appearance and a trip to the top division of the Midwest Championships.  It also marked the end of Vernon’s appearances in the Midwest Championship Division.

 Fall 2010  CMH v DSHA 
     The last time DSHA lost a match in Wisconsin took place at Minooka Park and was eerily reminiscent of their loss there in 2004.  In a match marked by a great defensive effort on both sides of the ball, the tackling on both sides left teams with few opportunities.  Crusader junior Maggie Armstrong dominated the midfield defensively.  The Dasher’s leading scorer, the speedy #13 Ellie Miller, was always dangerous with ball in hand, and #8 Elizabeth Linnemenstans, who’d also been tried at center some, was a force on both sides of the ball.  DSHA was oh so close to taking the match as they had a play in the try-zone, only to have it held up in defense.  The game’s deciding moment was a poor kick by the Dashers fielded by Memorial fullback Sarah Dillett at pace.   She burst through a gap and raced 60 meters for the deciding score.  She converted her own try and then the Crusaders held out for the last 12 minutes to secure a famous 7-5 victory.

Fall 2012 Kettle Moraine vs Vernon
    A short summary of the match was provided by one of KM’s former players and it captures the emotion of the day:
  “KM and Vernon have always had a rivalry, but this is where it came to a head.  Vernon had beat KM by a considerable amount a few weeks before in a mentally frustrating match that even resulted in a KM yellow card” ( a rare thing in the WGR league).   
     “This was Head Coach Jeff Noe's last game with the Knightmares, and we wanted to make him proud.  Marching onto the field in our brand new jerseys, almost a going away gift I guess, we knew this was going to be a tough and physical game, but we would not let it affect our attitudes.  I can't even remember what the score was at half or who scored what tries but it doesn't really matter because both teams fought really hard.  Our flyhalf Drea Mertins definitely scored at least once.  With about 5 minutes left we found ourselves winning 10-5, but backed against our try line with Vernon attacking.  Run the ball in, try held up.  Try held up.  Try held up.  We held up the score 4 times.  On the last scrum our rookie hooker Julia Scheckel stole the ball and our senior flyhalf Drea Mertins kicked it out to end the game.”
     Then there was a mad rush to Coach Noe and a big team hug of celebration.  It was a great game by both sides.
     “This stands as my all-time favorite game because we left our attitudes at home that day and just came to play rugby and that for me is what this game is about.”

Fall 2013  CMHS v DSHA  State Final
     Both their matches this year were back and forth, but this championship began ominously.  On the opening kickoff Jenny Baylon, the Dasher #7, suffered a knee injury as Memorial’s captain Maggie Wesolowski gave her a juke and she planted to react, only to twist her knee up.   First sub in, one minute in.  The ability of both teams to ‘bounce back’ from this and other adversity is one reason it was a great game. 
     As play continued, DS scored a try right off the bat.  An errant pass from Memorial’s scrumhalf got caught in the wind, hit the grass, bounced up in the air and into the arms of an on-rushing Dasher.  Try.    It appeared it could be a long day for the Crusaders.
   But they too bounced right back.   The Crusaders put team red under pressure and spent much of the half camped out in the Dasher Half.  Eventually, Memorial converted pressure from a five meter scrum into points, and the conversion found both teams deadlocked at 7-7, and it remained that way going into halftime.
     The deadlock continued and continued.  Neither side gave much ground.  For twenty minutes into the second half it remained tied.  Eventually the Dashers got a penalty.  Their improved goal-kicking this year proved valuable, as they nailed the penalty conversion to take a tense 10-7 lead.  That seemed to “break the seal” so to speak and the game opened up a little more.  Eventually they dotted down two times in the last few minutes and emerged with a hard-earned perfect record.
    Memorial Captain Alexa Jaeger was one of the players of the match nominations.  Her tackle and poach in the first few minutes was a sign of things to come from her as she was a defensive force all match long.  Dasher #6, Kayla Pavela was remarkable as well, earning a player of the match award. She upped her game even more, in the absence of their regular #7 and made tackle after tackle.
     Both flyhalves got nods as P.of  M.  They both play great defense and made it hard on each other as, of course, they are each threats to run and distribute.  It was one of the best flyhalf matchups in WGR history and a testament to how playing better competition pushes the great players to play even better.

