NCAA WGR College Commitments 2025

We will update this list if we get any more information.  The historical list below includes only NCAA scholarship student-athletes dating back over 25 years.  There are a multitude of  WGR alumni who play or played at the NCR and other collegiate club sports levels, including three from the class of 2025, who also deserve to be recognized for their accomplishments and their commitment to the life of a student-athlete:  

Camarie Brown     Bruisers                Wheeling Jesuit University (NCR D2)

Olivia Haas           Madison Furies     Wheeling Jesuit University (NCR D2)

Riley Vertz            Bruisers                 Aquinas College Women's Rugby (NCR D2)

Congrats as well to the many others who will play club level rugby across the country.  

Of note is the new NCAA program at Lasalle in Philly.  They are bringing in a huge recruiting class of 21 athletes to jumpstart their program's ascension to NCAA competition and Pulaski's Jocelyn Widrig is a part of this historic group.

                   Historical List of Wisconsin-Girls-Rugby (WGR) NCAA Varsity Athletes

WGR Class of 2025

Jocelyn Widrig        Pulaski, Wis.                 Lasalle University            NCAA D1

WGR Class of 2024

Grace Beatty        Sussex Hamilton HS              Lander University                NCAA D2

Meghan Finerty    DSHA HS                              US Naval Academy            NCAA D2

Melanie Sanchez   DSHA HS                             Quinnipiac University         NCAA D1

Scout Spadoni     Stevens Point Area HS            Frostburg St University       NCAA D2

Cecelia SapiOmoa Stowers West Bend YR        Davenport University       NCAA D2

WGR Class of 2023

Mya Alexander          Bruisers                           Lander University          NCAA D2                  

LaJess Jordan            Bruisers (Spring '22 - Spring '23) Frostburg St       NCAA D2

                                   DSHA  (9th - Fall 11th Grade)

Maddie Kosmoski       Catholic Memorial HS       Bowdoin              (NCAA NIRA D3)

Yesenia Morales          DSHA HS                      U.S. Naval Academy      NCAA D1

WGR Class of 2022

Katie Stomma     Catholic Memorial HS                  Bowdoin            (NCAA NIRA D3)

WGR Class of 2021

Aly Cunningham   Catholic Memorial HS                   Sacred Heart         (NCAA NIRA D1)

Maggie Dineen      Divine Savior Holy Angels HS      Queens                 (NCAA NIRA D2)

Emme Ohnmacht   Catholic Memorial HS                   Brown                   (NCAA NIRA D1)

Lea Preuss              Brookfield                                      Queens                  (NCAA NIRA D2)

Lexi Scott              Pulaski HS                                       Lindenwood         (USAR D1 Elite)

Ellie Villnow          Stevens Point Area HS                   Lindenwood         (USAR D1 Elite)

WGR Class of 2020:

Haley Crow             Catholic Memorial HS                 Quinnipiac University      (NCAA NIRA D1)

Alexis Haskins        Catholic Memorial HS                 Quinnipiac University      (NCAA NIRA D1)

Bella Huschitt         Divine Savior Holy Angels HS    Dartmouth University      (NCAA NIRA D1)

Abby Kayser           Divine Savior Holy Angels HS    Dartmouth University      (NCAA NIRA D1)

Gwen Knutson        Brookfield                                    Queens University          (NCAA NIRA D2)

Hannah Pfersch       Hamilton HS                                Quinnipiac University    (NCAA NIRA D1)

Angelina Pieters      Catholic Memorial HS                 Lindenwood University   (USAR  D1 Elite)

WGR Class of 2019

Jenna Klenz                     DSHA                                    Queens

Chanel Lubsey                 Brookfield                             LIU-Post

Makinzie Youngblood     DSHA HS                              Sacred Heart

Stephanie Wilson            CMHS                                    Sacred Heart 

WGR Class of 2018

Madison Black              CMHS                                      U.S. Naval Academy

Allison Koenig              CMHS                                      Quinnipiac

Emily Morris                 Pulaski                                     Lindenwood

