Wisconsin High School Girls Rugby

Snow Rugby

2012-01-20T16:02:00.003-05:00

Just because we have a snowstorm in Wisconsin, doesn't mean we don't have to stop playing, as this photo from Finland's famous "Snow Rugby Tournament" demonstrates ....

The Midwest Cross Roads Invitational Festival

2012-01-05T08:31:00.003-05:00

The 8th Annual Midwest Cross Roads Invitational is being held April 21 & 22,
2012 at the Des Moines rugby Facilities. The tournament is billed as an event that "will soon be one of the premier girls’ rugby events in the country."

It's held at the outsanding Des Moines’ Rugby Facilities, which includes two fields and their clubhouse along with a third field immediately west of us allowing us to host up to 24
teams. Their clubhouse features four locker rooms with showers, a large social room with kitchen, and two-tiered deck overlooking Bartlett Field. They also offer buffet lunches both days and a buffet dinner Sat. evening – a perfect way to keep your team from
scattering to fast foods.

This is called a festival rather than a tournament as you’ll get three competitive games (Sat morning, Sat. afternoon, and Sunday) but there are no standings kept or trophies awarded. It's a good opportunity to gain experience. Teams typcially come from Minnessota, St. Louis, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

If interested, contact Phil Kaser, the tournament director, Pkaser13@centurylink.net

Applications for National Tournament Sought

2012-01-04T10:31:00.003-05:00

Girls HS Teams are being urged to apply to the new National Championships May 12-13 at Stanford in conjunction with the collegiate women's final four.

Teams must fill out an application form by January 15.

Go here for the application former:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFVrcEhpNHdsMVFrVG9lZ1dCcko2Vnc6MQ

Word on the street is that the committee is considering two tiers of competition, if interest for the event is shown in the number of applications submitted. This is similar to how the NIT was run prior to USA Rugby taking it over two years ago. At its peak the NIT had three tiers of competition, with 24 teams competing.

The Committee urges teams to apply as soon as possible to be considered.

Higgin's Award Winner Comments

2011-12-31T15:18:00.007-05:00

"Talia is a great ambassador to the sport, her infectious desire to constantly play and improve made her easy to coach. After her sophomore season, she moved back to Milwaukee but would commute four times a week out to Delafield so she could continue playing with her teammates. The time, energy, and passion she commits to the sport are a great example to others and I'm extremely happy that she has continued to play for a top program in college"

Coach Noe, Kettle Moraine Knightmares

And a note about Kaisee:

"Congratulations to Kaisee for this well deserved honor. Kaisee was an integral part of Brookfield RFC's success with both her innate athleticism and her quiet leadership. Kaisee was such a great player, not only because of her strong performances on the field, but because she always provided a positive role model off the field, at practice and team events, building a real sense of team community. I am so happy to have had the opportunity to work with Kaisee, and glad that she is continuing to play at such a high level in the sport. I wish her the best of luck, both on and off the pitch."

Coach Dan, formerly of DS,KM, CMH, Brookfield, and Tosa :)

Kevin Higgins Scholarship Winners 2011

2011-12-27T11:27:00.001-05:00

The US Rugby Football Foundation, the USRFF, recently announced the award winners of the 2011 Kevin Higgins Scholarships. According to their website, "The $1,000 scholarships, named in honor of one of the all-time great U.S. centers, Kevin Higgins, are awarded to graduating high school seniors who have gone on to continue their education and rugby at the collegiate level."

This year not one, but TWO WGR players were awarded this prestigous award. They join Catholic Memorial alumn Amanda Pohle, now playing at Marquette University, who was awarded the scholarship in 2009, as the second and third young woman from Wisconsin high school rugby to be so honored!

Kaisee Wiesmeuller, from Brookfield, and Talia Carrasquillo, from Kettle Moraine are this year's recipients. Anyone familiar with girls rugby in Wisconsin will remember them well. Their impressive ability and leadership on the field are special.