Monday, December 16, 2013

The 2013 Winter Youth Rugby Challenge



For more information please contact: Brandon Culpepper 414-698-6843 bculpepper@peppnation.com

PeppNation SLC Presents:


The 2013 Winter Rugby Challenge
WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21ST Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm

WHERE: HEPHATHA LUTHERAN CHURCH GYM 1720 W. LOCUST ST

LUNCH WILL BE SERVED TO ALL PARTICIPANTS AND GUEST
Please preregister by Friday December 20th.

Several WGR players, coaches, and alumni have been involved with coaching for Peppnation and helping them spread youth rugby throughout the city of Milwaukee, in particular in the Milwaukee Public Schools. 


if interested in getting involved, or picking up some volunteer hours, please contact Brandon Culpepper.  Keep up the good work!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

WGR Announces State 7's Championship

In a move to capture the growing interest in Olympic 7's rugby, WGR will hold their first-ever State 7's Championship May 31st, 2014. 

Teams will have an opportunity to gain experience in the Crusader Cup 7's tournament held May 3rd at Minooka Park, prior to the all-day finals at the end of the month.

Teams will be grouped in two pools of four sides for "pool play" followed by playoff rounds running into the afternoon.  A separate, "jv side" bracket will run concurrently to allow as many players as possible an opportunity to compete and gain experience.  WGR is particulary excited that the Fox Valley area will boast two programs this spring, as Fond Du Lac and Appleton will each field separate sides ... a move that should help each of them grow as they can practice in their own backyard.

Competing Teams include:
Appleton
Brookfield
CMHS
Fond Du lac
Kettle Moraine
Muskego
Oak Creek
Vernon

The draw for pool play will occur after the Crusader Cup results on May 3rd.

WGR Alumns win ACRA Women's Collegiate Championship

Congrats to WGR alumns Georgia Porter and Katie Dries. They formed the 9-10 combination for Winona St in the D2 ACRA Women’s Collegiate Championship , which they won Sunday 28-14 against Notre Dame College, after a big semifinal victory win Saturday over Kutztown, Pa.

 
Junior Georgia Porter, a scrumhalf and Vernon alumn,  scored two tries in the semis and one in the final.  Sophomore Katie Dries, a CMHS alumn, directed their backline at flyhalf and was noted for her "booming kicks".

A few quotes taken from a Rugby Mag interview:

“Georgia always impresses me,” said Winona flanker and eventual Championship MVP, Holly Vassar. “She never gets enough credit. She’s really good at looking up, seeing the field, knowing exactly where the ball needs to go and getting it there. She’s able to step in and poach – she’s basically a forward and a back, and we’ve never had a scrumhalf like that before.”

About the final game: “We had 10 minutes at halftime, and we said we had to secure the ball and do what we knew worked for us,” Porter said. “[In the first half] we tried to play their game and tried to offload it and pop it up, but that’s not how we play. We had to bring the ball down, ruck it and secure it.”
 
Other ACRA Championship Notes:
-Northern Iowa lost an entertaining D1 semifinal match to Norwich, the eventual D1 champions.
Of note in that match:
 
“Freshman Eileen Lieb, a flanker, is someone to watch,” Murra said of the CMHS graduate and the type of difference-maker he wants to attract. “I saw her at last year’s high school nationals, and she was the MVP of the game we watched. I met her parents on the sidelines, chatted with them and got her to come to us."

“She’s the last of 15 kids, so we already knew a couple of things before meeting her,” Murra added. “Her family is basically a rugby team. She knows about sacrifice, hard work, those sorts of things. … She’s a little kid with a lot of fire and had to fight her way onto the field. … I see her as a future leader.”

-Northern Iowa won the 3rd Place Match Sunday with a 32-15 victory over Navy

-In that match "The forwards did a good job of retaining their ball, and minute flanker Eileen Lieb was a hallmark of the Panthers’ rigidity in the breakdown. At one point, the tiny freshman blew off Navy center Katie Smith – who looks three times her size – as she tried to poach the ball on the sideline."

