Nothing Gold Can Stay

 Nothing Gold Can Stay

By Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

State 2025

State Tournament Scores 2025

Catholic Memorial 7  DSHA 22 (Championship)

Fox Cities 43   Madison 29 (3rd Place)

Hamilton 26 DSHA jv 19 (5th Place)

Bruisers defeated Stevens Point Area HS (7th Place)

WGR 2025 Final Standings

1 DSHA HS

2 Catholic Memorial HS

3 Fox Cities

4 Madison

5 Hamilton HS

6 DSHA HS jv

7 Bruisers

8 Stevens Point Area HS (SPASH) 

Finals and Season Notes:

This is Divine Savior Holy Angels' 4th consecutive state championship.  

The scores of the last three state finals between the Dashers of DSHA and CMH Crusaders:

   22-7 (2025)

   21-5 (2024)

   38-7 (2023)

This was Catholic Memorial's 3rd consecutive state final appearance and their 11th second place finish.

Madison went from playing an exhibition game at last year's tournament to playing in the 3rd place game, showing significant progress as a program.  Improved playing numbers make a huge difference to any program.  This was their first appearance in a medal-placing playoff final.

While it was sad to see Green Bay unable to field a 15's team this fall after a strong start to their conference participation, several of their players went to great lengths to pick up game time with the Bruisers.  It's a 2 hour drive from Green Bay to the Milwaukee area.  Hopefully both programs can continue to build on their participation levels.

Fox Cities is an ascending program.  While still very new at the WGR conference membership level, a strong middle school tackle program as well as a youth flag program give them an exciting base from which to build.

Rugby Referee Clinic Oct 26th

 While WGR players, staff, board members, coaches, family, and fans will all be packing the house at the State Tournament this Sunday, if there are any alumni players out there, RUGBY needs referee help.

There is a clinic this Sunday in the Chicago area.

Info here:

World Rugby Level 1 Referee

Time: 8:30am - 5:00pm

Location: Lions for Hope Sports Complex

2637 W Polk St, Chicago, IL 60612

To Register:

• Access the USA Rugby Learning Center from your "My Profile" page in Rugby Xplorer.
• Once logged in, click on "Learning Center" from the left-hand menu.
• Click on the name of the person who is going to register for the course to enter the Learning Center
• From there, click "Course Catalog" to see the available courses.

*Young alums, contact the Wisconsin Referee Society if financial support needed: wrrsboardp@gmail.com 

WGR 2025 State Tournament Pairings

 At Haertel Field in Waukesha, the WGR season concludes with four fifteens matches on Sunday Oct 26th, 2025.   This is not the main Carroll University football stadium.  This is an auxiliary university field with artificial turf.

11:00am  Bruisers vs SPASH              (7th Place)

12:30pm  DSHA jv vs Hamilton HS   (5th Place)

2:00pm    Furies vs Fox Cities            (3rd Place)

3:30pm    Catholic Memorial vs DSHA  (Championship)

*There is very limited parking that will likely only be available for WGR staff, volunteers, refs, coaches, and a few handicapped attendees.  Carpool if able.  Most of the parking is in the surrounding neighborhood.    Bring lawn chairs as seating is also limited.

Playoff Scores Oct 18th, 2025

2025 WGR Playoff Semi-Final Pairings Oct 18th, 2025

All matches held at Cottage Grove, Madison United Rugby Complex

Furies vs Catholic Memorial (won) HS       (Championship Bracket)

DSHA HS jv  57  vs Brookfield 5               (5th Place Bracket)

DSHA HS 91 vs Fox Cities 5                      (Championship Bracket)

Hamilton 48 vs Stevens Point Area  0 HS  (5th Place Bracket)

Scores Week 5 WGR 2025

 Saturday Oct 10th, 2025

Bruisers 0 at DSHA 136            Brown Deer Park

CMHS 59  at DSHA jv o         Brown Deer Park

Fox Cities (forfeit)  at Hamilton            Nashotah Park

Jeff Noe Conference

Divine Savior Holy Angels HS 4-0

Madison Furies 3-1

Stevens Points Area HS 1-1

Bruisers 1-3

Green Bay 0-4 (all forfeits)

Tony Oliver Conference

Catholic Memorial HS 4-0

Fox Cities 2-2

DSHA HS jv 1-3

Hamilton 1-3

Unofficially, for the upcoming playoffs it appears DSHA (A) will play Fox Cities in one semifinal, while Catholic Memorial would play Madison in the other semifinals at Cottage Grove on Oct 18th.  Stay tuned for confirmation as well as the consolation brackets.