A few highlights from the press release about Talia (click to read the full story):

"Captaining the Knightmares once again, she led her team to a 2nd place finish at the state championships and a 3rd place finish in the Midwest. She was named her team’s MVP"

"While in high school, Talia gave back to the Milwaukee community by providing community service at the Latin Community Center. In the summer months she mowed the lawns of her grandparents and several other elderly folks in their neighborhood. You could also find Talia in the gym…a lot. She worked out three times a day and many of those sessions would see Talia helping many of her teammates through their lifting routines.

Her discipline in the gym helps her on the field. “I have to always keep thinking to myself no matter how tired I am, no matter how much time is left in the game, and no matter what the weather is like, I have to play my hardest, going all out until the final whistle is blown. It is my goal to put my body through whatever challenges it needs to be put in in order for my team to win.”

What coaches and teammates probably remember most about Talia's high school rugby days is her character and leadership, and it's easy to see this quality shine through in her words.

Kaisee's full story is also a good one (click name for full story). It captures why so many young women participate in such a great team sport.

Highlights from her press release:

"Kaisee Wiesmueller was a very shy person who rarely voiced her opinion before she first started playing rugby in 2007 for the Brookfield Bruisers RFC in Brookfield, WI. But as the years have changed so too has Kaisee. “Throughout my years playing the sport, that shyness I had has slowly drifted away and many other qualities have taken its place. I have gained confidence, independence, leadership, courage and dedication, all from playing rugby.”

Her confidence and leadership earned her the captaincy of her Bruisers team in 2009 and since then she has led the Bruisers to new heights while also achieving individual accolades. The Bruisers excelled under Kaisee’s leadership in 2010. The team finished 2nd in the Midwest, after knocking off Lakewood, Ohio and finished 4th in the nation. They followed that up with a 3rd place finish in the state in the fall of 2010.

She would also like to coach rugby. “Teaching other people to love rugby as much as I do would bring so much joy to my life and hopefully theirs too.”

CONGRATS AGAIN to both our WGR alumni.

National Championship 2012

2011-12-16T09:33:00.007-05:00

USA Rugby has revamped the girls National Championships. 2011 will be a level-playing field with high school-only athletes playing. Prior to that, following USA Rugby decisions for their two years running the event, some teams such as Fallbrook and the Amazons competed as u-19 teams, in the same bracket as purely high school teams.

The event date has also been moved up to May 12-13 at Stanford University, to coincide with the women's collegiate playoffs. The event will no longer coincide with the boys. It remains to be seen how that affects the event. A chance to see Highland boys play, for example, and to see the level of professionalism in programs at that level creates a great atmosphere. On the other hand, the girls won't be second fiddle at the event ... they won't be placed on "the back field." The level of professionalism for the women's collegiate teams will be impressive too though. Combining the collegiate and high school girls events should boost the number of people in the stands for the girls games. That alone is a good thing.

The other significant change is that the event is an invitational, similar to NCAA March Madness, where certain teams get "bids" from a committee. The Midwest Regional is not an automatic qualifier anymore. In some ways, this isn't as big of a change for the rest of the country. Few regions had a true regional championship like the Midwest does. No other region holds an event with six to seven other state champions taking part. In some regions it appeared that teams from other states couldn't agree on when to play or where and when they did, there were concerns over fairness, equity, and complaints about having to travel to play bigger games.

An application and $50, gets you on the list for the High School National Championships Committee, made up of some noteable youth coaches and a few administrators and media. According to their press release, "The Committee agreed early on that long-term success on the field, combined with strong organizational and administrative abilities, are the main criteria through which the clubs will be judged. Clubs who are invited will be expected to put forth a $1,500 deposit, which will go toward their National Championship expenses."

A notable concern is if the event will truely be a championship. How will the committee take into account up-and-coming teams and programs that in the past could prove they were better on the field in a qualifier. Would Brookfield have even been considered if this was the system in place in 2010? Yet, they defeated past national participants Vernon and Lakewood to advance to Utah, where they then defeated Portland, Maine as they ended up 4th overall at Nationals.

A mark of the National Tournament's success has been the number of different programs that have benefited from the experience. Wisconsin alone has had FIVE programs participate:
-DSHA
-Northshore
-Kettle Moraine
-Vernon
-Brookfield

There was not an announcement about whether there will be two brackets or one. A decision is apparently pending. It might depend on the number of teams that apply, although one wonders if more teams would apply if they knew there would be two divisions.