ACRA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
D1:  Eileen Lieb (freshman)(Northern Iowa)
D2:  Georgia Porter (junior)(Winona St)

Friday, December 6, 2013

ACRA National Championships Live Broadcast Saturday

With several WGR alumni playing in both matches, it might be worth checking out the live webcasts of the ACRA D1 and D2 women's collegiate semifinals Saturday

Winona St plays Kutztown at 9am Saturday.   Check out Winona's #9 and #10 combo ... both WGR grads!

Northern Iowa plays Norwich in one of the D1 semifinals, at 1pm.  UNI has a bunch of WGR alumns as well, especially at 2,7, and perhaps in the centers depending on the lineup that day!  Norwich will have at least one WGR alumni playing for them on a full ride, but not until next year ...



Wednesday, December 4, 2013

WGR 2013 All-State Student Athletes


Congratulations to the 2013 Wisconsin Girls High School Rugby All-State Team. 

Backs
Kendyl Braun (jr) Divine Savior
Maggie Brennan (jr)  Divine Savior
Myra Dillett (jr) Catholic Memorial
Julie Else (sr) Catholic Memorial
Anisa Feto (sr) Oak Creek
Rebecca Haight (sr)  Catholic Memorial
Lindsay Hillmer (jr) Kettle Moraine
Fiona Holahan (sr) Divine Savior
Courtney Krouse (sr) Kettle Moraine
Molly Langhenry (sr)   Catholic Memorial
Aleah Loll (sr) Appleton
Katherine Macphearson (jr) Divine Savior
Terrah McCuen (jr) Muskego

Beth Pokorny (sr)  Divine Savior
Lexi Prushiek (jr) Vernon
Cassie Schultz (jr) Kettle Moraine
Catherine Trowbridge (sr) Divine Savior
Emily Winter (jr) Brookfield

Forwards
Jennifer Baylon (sr) Divine Savior
Liz Bellis (sr) Catholic Memorial
Taylor Bragg-Brock (jr) Divine Savior
Claire Guffy (jr) Divine Savior
Kathryn Harvey (sr) Vernon
Alexa Jaeger (sr) Catholic Memorial
Lizzy Jacobson (jr)  Catholic Memorial
Abby Larch (sr) Oak Creek
Kayla Pavela (sr) Divine Savior
Savannah Porter (sr) Brookfield
Mary Catherine Reusch (sr) Divine Savior
Maggie Wesolowski (sr) Catholic Memorial


Editor's note:  This is not a selectside or an actual team to compete in matches.  It is purely an honor of recognition for a student-athlete's contributions to their team and their sport over the course of a conference season.  The Wisconsin High School Girls Selectside program, coached by Jeff Noe, runs in the spring through camps and trials.  More info on that program will be available in 2014.

Monday, December 2, 2013

The Henry and Smith Coaching Presentation

Last weekend a van full of WGR coaches drove up to Minneapolis to take part in the Graham Henry and Wayne Smith coaching presentation hosted by Minnesota Youth Rugby and sponsored by The Rugby Site.

The Rugby Site is an amazing coaching website dedicated to bringing professional coaching and professional development to all corners of the universe, including the frozen tundra of the upper Midwest.

It was an inspiring experience and worth the extra effort to get there.  It was also good connecting with all our friends in the rugby coaching community.  We saw a lot of girls coaches there from our neighbors in Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota, in addition to al the collegiate coaches out there.

For those unfamiliar with the former New Zealand national team coaches, Graham Henry was the head coach of the Kiwis for the 2011 and 2007 World Cups, winning the Webb Ellis World Cup trophy with an 8-7 victory over France in 2011.

In addition to being an All-Blacks asst. coach, Wayne Smith is currently an asst coach with the Waikato Chiefs, who just won the Super 15 Title.  That's equivalent to the Super Bowl in southern hemisphere professional rugby.

While there were many lessons learned that day, we'll share one golden nugget from each.

From Wayne Smith, came the idea of "SOGS".  Smithy focused on video analysis and the use of statistics to inform coaching. SOGS  stands for "Stays on the Ground" and tracks whether players stay on the ground after a tackle.  He said his Chiefs had the lowest SOGS score of any team in their competition.  It appears to be a measure of hustle and a measure of a player's ability to get back in the game quickly.