WGR Class of 2017

Megan Bird                  Oak Creek                                 Davenport 

Emma Conrad               Fond Du Lac                            Lindenwood

Alyanna Primer             Brookfield                                Lindenwood

Erin Wright                   CMHS                                      Harvard 

WGR Class of 2016

Kelsey Gustafson          CMHS                                      Sacred Heart

Lizzy Walicki               CMHS                                      West Chester U

WGR Class of 2015

Reina Anderson             Brookfield                                Lindenwood

Taylor Bragg Brock       DSHA                                      Lindenwood

Courtney Crouse           Kettle Moraine                          Lindenwood

Lexi Prusheik                Vernon                                     Lindenwood

WGR Class of 2014

Julie Else                      CMHS                                      Norwich U

Rebecca Haight             CMHS                                      Quinnipiac

Maggie Wesolowski      CMHS                                      Quinnipiac

WGR Class of 2013

Lindey Wise                 DSHA                                      Quinnipiac

WGR Class of 2001

Amy Lalko                   DSHA                                      Eastern Illinois

WGR Class of 2000

Katie Plant                    DSHA                                      Eastern Illinois

Allison Urbanski           DSHA                                      Eastern Illinois

WGR Class of 1998

Erin Voelz                    DSHA                                      Eastern Illinois

2026 Girls High School Nationals

 The 2026 Girls National Tournament has announced dates and location.  Two big takeaways from the May 15th-16th event where clubs and school teams will compete on the same days:

  The event returns to Utah for the third time in history and out west for the seventh time.  Hosted at the Regional Athletic Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, teams will be well-taken care of at a large venue.  There has been strong commitment from California, Utah, and Idaho teams for the last several seasons.

  Secondly, the event shifts all teams to games on Friday and Saturday.  It will remain to be seen how this shift affects attendance by single school teams whose student athletes will likely miss additional class time in order to attend.

  Last year's single school bracket lacked a representative from the South for the first time. Coincidentally, the last time the South territory was not represented at Nationals at all was in 2010, when Nationals was held in Sandy, Utah.

Here's a look at the complex:

Interested teams should contact:

Tournament directors: 

Travis Stoddard (travis@utahyouthrugby.org), 

Brent Meier (brent@utahyouthrugby.org)
Application form

Chris Kovac (Idaho) – Chairman
chris.kovac1@gmail.com

Prusmack Award Winner 2025

 WGR Alum Aly Cunningham is being inducted into the U.S. Rugby Foundation Hall of Fame in July  as the 2025 Prusmack Award Winner after a stellar collegiate career at NCAA D1 Sacred Heart University.  She appeared on the With You Podcast to share her story:  

Girls Rugby Summer Camp info

 Just for girls:

Contact Coach Roy Bowler with questions:  rbowler@catholicmemorial.net

June 9-12th and 16-19th, 530-730pm

Girls Nationals 2025 Notes and Records

 News and Notes:

Eagle HS becomes the fourth team in tournament history to repeat as champion, joining the likes of DSHA, Fort Collins, and Fallbrook.

DSHA has medaled in every single-school tournament.

City Honors represented the East and attended their fourth consecutive nationals.  The event is only a national tournament if a variety of regions participate, and City Honors continues to strive to bring rugby to an urban school in the Buffalo area.  As the only East Coast representative, they are essential to the event.  City Honors' participation numbers are strong, and they've added a lot to the event over the years.  In addition to nationals, they toured Italy this year.  

Hamilton competed in division one for the first time and managed to come away with two wins out of three.  A focus on 15's in the spring seems to have paid off for them.

The free livestream through The Rugby Network was again a special feature of the event, allowing family, college recruiters, and fans unable to attend the opportunity to watch and support.  Huge thanks must go out to Madison United Rugby and USA Youth and High School Rugby for facilitating this.  This would not be possible without sponsorship and support.  Having a proper stadium facility with the power and connections for broadcast is sometimes taken for granted.  MUR's willingness and readiness to facilitate this is essential.