Since USA Rugby has run the event it's been an 8-team tournament. Prior to that the Nationals event peeked at three brackets of eight, for a total field of 24 teams in three tiers. Interestingly, according to Rugby Mag's most recent team census, the number of girls teams has doubled in the last five years.

The Committee Includes:

Chairman – Mike Tolkin
USA Rugby Rep – Kurt Weaver
Press Rep – Alex Goff, RugbyMag
USA National Girls – Bryn Chivers
USA National Boys – Salty Thompson
Girls Coach – Marin Pinnell, Fallbrook
Girls Coach – John Klein, Divine Savior
Girls Coach – Brad Rockwood, West Carroll
Boys Coach – Lee Kelly, Gonzaga (Single School)
Boys Coach – Bart Bottorff, Penn (Single School)
Boys Coach – Stephen Edwards, Union County (Multi School)

The window to apply is December 15 through January 16.

To apply, click on this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFVrcEhpNHdsMVFrVG9lZ1dCcko2Vnc6MQ

2011-12-12T21:45:00.000-05:00

The Wauwatosa School District is seeking a new coach to take on the leadership of the high school girls rugby club. This is a volunteer position, but the head coach will be eligible for a $500 stipend to defray the costs associated with coaching.

Interested applicants should compplete an application on WECAN. The vacancy is posted in WECAN by the Wauwatosa school District.

National Rugby Coaching Week

2011-12-10T11:24:00.003-05:00

This is National Rugby Coaching Week: a time to thank all the coaches and volunteers who give players an opportunity to be a part of something special. Coaching is a role that never really has an off-season. Coaches do a lot of things players may not be aware of. To name a few, they plan schedules, help kids with tons of stuff, write recommendations, reserve fields, take care of equipment, and spread the word about their programs to give more kids the opportunity to play.

WGR hopes you will take a moment to drop a "shout out" below in our comments section to recognize and thank your coaches!

"Girls Rugby is Misunderstood"

2011-12-06T15:18:00.010-05:00

That's the headline from a thoughtful and well-researched article about the Colorado Youth Rugby season. Unlike the majority of the stories the American media tends to publish, it doesn't resort to trite stereotypes about "violence" or what rugby was supposedly like in the 1970's.

The laws of the game have changed multiple times in the past two decades, doing away with ponderous play and creating a safer, cleaner game. Scrums are managed with a cadence, lineout jumpers can be safely lifted for their own protection, and unsafe tacklers can be additionally penalized with red and yellow cards.

Brendan Fanning writes about that idea on his rugby website. Talking about how the game has improved with these law changes, he points out that, "we have a game (now) where not only is the ball in play 33 per cent more than in 1995, but other changes include a 50 per cent increase in the number of passes, a doubling of the number of rucks and mauls, and a reduction in scrums of 58 per cent, and lineouts of 54 per cent. Sounds great doesn't it -- all this ball whizzing about the place?"

A few excerpts from the Colorado Youth Rugby Article are quoted below. They point out how girls rugby is often misunderstood ......

“Medical studies say the injury rate is comparable to soccer,'said Chaparral coach Tom Dill, who has coached the sport nearly 18 years. 'It’s under the injury rate of football. It’s really not that dangerous a game. ... Yes, it’s a full-contact sport, but there’s a lot that goes into it.'

Dill said. “The women’s game is more technically proficient, because they can’t get away with brute force and ignorance like the men’s game, which is one way of looking at it.”

Another important point for girls rugby and its new players is learning how to tackle properly. However, once a player has it down, she generally doesn’t have a problem with it from then on.

“It takes a little time to get everyone up to speed, but first its about learning to hit and take a hit,” Dill said.

Proper training, especially proper tackling techniques, is what keeps the injury rate so low for a full-contact sport.

“It’s not as rough as you think,” Howell said. “We are taught how to play in a clean way. In football, you tackle anywhere, but in rugby, we’re taught to tackle at the waist.”