Henry began with his philosophy on coaching, and stressed that a great coach needs to focus on being the best person they can be ... staying in shape, living a healthy lifestyle, getting sleep, and bringing one's best to every practice, since our time with athletes is so precious and limited, especially for us coaches not in professional environments. He stressed how being a great coach includes putting the time in, "doing your homework" as he says, and watching film;  of your own matches and other matches.  That's how you learn the game and it's trends.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

WGR Spring Events: April 5th WGR Pre-Season Festival

WGR will be launching several new efforts in the Spring of 2014.  One of these is the first annual Spring Pre-season Girls Rugby Festival.  It will be on open 15's tournament for any girls high school team (not u-19 or all-star) that wishes to play some matches.   Several out of state teams have been invited including some from Minnesota and Illinois.

There will not be an entry fee, although teams will be asked to cover their share of the cost of the events.  Field and ref costs will be divided equally among the teams.   The venue will have at least two fields holding matches, perhaps more.  Potential locations include either of our top notch locations, the Brookfield Soccer Complex or Naga-Waukee..

The tournament will be a one-day event on April 5th and the initial list of interested teams includes nine sides:

DSHA, DSHA(jv), Oak Creek, Oak Creek(jv), Catholic Memorial, Brookfield, Kettle Moraine, Plainfield, IL, and Armstrong, MN
Interested teams should contact WGR before the New Year: wisconsingirlsrugby@gmail.com

There will be another, smaller event the same weekend with matches of 10's to aid the development of some of the smaller or newer programs.

The First Annual Round Robin 10’s:

·          Fond du Lac

·          Muskego

·          Appleton

Monday, November 25, 2013

WGR's Dog Sled Racing Coach ...



Kettle Moraine's coach Liz has been raising huskies since before she played high school rugby for the KM Knightmare's a few years ago.  She's been able to chase both dreams along the way, coming back to coach her old high school team after a good experience with her collegiate women's team.  Now, she's off to Alaska to work on the famous Iditarod Dog Sled races.  Not just a coach, she is one of those great coaches in our league who teaches her kids a lot about life and that's never been as clear as it is when you look at the blog she's created to recount her adventures up to Alaska this winter ....

So, check out her story in her own words at:  Embracing the Unexpected

A few inspiring excerpts:
"I am a recent college graduate just looking for work in my field of study, biology.  I spend most of my time volunteering or working with children. I coach a high school girls full contact rugby team who took 3rd in state this past season with it being my first season coaching! SO PROUD! I also coach inner city flag rugby for youth 6-13 year old.  Winters I coach downhill ski racing for high school and youth and if I'm lucky I get some racing in as well. Beyond coaching I am a CNA at a nursing home caring for the elderly in their last few stages of life.  Hard work but all very rewarding."

"So basically this job opportunity is a once in a life time experience working for the most famous female sled dog racer in the world and she picked me out of all the people who applied to come work for her.  Not only that but she is allowing me to bring two of my dogs with for this experience! This is more than I could have ever dreamed of!"

"Dreams do come true you just have to keep believing in them! Always be ready to embrace the unexpected, you never know when your chance will come"

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

WGR Classic Matches prt i


WGR Classic Matches

There have been a slew of memorable, classic matches in WGR over the last decade and a half.  So, we surveyed a few of the current and old-time conference coaches for their nominations.  Some were nominated because of the phenomenal play involved, some for the drama of a final playoff upset or a remarkable back and forth rivalry match.  All were great matches.  We just couldn’t bring ourselves to rank them so we share them here chronologically.  We also rejected matches that didn’t take place in Wisconsin.  There are too many GREAT games from Nationals, Midwest, or on tour to include here.  We may feature those in a separate article at a later time. 
     Have any other nominations?  Do you have some names, details, picturesm or stories to add?  Send them to WGR at wisconsingirlsrugby@gmail.com .  Please excuse the dates below;  there  may be some errors in memory from our older coaches.