WGR 2025 State Details: Location, Schedule, & Sponsorship

  Due to the flooding damage at Hart Park, the 2025 WGR State Championship tournament will take place at Carrol University in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  Normally played under the lights (which Carrol has), the games will be played during the afternoon of Oct 26th, 2025.

The 10/26 State Tournament Match Schedule:

11:00am        7th place

12:30pm        5th Place            

2:00pm          3rd Place

3:30pm          Championship

The 10/18 State Playoff Schedule:  all matches held at Cottage Grove Rugby Complex

    All times at TBD.  Last year matches started at 9am but are referee availability dependent.

Championship Bracket (1st thru 4th Place)

Noe 1 v Oliver 2

Oliver 1 v Noe 2

Consolation Bracket (5th-8th Place)

Noe 3 v Oliver 4

Oliver 3 v Noe 4

Sponsorship Info:

WISCONSIN GIRLS RUGBY STATE TOURNAMENT SPONSORSHIP & AD INFO       

                               

Due Date: All ads to Betsy Wendelberger (WendelbergerE@Gmail.Com) by Monday, October 20th          

Money: All checks made out to Wisconsin Girls Rugby.  

*Anyone who purchased ad space will receive a receipt once payment is received.

Advertisement in tournament brochure:

·      $200  Full Page (7"  X 9 ½")      

·      $100  ½ Page (7" X 4 ½”)

·      $50     ¼ Page (3 ½ " X 4 ½ ")             

·      $25    Business Card (3 1/2 “X 2 ¼ ")

                  

**Black and White camera-ready artwork is preferred, but we are able to assist in ad creation. Please have everyone send artwork to Betsy Wendelberger (WendelbergerE@Gmail.Com) 

 

PARENT ADS: If any parents want to buy ad space to cheer for their daughter/team, they may for the same prices as listed above. Great way to shout out your favorite player/team PLUS all proceeds go to Wisconsin Girls Rugby. This money is used for coaching certification grants, coach/player training, start-up grants for new teams, and many more opportunities to grow the game in our state.

                               

Table space for Collegiate Rugby Recruiters:                

Cost: $50 for a table at the tournament to hand out information and interact with parents and players. You will need to provide a table, the recruitment materials and chairs. Feel free to be creative with handouts and visual appeal. No t-shirt sales please.

Thank you for all your efforts to make this tournament as successful as it has been! We greatly appreciate your support and generosity!

Retirement Celebration: A Quarter Century of Inspiration

 After over a quarter century of coaching rugby with unparalleled success, DSHA's John Klein retired at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.  The 2007 USA Rugby National Coach of the Year and the 2013 Goff Rugby Coach of the Year, serves as an inspiring force in the lives of many, many lives.  

Decades of alumni, coaches, refs, and family supporters are invited to the celebration.  Fill out the interest form here if you want to attend or help plan.  Volunteers are needed for what's shaping up to be a massive, special night on Dec 28th, 2025 in Milwaukee.

Klein's inspiring family journey:

From  the "My Faith" podcast by Milwaukee sportscaster legends Steve "The Homer" True and Tom Pipines:

Standings and Week 5 Schedule

 Jeff Noe Conference

Divine Savior Holy Angels HS 3-0

Madison Furies 3-1

Stevens Points Area HS 1-1

Bruisers 1-2

Green Bay 0-3 (all forfeits)

Tony Oliver Conference

Catholic Memorial HS 3-0

Fox Cities 2-1

DSHA HS jv 1-2

Hamilton 0-3

Sat October 11th, 2025

Fox Cities at Hamilton      10am     Nashotah Park

Bruisers    at DSHA          10am     Brown Deer Park

CMHS      at DSHA jv       12pm     Brown Deer Park

*SPASH    at Green Bay   10am     Barney Williams Field 

     (likely forfeit by GB, who has not played a league match this fall)

WGR Standings, Scores, and Week 4 Schedule (coming!)