[Haley] Howell has played rugby three years [with Castle Rock] and fell in love with the sport for being different than any other. She also said it doesn’t have the drama that can infect some other sports. It’s just about playing rugby, she said.

Dill said one way rugby is unique is there is no difference in the rules between the boys and girls games. The rules, field and ball size are equal.

“Rugby gives girls the opportunity to play a full-contact sport, which is one of the very few they have available to them,” Dill said.

One would also think rugby is a game for brute size. Dill said the contrary. In fact, there’s a position on the field for every size and shaped individual, he said. Howell said her team has cheer, pom and track athletes on it, but usually rugby tends to attract soccer players. Two girls on the Castle Rock Rugby team are even in the school choir.

“It’s a very unstereotypical sport,” Howell said."

Picture of the Year 2011: Cast your Vote

2011-12-03T12:47:00.008-05:00

Thanks to everyone who provided a submission. A small panel of WGR staff, coaches, and players has been assembled to cast votes. In addition, any WGR supporters can cast a vote by leaving a comment on the bottom of the blog.

1 Rainbow
2 Cadence
3 Lifting to the Sun
4 Piggy Back
5 Laughter

The winners will receive a free t-shirt from the conference tournament.

League Meeting-New Teams

2011-11-14T14:42:00.002-05:00

A slow week for WGR, as the emphasis shifts to off-season matters. Our staff field reporters are closing up shop for the winter, and finalizing picture entries for our state-wide contest.

Miscellaneous news bites:

Looking ahead, the All-Wisconsin Girls Rugby league meetings take place December 5th.

With scheduling on the agenda, any new high school girls rugby programs in Wisconsin are asked to attend and apply for membership. Interested girls, coaches, or parents should contact our league offices at wisconsingirlsrugby@gmail.com

It was great to see a lot of WGR alumni continuing their experience with collegiate women's rugby. Alumni girls were all over the fields at last weekend's Midwest Collegiate Chamionships in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Midwest D1 Champs, Univ-Northern Iowa had two freshman, Kaisse '11 from Brookfield and Talia '11 from KM respectively, starting on their team. The Midwest D2 champs likewise featured a starting freshman scrumhalf from Vernon and a wing from CMHS. Grand Valley St, third in Midwest D2 also featured a starting scrumhalf from CMHS. We probably missed some, but it was great to see so many young ladies continuing to play!

Press on the State Championship

2011-11-10T10:50:00.004-04:00

Several local papers covered the Wisconsin Girls Rugby State Championships last week. While the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel was poor in its coverage of the event, especially compared to past years, some local papers added some more detailed articles about the big event.

The Fond Du Lac Reporter, provided this article on our northern-most team's particpation.

The Express News, provided perhaps the most detailed article on the match and details about the solid program built in Menomonee Falls.

The Oak Creek Patch added a nice summary of their big game here.

and the Milw. Journel Sentinel provided at least a mention of the results, in addition to the previous week's preview.

The interest in rugby generated around our local communities by having long-standing girls programs continues to grow. Ten years ago, coverage was scare and attendance mediocre. Last week's tournament filled the park and the parking lot, and generated the most notice of any event to this date. In fact, the event has grown so much that moving locations to a facility with greater capacity is being discussed.

Legislative Update for Youth Coaches

2011-11-10T10:30:00.004-04:00

State Representative Jason Fields (Milw) is the author of Assembly Bill 259, which would require schools to take student athletes off the field for practices and games if they suspect they have a concussion. The bill was approved by the State Assembly on November 5th, 2011 and is awaiting the next step in the legislative process. One provision of the bill is that student athletes would not be allowed to return to action until a medical professional clears them.

The debate among lawmakers has centered around whether the state should be involved in legislating youth sports directives or whether these issues should be left to youth sports organizations and parents. Some are arguing that the bill rightfully takes the burden of responsibiilty off of coaches, and places it in the hands of parents and medical professionals. Others say, the area is too murky to legislate, since medical professionals seem to treat this issue in a whole variety of ways.

For more information on the Wisconsin initiative to inform and prevent head injuries, check out Play Smart Wisconsin

State Final 2011

2011-10-30T21:51:00.010-04:00

(picture 1: DSHA JV vs Brookfield)
(picture 2: CMHS v DSHA)

Sunday afternoon, Divine Savior Holy Angels High School won the Wisconsin Girls Rugby State Championship, 17-0 against Catholic Memorial High School of Waukesha.