WGR 1997-2013 CLASSIC MATCHES
Summer 1997  DSHA v Wayzata  @Veteran’s Park, Milwaukee Wisconsin
    The first-ever girls high school match in the state saw Wayzata, MN drive down from Minneapolis in a chartered coach bus to play the Dashers in their white and red striped long-sleeve cotton jerseys.  The Dashers looked like the Canadian flag, or perhaps the red-cross team.  Playing 10’s due to low numbers, the score was something like 30-5 in favor of Minnesota’s original powerhouse.  But the scoreline didn’t matter, history had been made.

Fall 1998  DSHA v Krusaders  Dretzka Park
     With excitement for the sport growing, a group of girls from Catholic Memorial High School came together under coach Linda Niemela.  Although the team only lasted a season or two, it included, just to name a few, the likes of Kate Sarner future Scylla player, future MU players Erin Wells and Karen Kleczka, and future UWM rugger Bobbi Heritsch.  The team had to call themselves the Krusaders with a K since the school would not sanction them in their first season.
     The match that makes the list was actually the second-match between the sides; it was memorable because the Krusaders upset the more ‘established’ team in a close contest.  A rivalry was born.
Fall 1999  DSHA v Marquette University B-side   King Field
     The first few years DSHA was the only girls team in the state and they struggled to find matches, playing frequently in Indiana, Minnesota, and more frequently against local college sides.  DSHA lost a lot of matches 80-0 and 100-0 in those first few years.  It’s amazing they stuck with it.
     This match was significant because it was the first time DSHA won a game against a college side.  Several more followed after this breakthrough.  The exact year may not be exactly right.  Fullback Colleen Brennan sprinted to two long tries on an old “double d” pattern.
Fall 2001  DSHA v Highland  i and ii (The debut and the rematch)
     The first Highland or Northshore team, consisting mostly of girls from Homestead high school under coach Rick Ferrara were a force to be reckoned with almost immediately.  Featuring a core of talented athletes including Samantha (#8) and Kimiko Ross (thp) and Angela Mathews (#13), they defeated DSHA at one point that fall and completed in nationals in the spring of 2002, finishing 3rd.  This fall conference match was when they shocked DSHA amidst Mathew’s debut.  A big rampaging center with incredible speed to boot, she was dominant against high school competition, requiring a host of tacklers.  She was the Jonah Lomu of her era in WGR and every team had to game plan for her.  DSHA came back in the rematch later that fall and was able to win the conference title when Highland tied KM.
Fall 2002  DSHA v Highland iii  Veteran’s Park Milwaukee. 
     The third of the three great matches between the two rivals.  It was the final conference match of the season.  Highland still had a really talented team and this game came down to the wire.    The last ten minutes of the match were spent down on DSHA’s tryline.  A long defensive stand repelled Highland again and again, until a turnover led to a 90-meter scamper and mad dash for a dramatic match-winning try on the final play of the game from young sensation Natalie Mills, one of the great ‘finishers’ of the WGR early years.    It also signified the beginning of the end of Highland’s championship claims.  They never defeated DSHA again.
Fall 2002  Kettle Moraine v DSHA  Season Opener, Naga-Waukee Park
    Kettle Moraine shocked DSHA in the conference opener winning 46-5.  The Dashers have never since lost by anything close to as wide a margin as that day.  The culmination of the day was a scrum push-over try.  Not technically legal in high school rugby, the ref let the KM scrum drive the extra three meters into the tryzone for their #8 Brittany Hanson to fall down on the ball for a symbolic try of dominance.  The Knightmares had recruited a stable-full of good young athletes including future full eagle Kati McKormick in her freshman debut, and future USA 19 Nicole Heil in the centers.  KM went on to defeat DSHA in the second match in their conference series, to become the only other team besides DSHA to be crowned State Champion.
Fall 2003  Kettle Moraine v DSHA Oct 12th Minooka Park
    The second of the two matches between the sides was also the last time DSHA would lose a match in Wisconsin for a remarkable 7 consecutive years.  While it’s a little unfair that DSHA gets mentioned whenever they lose, such is the burden of their unprecedented excellence, success, and the challenge of expectations.  They’ve had a lot of great wins in that span.  
    It was a close match.  KM dominated possession and rucks early, racking up a 17-0 halftime lead.  Their third try came on a break from the DSHA #15.  KM’s wing, Justine Ellenson, cracked down and got in the passing lane and when #15 passed, she intercepted.  Running for the corner, she still had to beat a covering weakside wing, but a powerful stiff arm helped her shrug off the tackle and dot down for the most dramatic score of the match. 
     DSHA came back with two tries in the second half, including a twenty meter scamper by flanker Alyssa Hext after she scooped up a turnover.  DSHA senior #8 JoJo Hoffman was a tackling and passing machine.  She later went on to help lead Ohio State to nationals in her collegiate career, played for the USA u19's on multiple occasions, and even worked at USA Rugby for a time. 
     Player of the match, though, had to be KM's outside center Alex Glorioso who seemed to sidestep, spin, and run through three to four tacklers on every run.  She carried KM in this classic match, as KM won 17-15.  DSHA would win the state title on aggregate points for the tie-breaker.
 