Week Four Schedule:

Furies 53 at  Stevens Point 12  Banach Elementary 

DSHA jv 34. at  Fox Cities 40  Greenville Lions Park

Jeff Noe Conference

Divine Savior Holy Angels HS 2-0

Madison Furies 2-1

Stevens Points Area HS 1-2

Bruisers 1-2

Green Bay 0-1

Tony Oliver Conference

Catholic Memorial HS 3-0

DSHA HS jv 1-1

Fox Cities 1-1

Hamilton 0-3

Week 3 Scores:

Fri   Hamilton 14 CMHS 66  430pm  Bill Young Stadium at CMHS

Sat  Bruisers 20 SPASH 27  10am  Banach Elementary School

81,885

 81,885 fans attended the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final today.   Check out the highlights!

"Sophie 2.0"

 Maybe we should all strive to be the "2.0" best versions of ourselves.  Hard not to be inspire by Canada's Sophie de Goede, in her comeback from ACL surgery:  Sophie de Goede

"We Feel Like We're Playing for the Future of ----------- rugby"

 "Fighter versus boxer, bludgeon against rapier, the tale of the tape says it could be one of the all-time classic contests. England will look to bulldoze Canada into the ropes; Canada will aim to box the ears off England in only a few days’ time at the old cabbage patch in West London. It could be one of the great ones."

Check out the excellent analysis and opinion piece from rugby analyst Nic Bishop ahead of the big game. 

Highlights of all the matches can be found here on the Women's World Cup website.

If you want to get pumped, watch the highlights of the semifinal between Canada and New Zealand:

Rugby Pass TV has all the matches available on replay.

Finally, CBS Sports has the rights to the final in the USA and will broadcast the match at 930am on PARAMOUNT+. (you can sign up for a free preview)

One of the many GREAT players to watch is Canada's second row, Sophie De Goede.  A former flyhalf, she plays second row AND still kicks goals for the Maple Leafs.  Her line break and finish against New Zealand is one of the all time most important tries in Canadian rugby history.  She's a reminder that in modern rugby, the number on your back is far less important than the role you play in the match.

Two of our favorite quotes of the tournament have come in the build up to the match:

“Honestly – we’re just excited. It’s already been the biggest and best World Cup yet, so – in that department – it’s job done. As for the pressure – it’s a privilege that everyone thinks there is so much [of it resting] on us! We’ve earned it, so come at us.”   Alex Mathews.

And finally, something for the players and coaches of WGR to consider as they take the field this fall from Sophie De Goede:

“When you think about the broader perspective, we do feel like we’re playing for the future of Canadian rugby, not just women but men as well. We need to drive the sport forward and try to get more profile and more backing, and that only comes with success.

WGR Standings and Week 3 Schedule

 Jeff Noe Conference

Divine Savior Holy Angels HS 2-0

Madison Furies 1-1

Bruisers 1-1

Stevens Point Area HS 0-1

Green Bay 0-1

Tony Oliver Conference

Catholic Memorial HS 2-0

DSHA HS jv 1-1

Fox Cities 1-1

Hamilton 0-2

Week 3 Schedule:

Fri   Hamilton at CMHS  430pm  Bill Young Stadium at CMHS

Sat  Bruisers at SPASH  10am  Banach Elementary School

TBD:  Green Bay forfeited last week after having a bye in week one.  There is some doubt as to whether they will field a viable team this fall. 

WGR Week 2 Matches

 Week 2 Matches coming up:

Sat  Sept 20th, 2025

DSHA JV 5 at Catholic Memorial 89   10am at CMHS (Bill Young Turf Stadium)

Fox Cities 31 at Hamilton HS 10 10am at Nashotah Park

Green Bay (0-0)  at Bruisers (0-1)   12pm at Nashotah Park (Green Bay forfeit)

Furies 0  vs DSHA 80    1130am at CMHS (Bill Young Stadium)

Bye Week:  Stevens Point Area HS (SPASH) (0-1)

Week 1 Standings 2025

 Jeff Noe Conference

Divine Savior Holy Angels HS 1-0

Madison Furies 1-0

Green Bay Banshees 0-0

Stevens Point Area HS 0-1

Bruisers 0-1

Tony Oliver Conference

Catholic Memorial HS 1-0

DSHA HS jv 1-0

Fox Cities 0-1

Hamilton 0-1

WGR Fall Conference Season Opener 2025

 After weeks of practice and months of planning, another era of WGR Girls Rugby begins:

Week 1:  Sept 13th, 2025

9am Madison 45 at Bruisers 0  at Nashotah Park

10am SPASH 0 at DSHA 75 at Brown Deer Park

10am CMHS 64 at Fox Cities 27 at Greenville 

12pm Hamilton 15 at DS jv 24 at Brown Deer Park

Wormen’s Rugby World Cup 2025

 During the opening weekend of the Women’s Rugby World Cup over 3.2 million viewers accessed the BBC coverage of the event.  The live in person attendance record was also shattered in the opening match with 42,723 fans seeing England see off the USA 69-7 in Sunderland, England.  The match broadcast attracted 2.4 million watchers on BBC Channel One in the UK alone.