Coach Klein, of DSHA, said afterwards, "that might've been the greatest high school game ever played in the state. The first half was so tight, back and forth. The speed of the game was impressive."

"I don't think people appreciated how hard-hitting that game was," he added. "That was as physical a match as we've ever played."

Catholic Memorial came out fast from the kickoff and preceded to hammer away at the Dasher's defense. Despite long periods of pressure and possession in DSHA's half, the Dasher's defense held. DSHA had two chances to score on counter-attack breakaways, but a scrambling defense from CMHS was able snuff out the opportunity.

The teams entered the halftime break deadlocked at 0-0.

DSHA showed its character by coming out with renewed intensity from the break. A try two minutes in, sparked by a gigantic tackle-breaking run from senior Captain Aleja Ross, set the tone for the second half.

CMHS came right back from the kickoff, approaching the DSHA 22, but were repulsed after multiple phases. A try from sophomore Kayla Pavella put DSHA up 12-0, and then again DSHA found itself again backed up near their tryline. Great defense and a clearing kick kept their shutout intact and sophomore Beth Pakorny was able to cross over for one more try to end a wonderful match.

Crusader coach Waliszewski added afterwards, "We gave everything we had. I'm incredibly proud of our ladies for their character and determination to play as a team against the most challenging of opponents."

Kettle Moraine finished off another good year with a hard-earned victory in the bronze medal match. Senior Captain Andrea Mertins, switching to fullback for this match, was impressive in defense and attack.

On field two, Menomonee Falls defeated Oak Creek in the closest match of the day, 8-0, for the division two championship. Oak Creek showed great improvement over their earlier loss during the conference season, and with two teams playing in the division, seem to be building momentum for future success. Congrats to Falls on another good season.

State Tournament Results
Championship DSHA 17 Catholic Memorial 0
3rd Place KM 20 Vernon 0
5th Place DS JV 22 Brookfield 17

D2 1st Place MFalls 8 Oak Creek 0
3rd FD Lac ? Oak Creek JV
5th Tosa 57 Muskego 22

Championship Day and Photo Contest

2011-10-30T08:44:00.003-04:00

Well, championship day has arrived. WGR will be updating scores by the end of the day.

In the meantime, the 2012 Photo Contest is in full swing, so snap some great pictures today while at the tournament. The winner will get a free t-shirt from the tournament.

Please submit photos by November 9th, as an email attachment. Send them to our staff at wisconsingirlsrugby@gmail.com

Playoff Matches and State Tourney Schedule

2011-10-23T20:55:00.006-04:00

Division I
CMHS 44 Kettle Moraine O
CMHS JV 15 Wauwatosa 10
DSHA 73 Vernon 0
Division II
Menomonee Falls 83 Oak Creek B 0
Oak Creek 39 Fond Du Lac 5

On Saturday morning, DSHA ran in multiple tries against a young and rebuilding Vernon team. Vernon had some periods of sustained possession with repeated pick and go's, but they were unable to threaten DSHA's line. Senior Aleja Ross and junior Emily Van Bibber each put in a couple tries for the Dashers.

Sunday afternoon, the CMHS girls rugby team defeated Kettle Moraine in the other state semifinals, 44-0. In a match punctuated by long periods of possession by Kettle Moraine, Memorial was able to score off of a returned kick and long breaks.

The CMHS JV team defeated Wauwatosa 15-10. Tries by freshmen Lisdon Brannon, and sophomores Brittany Silas and Julie Else helped the Crusaders advance to (5-1) on their season.