 

Thursday, November 14, 2013

2014 Girls High School Rugby National Championship Tournament Announced


Berkshire United High School Rugby To Host Girls High School National Tournament
The Berkshire United High School Rugby Club will host the 15th annual Girls’ High School National Invitational Championship on Saturday-Sunday, May 17-18, 2014, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and the beautiful Berkshires.

The 24-team NIT is organized by the National Girls’ Coaches Committee (NGCC). The tournament will feature 3 divisions. The first girls’ NIT was held in 2000, and has expanded from 6 to 24 teams since then.

Quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be held Saturday May 17, with division finals played the morning and afternoon of Sunday, May 18. All matches will be played at Taconic High School in Pittsfield. Berkshire United appreciates the support of Mayor Bianchi and the City of Pittsfield who has previously partnered with Berkshire United to host the 2012 Mass. State High School Championship and the 2013 NERFU Men’s Division 4 Championship.

High school girls’ teams wishing to compete in the 2014 NIT must return an application no later than Tuesday, January 7, 2014. Applications are available at www.rugbymag.com in the ‘Tournament’ section.

If you would like to know more, you can log on to
www.RugbyChampionships.org, www.facebook.com/NationalHighSchoolRugbyChampionships,

or reach Berkshire United President/Head Coach David Colli at  collirugby@gmail.com. You can also contact John Klein, NGCC Committee Chair, at chinnychinchin_2000@yahoo.com.

We hope to see you in the Berkshires in May 2014!

National Girls’ Coaches Committee contacts

John Klein, Committee Chair, Divine Savior (Wisc).:
chinnychinchin_2000@yahoo.com

Sefesi Green, Sacramento Amazons (Calif.):
sefesig@gmail.com

Rex Norris, Kent (Wash.):
rex.norris@kent.k12.wa.us

Marin Pinnell, Fallbrook (Calif.):
fallbrookgirlsrugby@gmail.com

Brad Rockwood, West Carroll (Md.):
rockhead01@verizon.net

Anthony Sasso, Kingston (NY)
anthonysasso711@yahoo.com

John Waliszewski, Catholic Memorial (Wisc.):
jwaliszewski@catholicmemorial.net

Jackie FInlan, Rugby Magazine/Media Liaison:
jfinlan@rugbymag.com

 
Tournament Coordinator/ Host Team
David Colli - Berkshire United Girls - (MA)
collirugby@gmail.com

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Spring Girls Rugby Events

With conferences around the country scheduling and planning for their spring seasons, it's worth mentioning that several events in 2014 will be supportive of girls rugby.

Check these out if you're looking for a venue with some girls high school rugby matches:

April 5th:  Possible All-Wisconsin Pre-Season Tournament
April 12th-13th  St Louis Ruggerfest
April 26th-27th  Midwest Championships  Elkhart, Indiana
May 3rd  Crusader Cup HS Girls 7's Tournament
May 17th-18th  Girls National Championship Tournament (Venue to be announced in a few days!!!!)

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

ACRA Women's Collegiate National Tournament

ACRA has released their seeding and brackets for their collegiate women's Division 1 and Division 2 National title tournaments.

Their are two Midwest seeds to be announced for the division one tournament.  In Division 2 an entire host of Midwest teams will be competing, including:

Winona St, Univ-Ill. Chicago, Grand Valley St, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Lacrosse all represent the Midwest in the field of 32.  Lots of WGR alumni out there!  Best of luck in your playoffs.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Player Safety in Rugby



There's been a lot of talk in Wisconsin about dangerous tackling in the NFL after the Green Bay Packer's Jermichael Finley suffered a bruised spinal cord in a recent game.  He had to spend the night in the ICU after being carted off the field from a dangerous "shoulder charge' type tackle.
 