For further perspective, a little over one hundred years ago, women in the UK were prohibited from taking the Rugby Laws test needed to referee a game.

In 2023 Scottish Referee Hollie Davidson became the first female referee at the u20 Men’s Rugby World Cup.   Then in 2024 she was the first female ref to be part of a Six Nations match.  She went on to referee in the heart of South Africa as their men took on Italy in Bloemfontein.  She refereed the last Women’s Rugby Works Cup Final and is one of the best in the game.

Here are the extended highlights from what many have called the game of the tournament so far.  Much like the epic USA Rugby 7s Bronze Medal, it pitted the Americans against the Aussies.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fHAsdeQzK70&pp=ygUWV29tZW5zIHJpZ2J5IHdvcmtkIGN1cA%3D%3D

Today’s game between the USA and Samoa will determine whether the Eagles make it to the Knockout Stage.   THE GAME IS IN FREE TO AIR CBS AT NOON

State Tournament Venue Damaged in Flooding

Last week’s storms led to flooding and damage across southeastern Wisconsin.  In addition to the families with flooded basements, Hart Park in Wauwatosa suffered significant damage as the nearby river flooded the entire area.   With the turf ripped from its anchoring, the stadium venue will be unavailable all fall leading to a shift in the WGR State Finals Tournament.  League leadership are working on alternative options.  Once source indicated that Cottage Grove, where this year’s semifinals will be held, is unavailable for finals weekend, so the league will need to look elsewhere.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by the storms and flooding.

WGR Fall 15's Schedule 2025

With the Tony Oliver conference having four teams, league admin decided to have pairs of teams in that conference play each other twice in order to get a schedule equivalent to the five-team Noe Conference.  Hamilton will play the new Fox Cities program twice, both at home.   Catholic Memorial HS will play DSHA jv twice.   CMH and Hamilton will only play once in conference play.

 Week 1: Saturday Sept 13th, 2025

SPASH @ DSHA  10am  Brown Deer Park

Hamilton @ DSHA jv 12pm Brown Deer Park

CMHS @ Fox Cities 10am  Greenville Lions Park

Madison Furies @ Bruisers 9am  Nashotah Park

Week 2:  Saturday Sept 20th

Fox Cities @ Hamilton  10am Nashotah Park

Green Bay @ Bruisers 12pm Nashotah Park

DSHA jv @ CMHS 10am Minooka Park

Furies @ DSHA 12pm Minooka Park

Week 3: Saturday Sept 27th

Hamilton @ CMHS 10am Minooka Park

Green Bay @ Madison Furies 10am Cottage Grove Rugby Complex

Bruisers @ SPASH 10am  5400 Walter Street

Week 4: Oct 4th

DSHA @ Green Bay 10am Barney Williams Field

DSHA jv @ Fox Cities 12pm Barney Williams Field

Madison Furies @ SPASH 10am 5400 Walter Street

Week 5: Oct 11th

Fox Cities @ Hamilton 10am  Nashotah Park

Bruisers @ DSHA 10am Brown Deer Park

CMHS @ DSHA jv 12pm Brown Deer Park

SPASH @ Green Bay 10am Barney Williams Field

Week 6: Playoffs Saturday Oct 18th

@Cottage Grove Rugby Complex

Week 7:  State Tournament

Sunday Oct 26th, 2025

Hart Park, Wauwatosa

WGR Fall 2025 Conferences

  With the 2025 WGR Fall Season a few weeks away, our field reporters are excited to leak the tentative conferences for the 15's Fall season.  A few minor shifts include the Bruisers and Furies moving to the Jeff Noe conference and the new Fox Cities girls program joining the Tony Oliver Conference.  Word is the schedule should be released in a few weeks with the hugely successful State Tournament returning to Hart Park in Wauwatosa.

Jeff Noe Conference

Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Green Bay Banshees

Stevens Point Area HS

Bruisers

Madison Furies

Tony Oliver Conference

Catholic Memorial HS

Hamilton HS

DSHA HS jv

Fox Cities

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