Next Sunday, Oct 30th the State Championship Tournament is being held at Naga-Waukee Park in Delafield. The schedule is:

10:00am JV match D2: Muskego v Wauwatosa
11:15am D1 5th Place: D2 5th Place
DSHA II v Brookfield Fond Du Lac v Oak Creek II
12:30pm D1 3rd Place: D2: Championship
Kettle Moraine v Vernon Oak Creek v Menomonee Falls
2:00pm D1 Championship
DSHA v Catholic Memorial
3:30pm Awards Ceremony

Upcoming Playoff Matches

2011-10-20T09:44:00.002-04:00

A quick guide to all games this coming weekend:

10/22 Saturday
Vernon @ DSHA 10am Dretzka Park

10/23 Sunday
Kettle M @ CMHS 1pm Minooka
Tosa @ CMH JV 230pm Minooka

Oak Creek @ Fond Du Lac Noon
OAk Creek B @ MFalls 1pm

WGR State Tournament 10/30 Naga-Waukee Park

2011-10-18T15:25:00.006-04:00

The WGR State Championship will culminate Sunday Oct 23rd at Naga-Waukee Park. Each team in the state will be playing for their final ranking, in two different divisions. The Championship game will tentatively be played at 2pm.

Attached above is a black and white image of this year's t-shirt.

Pre-orders will be accepted, just email wisconsingirlsrugby@gmail.com

$12 for short-sleeve and $18 for a long sleeve t-shirt.

All proceeds go to benefiting WGR's efforts to support girls playing rugby!

The Picture of the Year Contest

2011-10-16T09:23:00.004-04:00

This image was taken during rugby practice this fall. We're told that it was an even better picture in-person. Each season is filled with it's own moments and memories and this year, WGR would like to kick off the playoffs with our first-ever, PICTURE OF THE YEAR, contest. If there's an image that captures a great moment from this year's competition, on or off the field, submit it to our editors. We'll publish the submissions and the winner will receive a free State Tournament T-shirt.

Submit photo entries to our editors at:
wisconsingirlsrugby@gmail.com

Submissions will be due the week after the State Tournament.

Postscript:
The image above reminded us that we're generally blessed with wonderful weather during the fall rugby season, and despite a little rain somedays, the season has gone by without any cancellations. The last two weeks of the season are always a particular joy with the cool air, fall leaves, and good rugby on the pitch.

Playoff Scores

2011-10-16T09:18:00.005-04:00

We'll update as the scores come in ....

Division I
Kettle Moraine 38 DSHA JV 7

A brave effort from the young DSHA squad is not enough to stop the experienced Knightmares from advancing to the next round. KM will face Catholic Memorial next Sunday afternoon, Oct 23rd, at 1pm at Minooka Park.

Vernon Brookfield
The winner advances to face DSHA next weekend.
The semi-final is tentatively scheduled for 10am @Dretzka Park, with DSHA hosting.

Pictured:
Kettle Moraine Sophomore Hayley Rozman finds
some space through the defensive line en route to the 2nd try of the match in
the Knightmares v DSHA-B quarterfinal and her first of the season.

Division II

Oak Creek over Muskego

Oak Creek B over Wauwatosa

Next Sunday:
Oak Creek Fond du Lac
OC
B will play Menomonee Falls at Menomonee Falls

Division 2 Scores and Updates

2011-10-11T10:02:00.003-04:00

From last weekend:

Menomonee Falls 23 Oak Creek 0
Fond Du Lac 30 Wauwatosa 15

Muskego 25 Oak Creek JV 10

Division I Bracket Released

2011-10-11T09:57:00.007-04:00

The Division I girls rugby playoffs begin this weekend. While some details are still being hashed out, what the league office does know is published above in their official bracket.

The top two teams receive a bye, since it is a six-team bracket. The tournament culminates in the State Championship on Sunday Oct 30th at Naga-Waukee Park. This annual event features every team in the state competing, in two divisions, for their final ranking in the state.

Saturday Oct 15th DSHA jv (#6) @ Kettle Moraine (#3) 10am

Sunday Oct 16th Brookfield (#5) @ Vernon (#4) 12pm

Division I Conference Wrap Up

2011-10-10T15:04:00.002-04:00

Brookfield 17 Kettle Moraine 60
Vernon DSHA win
CMHS 26 DSHA JV 0

Final Conference Standings
DSHA 5-0
CMHS 4-1
KM 3-2
Vernon 2-3
Brkfld 1-4
DSHA JV 0-5

Playoffs Round One:
DSHA, CMHS have a bye
KM vs DSHA JV
Vernon vs Brookfield

Final Week of the Regular Season

2011-10-07T09:14:00.005-04:00

The conference season winds down this week, and playoffs loom on the horizon.