The sports talk world is abuzz with discussions of how to protect players in a full contact sport like football.   Wisconsin's local ESPN radio affiliate with Steve "Homer" True on AM540  recently turned to rugby to answer the dilemma of how football should adapt to protect players.  Rugby has been very proactive in this regard and in fact has had more stringent tackle safety laws in place for decades.
 
Here's the link to the radio station discussion:

International Rugby Board Law 10 states:
“Dangerous charging. A player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the ball without trying to grasp that player.”

http://www.irb.com/mm/Document/LawsRegs/0/Law10EN_7702.pdf

Here is a perfect video example of this Rule in action – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NctcFYO0yQ&t=1m10s

This rule just makes sense.  If a tackler must wrap up in the tackle, it changes the focus of the tackle from the big hit or 'spearing' to grasping the ballcarrier.  While some boys high school players struggle at first with rugby tackling, we've found that our girls league players actually learn to tackle better, rugby style, since they learn the proper technique first.

The IRB also prohibits "dangerous tackles" in other ways, including what is commonly referred to as a "high tackle" but which may also include 'tackles' like the 'whip tackle' where a would-be tackler grabs a ballcarrier with one hand and whips or flings them to the ground.  This is clearly not 'wrapping up' and dangerous and not allowed.

In a related note, there are some studies out there that indicate there are less injuries in rugby than football.  The tackle rule is surely one reason for this.  The other reason is that studies show the more hard equipment a player wears, the greater the impact created.  Thus, although players may think helmets and other equipment protect themselves better, it actually may do the opposite, leading to increased impact force.  Some football players also play with a reckless abandon and false sense of safety with a helmet on and they sometimes lead with the head as a result.  This should become more and more a thing of the past in football.

Friday, November 1, 2013

All-Conference Meeting Nov 18th

The Wisconsin Girls Rugby all-conference coaches and administrators meeting will take place Nov 18th, 2014 at 7pm.

Any coaches interested in developing new programs should attend this meeting.  Coaches may add items to the agenda by contacting board members prior to the meeting.  This will also be the time for programs to complete their spring schedules.

Spring Dates that we already know:
-April 20th  Easter
-April  26th-27th  Midwest Championships  Elkhart, Indiana
-May 3rd  The Crusader Cup  HS Girls 7's
-May 17th-18th  National Championship Tournament

Agenda and info is available by contacting WGR: wisconsingirlsrugby@gmail.com

State Tournament Pictures are up ....

Some of the picture folders are up from the State Tournament:
http://ricks-pics.smugmug.com/2013-Wisconsin-Girls-Rugby-Sta

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Ahman Green Tries Rugby

Ahman Green is the all-time leading rusher in Green Bay Packer football history.  He passed up legends Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung, not to mention my favorite Edgar Bennet and his sidekick Dorsey Levens from the '98 Superbowl team. 

He rushed for 9,205 yards and scored 60 touchdowns in an incredible pro career.  The former Nebraska All-American is one of only two NFL running backs to ever have two touchdown runs of 90 or more yards.  The other is Bo Jackson.



His full career stats can be viewed here:  http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/1432/ahman-green

Green retired from the NFL officially in 2011.  But he hasn't retired from athletics.

What is interesting is that this month Green has been spotted at the Olympic Training facility for a tryout with the USA 7's team.  A more extensive article can be found here on RugbyMag

According to an excerpt from the RugbyMag article USA 7's player/coach Matt Hawkins says, “He’s very interested in giving rugby a go and finding a place within rugby and obviously the 7s group, so he came in yesterday and today and we ran him through his paces.”

“We had a look at where he was at and worked with him to see what opportunities are available, from sort of him being ambassador for us to football players and crossovers, but also giving him an opportunity to sort of give it a shot.”