In addition, the USA Rugby Referee development program chipped in to support referees for the event. Flying in some of the contingent and supporting them throughout the weekend is an important developmental opportunity for all the players, coaches, and referees.  

Historical Records:

2025 Girls High School Champion: Eagle HS, ID             Location: Madison United Rugby, WI

                Runner-up: Meridian HS, ID

3rd Place: DSHA, WI

2024 Girls High School Champion: Eagle HS, ID             Location: Madison United Rugby, WI

Runner-up: DSHA, WI

                                        3rd Place: Meridian HS, ID

D2: Sussex Hamilton HS, WI

2023 Girls High School Champion: DSHA HS, WI Location: Madison United Rugby, WI

Runner-up: Rocky Mt. HS, ID

3rd place: Columbia Central HS, TN

2022 Single School Champion: DSHA HS, WI Location: Notre Dame College, OH

Runner-up: Summit HS, CO

3rd Place: Eagle HS, ID

D2: Orchard Park, NY

2019 Single School   Champion:  DSHA HS, WI Location:  Infinity Park, CO

  Runner-Up: Catholic Memorial HS, WI

                          3rd Place:  Summit HS, CO

2018 Single School       Champion:  Kahuku HS, HI                        Location:  MTSU, Tennessee

                                       Runner Up:  Catholic Memorial HS, WI  

                                       3rd:  DSHA HS, WI

                                       D2:  Broken Arrow, OK

2017 Single School        Champion:  DSHA HS, WI                           Location:  Elkhart, Ind

                                        Runner Up:  Kahuku HS, HA

                                        3rd:               Orchard Park, NY

                                        D2:                 Oak Creek HS, WI

2016   Single School        Champion:  St Joseph's Academy, OH       Location:  St Charles, MO

                                          2nd:              Summit High School, CO

                                          3rd:              DSHA High School, WI

                                          Div2:            Penn HS, Ind

    Year   Champion               2nd                         3rd                             Location                  D2

2015   Fallbrook, CA           Kent, WA                Danville, CA            Pittsburgh, PA      South Bay, CA

2014   Fallbrook, CA           Amazons, CA          DSHA, WI                Pittsfield, MA      Pleasanton, CA

2013   Fallbrook, CA           Kent, WA                 DSHA, WI                Racine, WI          Fullerton, CA

2012   Fallbrook, CA           Lakewood, OH        DSHA, WI                Palo Alto, CA

2011   Fallbrook, CA           Amazons, CA          DSHA, WI                Sandy, UT

2010   Amazons, CA           Fallbrook, CA          DSHA, WI                Sandy, UT

2009   DSHA, WI                Lakewood, OH        Amazons, CA            Pittsburgh, PA

2008   DSHA, WI                Lakewood, OH        Amazons, CA            Pittsburgh, PA

2007   DSHA, WI                Kent, WA                 Vernon, WI                Milwaukee, WI

2006   DSHA, WI                Kent, WA                 Ft. Collins, CO          Portland, ME

2005   DSHA, WI                Kent, WA                 Vernon, WI               Milwaukee, WI

2004   DSHA, WI                Kettle Moraine, WI   Amazons, CA           Burbank, CA

2003   Amazons, CA           Ft. Collins, CO        Kettle Moraine, WI    Kansas City, MO

2002   Kent, WA                 Haverford, PA         Northshore, WI         Seattle, WA

2001   Ft. Collins, CO         DSHA, WI               Kent, WA                  Ft. Collins, CO

2000   Ft. Collins, CO         DSHA, WI               Wayzata, MN           Milwaukee, WI

Co-Ed Summer Flag Rugby

 

We’re excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2025 Tag Rugby season – and we’d love to see your child back on the field for another great summer of fun, fitness, and teamwork!

Here’s what you need to know:

🏉 A fun, co-ed, non-contact flag league
📅 Fridays from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
🗓 June 13 – August 8
📍 Merrill Crest Park
🎯 Optional tournaments on Saturdays (see 2025 tournament schedule below)

Attached, you’ll find our flyer with a QR code that links directly to the City of Waukesha’s registration page for easy sign-up.