Olympic Rugby continue to change the landscape of rugby in America.  This story is just another instance of a growing interest in the sport.  Here we go, Rio in 2016!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

State Tournament Official Photos

Rick Benavides is WGR's official photographer and he could be seen all day Sunday along the sidelines photographing every match.  He snapped thousands of high quality pictures.  The highlights will be placed in a folder on his website and are available for a small fee that helps cover his costs. 

Please respect Rick's time and follow copyright laws by not taking his photos without permission.  Rick has selected the pictures below as our league's publicity shots and to offer as a sneak preview but not for individual use.  Please don'ttake them or post them on your facebook.

Click here to go to Rick's-Pics to view or purchase pictures from the 2013 State Tournament (available later this week)

 Rick's Pic's


Rick also has folders of other girls rugby events he has covered if you are feeling a little nostalgic:
Girls Nationals 2013:

Girls League Season 2009

2013 STATE TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL PHOTOS

Appleton/Fond Du Lac putting in against Brookfield

 

 Brookfield and Appleton/Fond Du Lac tied up in a maul

Kettle Moraine's Courtney Krause attacking; Vernon's Lexi Prushiek the last defender on the right


 
Memorial's Julie Else passing with Beth Pokorny on defense at #10

 
A DSHA v CMHS lineout:
 


DSHA's Pokorny on the run with Memorial's Myra Dillett tackling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


2014 State Tournament Player of the Match Awards

At the conclusion of the match each team's captain's along with their teammates nominate two players from the opposing side worthy of recognition for their impact on the game and their character on the pitch.  They then exchange medals with team captains and recipients before leaving the pitch. 

The 2014 medal recipients during the State Tournament Matches are:
DSHA v CMHS
DSHA  #6 Kayla Pavela; #10 Beth Pokorny
CMHS #2 Alexa Jaeger ; #10 Molly Langhenry
 
Kettle Moraine v  Vernon
KMHS #15 Courtney Krause; #2 Julia Sheckel
Vernon  Lexi Prushiek #20 (scrumhalf); #3 Megan Zettlemier 
 
Oak Creek v DSHA jv
OCHS  Monica Claudio #9; Abby Larch #4 
DSHA  Genevie Ruesch #9; Kately Brost #5
 
Brookfield v Appleton/Fond Du Lac
Brookfield:  Madison Aprahamiah #9; Reina Anderson #17 fullback
Appl/Fond:  Aleah Loll #10 flyhalf; Sarah Herdeman #11

Sunday, October 27, 2013

State Tournament Results

It was an amazing day of rugby filled with competitive games.

Championship
DSHA 22. Catholic Memorial 7
Player of the Match Awards, as nominated by each team's players:
DSHA  #6 Kayla Pavela; #10 Beth Pokorny
CMHS #2 Alexa Jaeger ; #10 Molly Langhenry

Tries:
DSHA:  Trowbridge, Holahan, Walker        CMHS:  Else
Conv
DSHA:  Braun (2)                                         CMHS:  Langhenry
Pen:
DSHA:  Braun
 
3rd Place
Kettle Moraine 32  Vernon 10
Player of the Match Awards
KMHS #15 Courtney Krause; #2 Julia Sheckel
 
5th Place
Oak Creek 17  DSHA jv 17 
OT decided after six kicks in favor of OCHS

7th Place
Brookfield 35  Appleton 32

A few pictures from the Final:

 





 

 

 
 

 

 
 

Monday, October 21, 2013

State Championship Tournament



---STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS SUNDAY OCT 27th---

Naga-Waukee Park
651 State Highway 83  Hartland, WI 53029
 
3:00pm            Award Ceremony
1:30pm           Championship            DSHA (6-0)    v  CMHS (5-1)                       
12:15pm          3rd Place Match          Vernon (2-3)       v   KM (3-3)
11:50am          7's Exhibition Match   OCHS                 v  CMHS        
10:45am          5th Place Match          Oak Creek (2-4)  v  DSHA jv (5-0)
9:30am            7th Place Match          Brookfield (0-5)   v  Appleton (2-3)
 

Tournament Contacts

         Sponsors/Prgm Ads:            Maggie Perdzock                 maggie.perdzock@gmail.com / 608-692-6244

Wisconsin Girls Rugby         Dan Chanen                          dan.chanen@gmail.com / 414-391-4537