Or, you can click here to go straight to the registration page:
👉 Waukesha Parks, Recreation, and Forestry – Activity Sign-Up

If you have any questions or need more info, feel free to reach out to us at WaukeshaTagRugby@gmail.com.

We’d also love your help in spreading the word! Please share this with friends, neighbors, or classmates who might be interested. New players are always welcome!

And finally, if any of you are former ruggers or just enjoy being out on the field, we’re always looking for volunteer coaches or helpers. Let us know if you’d like to get involved!

---

2025 Tournament Schedule

For those planning ahead for summer weekends, here are this season’s optional Saturday tournaments:

• June 21, 2025 – Lakefront 7s

• June 28, 2025 – Oshkosh

• July 12, 2025 – Fond du Lac

• July 19, 2025 – Green Bay

• July 26, 2025 – Cottage Grove

• August 2, 2025 – Fox Cities

Girls High School Rugby Nationals Scores 2025

 Saturday Quarterfinals

Bracket A 

Eagle HS  80 v City Honors HS  0

Catholic Memorial HS 33 v Warsaw HS 0 

Bracket B 

DSHA HS 81 v Barbarians 0 

Meridian HS 70 v Hamilton HS  17 

Consolation Semifinals 3pm  field 1 and field 2

City Honors HS  5 v Warsaw Area HS 41   

Hamilton HS 28 v Barbarians 0

Championship Semifinals 4pm  field 1 and field 2

Eagle HS  38 v Catholic Memorial HS 0

DSHA HS 12 v Meridian HS 14

Sunday Championships

7th Place 9:00am  City Honors v Barbarians

5th Place 10:15am Warsaw 17 v Hamilton 36

3rd Place 11:45am   Catholic Memorial 0  v Divine Savior Holy Angels 15

Championship: 1:15pm Eagle 34  v Meridian 7

2025 Girls Rugby Final Standings

1 Eagle

2Meridian

3 DSHA

4 Catholic Memorial

5 Hamilton

6 Warsaw

7Barbarians

8City Honors

Girls High School National Tournament Livestream

 Here is the link for the livestream of the girls national tournament games in Cottage Grove.

It appears both field one and two are being streamed.  Fantastic job by Madison United Rugby as well as The Rugby Network for their efforts to cover all the matches.\

Link:

https://www.therugbynetwork.com/

Share this link far and wide.

Girls High School Rugby National Tournament 2025

Girls nationals kicks off Saturday May 17th, 2025 at Madison United Rugby in Cottage Grove.  Due to a late withdrawal, a side of jv players from competing school teams rounds out the event as the 8th team.  While precedent dictates they play against Eagle, by Eagle's request the Barbarians were shifted in the brackets.  

Congrats to all these student athletes who travel to compete and represent their schools.

Matchups and time below

Saturday Quarterfinals

Bracket A 

Eagle HS (ID) 80 v City Honors HS (NY)  0

Catholic Memorial HS (WI) 33 v Warsaw HS (IN) 0 

Bracket B 

DSHA HS (WI) 81 v Barbarians (USA) 0 

Meridian HS (ID) 70 v Hamilton HS (WI) 17 

Consolation Semifinals 3pm  field 1 and field 2

   

Championship Semifinals 4pm  field 1 and field 2

  Winners of Bracket A quarterfinal and Winners of Bracket B quarterfinals

Sunday Championships

7th Place 9:00am

5th Place 10:15am

3rd Place 11:45am

Championship: 1:15pm

Click here for the event website with admission and parking details.

The Womens Rugby World Cup (in the USA) & US Professional Rugby (WER)

 Some facts:

"Some 100,000 females are projected to be playing the game in England by 2027."

How many are playing in the USA?

Estimates are difficult to find.  One source estimates over 20,000.  

Over 66,000 fans were in the stands for the opening game of the women's Olympic 7's games in France.

Just this past winter, over 58,000 fans attended the Six Nations decider between England and France.

The game is growing globally both professionally and at the grassroots levels.

Things are building:  The USA is hosting the 2031 Women's Rugby World Cup and the Men's World Cup in 2033.

Updates and info can be found here

Today's kids could be on those fields or in the stands enjoying the culture of rugby

The Women's Rugby professional league was also built partly to help the buildup to hosting the World Cup.  League info can be found here.

Wisconsin Youth Rugby: Summer Flag Rugby (Help & Refs Wanted)

 

2025 Girls High School Rugby National Tournament

The 2025 Girls High School National Rugby tournament kicks off May 17th and 18th, 2025.  Registered teams, schedules, and scores will be updated here as they become available.

The event site can be found here, with info from travelers on hotels, schedules, tourism deals, and policies.

Contact Madison United Rugby, via Director Brad Dufek for any questions about the venue:  Madison United Rugby Complex in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin: murugbydirector@gmail.com

Contact National Girls Coaches Committee (NGCC)(for schools) with any tournament eligibility, rules, schedule, or other specific girls rugby queries:

Chair:  John Klein:  jklein@sdsm.k12.wi.us

West Rep: Kraig Smikel: ksmikel.ks@hotmail.com

East Rep: Matt Franks: matthew_frank60@yahoo.com

Media Rep: Kelli Vanover:    kelli.vanover@farmersinsurance.com

Eagle HS from Idaho returns to defend their title.  City Honors returns to

Competing Teams include but are not limited to the following programs: 

(still waiting on other teams to complete registration. Contact organizers ASAP to complete & compete)

Catholic Memorial HS

City Honors HS

Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Eagle HS

Hamilton HS

Meridian HS

Taft HS

Warsaw Area HS

Midwest Girls High School Rugby Tournament 2025

 Scores from one of the biggest girls rugby weekends in the world!

Championship Bracket (Saturday Matches)

DSHA Dashers 57 v Carrol Chargers 0

Catholic Memorial Crusaders 27 vs Westside Indiana 14

Catholic Memorial 26 v St Joseph Academy Jaguars 19

DSHA 30  v Westside 0

St Joseph Academy 41 v Carrol Chargers 5

Open Bracket (Saturday Matches)

Penn (Ind) v Grandville HS (MI)

North Central HS (Ind) vs Hamilton HS (WI)

Fort Wayne (Ind) v Perrysburg (OH)

DSHA jv 40 v St Joseph's Academy jv 12 (OH)

DSHA jv 33 vs Grandville HS 0

Pendleton v Ft Wayne

Penn v St Joe's jv

North Central v Perrysburg

Hamilton 25  Pendleton 19

SUNDAY

Championship

5th place:  Hamilton 32 vs Carrol 12

3rd Place: St Joseph Academy 38 vs Westside 0

Championship:  Catholic Memorial 5  v DSHA 51

Final Midwest Rankings

1.DSHA (WI)
2.CMHS (WI)

3. St Joe's (OH)

4. Westside (Ind)

5. Hamilton HS (WI)

6. Carrol (Ind)

Historical Records:

1999    Champion:       D.S.H.A.                     Wisconsin                    Host:   Indiana
            Runner-up:      Carmel                         Indiana                         

2000    Champion        Wayzata                      Minnesota                   Host:   Minnesota
            Runner-up       D.S.H.A.                     Wisconsin

2001    Champion:       D.S.H.A.                     Wisconsin                    Host:   Wisconsin
            Runner-up:      Wayzata                      Minnesota

2002    Champion:       Wayzata                      Minnesota                   Host:   Indiana
            Runner-up       D.S.H.A.                     Wisconsin

2003    Champion:       D.S.H.A.                     Wisconsin                    Host:   Minnesota
            Runner-up       Kettle Moraine            Wisconsin      

2004    Champion:       DSHA                         Wisconsin                    Host:   Indian
            Runner-Up      Kettle Moraine            Wisconsin                   

2005    Champion:       DSHA                         Wisconsin                    Host:   Indiana

            Runner-Up:     Vernon Park                Wisconsin
            Third:              Lakewood                   Ohio

2006    Champion        DSHA                         Wisconsin                    Host:   Indiana
            Runner-up       Lakewood                   Ohio    
            Third               Vernon                        Wisconsin

2007    Champion        DSHA                         Wisconsin                    Host:  Indiana
             Runner-up      Vernon Park                Wisconsin
            Third               Lakewood                   Ohio
             Open              Lakeview                    Michigan

2008    Champion        DSHA                         Wisconsin                    Host:  Indiana
            Runner-up       Lakewood                   Ohio
            3^rd Place           Wayzata                      Minn.
            Open               Catholic Memorial      Wisconsin  

2009    Champion        DSHA                         Wisconsin                    Host:  Indiana
            Runner-up       Lakewood                   Ohio
            3^rd Place           Catholic Memorial      Wisconsin

2010    Champion        DSHA                         Wisconsin                    Host:  Indiana
            Runner-up       Brookfield                   Wisconsin
            3^rd Place           Lakewood                   Ohio
            Open               Vernon                                    Wisconsin

2011    Champion        DSHA                         Wisconsin                    Host:  Indiana
            Runner-up       Lakewood                   Ohio
            3^rd Place           Kettle Moraine            Wisconsin
            Open               Catholic Memorial      Wisconsin

2012    Champion        DSHA                         Wisconsin                    Host:   Indiana
            Runner-up       Catholic Memorial      Wisconsin
            3^rd Place           St Joseph’s Academy  Ohio
            Open               DSHA JV                     Wisconsin

2013    Champion        DSHA                         Wisconsin                    Host:  Indiana
            Runner-Up      Catholic Memorial      Wisconsin                    
            3^rd Place           

2014    Champion        DSHA                         Wisconsin                    Host:  Indiana
            Runner-up       Catholic Memorial      Wisconsin        
            3^rd Place           St Joseph                     Ohio
            
2015    Champion        DSHA                         Wisconsin                    Host:  Indiana
            Runner-up       St Joseph                     Ohio
            3^rd Place           Penn HS                      Indiana   

2016    Champion        DSHA                        Wisconsin                    Host:  Indiana
            Runner-up        CMHS                       Wisconsin
            3rd Place          St Joseph                    Ohio

2017    Champion       DSHA                          Wisconsin                    Host:  Indiana
            Runner-up       CMHS                         Wisconsin
            3rd Place         Warsaw                        Indiana
            Club                Hopkins                       Minn
            JV                   DSHA

2018   Champion       CMHS                          Wisconsin                   Host:  Indiana
           Runner-up       DSHA                           Wisconsin
           3rd Place         St Joseph                      Ohio
           Club                Walnut Hills                 Ohio
           JV                    DSHA jv

2019   Champion      DSHA                           Wisconsin         Host:  Indiana

           Runner-up      CMHS                          Wisconsin

           3rd Place        Grandville                    Michigan

           Club               Brunswick                    Ohio

           JV                  DSHA jv

2021  Champion      DSHA                           Wisconsin                Host: Indiana 

           Runner-up      CMHS                          Wisconsin

           3rd Place        Carroll                          Indiana

2022   Champion     DSHA                           Wisconsin                Host:  Indiana

            Runner-up    Sparta Rock                 Michigan

            3rd Place      CMHS                           Wisconsin

2023  Champion     DSHA                            Wisconsin                Host:  Indiana

          Runner-up     Sparta Rock                  Michigan

          3rd Place       CMHS (Catholic Memorial HS)

2024 Champion      DSHA                             Wisconsin               Host:  Indiana

          Runner-up     Sparta Rock                   Michigan

          3rd Place       St Joseph's Academy    Ohio              

2025 Champion      DSHA                             Wisconsin              Host: Indiana

          Runner-up    CMHS                             Wisconsin

          3rd Place      St Joseph Academy        Ohio