A few key matchups this week:

Vernon v DSHA 10am @Vernon Town Hall Saturday
DSHA has a chance to reclaim the conference title outright with a victory, after being Co-Champs last year.
Vernon showed improvement in narrowly losing to Kettle Moraine last weekend on the road.

Brookfield v Kettle Moraine 1pm Sunday Minooka Park

A Kettle victory secures third-place for them and a playoff match against the 6th ranked team.

Division II
Oak Creek v Menomonee Falls Noon (pictured scrumming above) Sunday

As it should be, the final match is the division ii conference title decider.

Division II, Week 4

2011-10-03T20:25:00.001-04:00

Muskego 15 Wauwatosa 67

A historic first conference win for Wauwatosa in their first full conference season.

Division I, Week 4

2011-10-03T09:04:00.005-04:00

CMHS 7 DSHA 26
Kettle Moraine 19 Vernon 12

CMH JV 14 DSHA JV 12
KM JV 26 Vernon 5

In the likely conference title decider, Catholic Memorial High School came out strong, scoring the game's opening try. DSHA came back to score a try at the end of the first half, to make it 7-7 at the break.

In the second half, DSHA's offense got rolling, and they added three tries to remain undefeated in conference play, with one match remaining at Vernon on Sat. Oct 8th.

In the other big game, Kettle Moraine held off a physical Vernon side 19-12 to move up to third place in the division.

Division I
DSHA 4-0
CMHS 3-1
Kettle 2-2
Vernon 2-2
Brookfiield 1-3
DS JV 0-4

Division II

2011-09-29T09:58:00.002-04:00

Division II

Menomonee Falls 62 Wauwatosa 0
Fond Du Lac 55 Muskego 15

Women's Rugby Interviews (prt ii)

2011-09-26T08:57:00.002-04:00

Part ii: Excerpts from an interview with Coach Bustillos:

Where do you see collegiate women’s rugby progressing over the next decade?

“I think we will see this positive trend and growth continue
over the next ten years. There are so many aspects of this game to be
learned that occur off the field of play that I truly believe keep us moving
forward. For the most part, the players are the decision makers in a
dynamic game, not the coach. This is empowering for high school girls
that are preparing to enter college and be an adult where they have to make
their own choices. Plus, the Americanized coaches and sports they probably
grew up playing were played under the orders of the coach. Rugby gives
these players a chance to make decisions.”

“Another place I foresee collegiate women's rugby growing is the fact that in less than 5 years, there will most likely be the opportunity for girls to
play for their university and get an education at the same time. I foresee
girls having the opportunity to get a free education and go to University on
scholarship. Women's rugby is on the list of NCAA emerging women's sports
and it will be a reality sooner then some probably think. I would not be
surprised, in the least, if there are 2015 high school graduates that
will have the opportunity for NCAA division I varsity scholarships to play
rugby in college here in Wisconsin.”

“AND, if that wasn't opportunity enough, we have rugby coming to the
Olympics. Again, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if a current, yes
current, member of a high school team in Wisconsin makes the roster to
represent the USA in the 2016 Olympics. It isn't far off and with girls in
Wisconsin possibly having 4-5 years under their belts when the USA Team
comes looking..... You never know.....”

“All in all, girls rugby, both collegiate and high school, has come leaps and bounds in just the last ten years, and I think that it will continue to gain
steam and prosper over the next ten years. Especially in Wisconsin.”

“So, if there are any girls reading this, thank your coaches who effortlessly give their time to you to promote this sport and work to give you the opportunity to capitalize on this growth in the future. Rugby and these
opportunities wouldn't be available without them.”

Week 3, Division I

2011-09-26T08:48:00.002-04:00

9/24/11

Vernon 0 CMHS 44

Vernon B 0 CMHS JV 27

The conference decider is Saturday Oct. 1st when DSHA visits CMHS at 10am at Minooka Park in Waukesha.

The battle for third place sees Kettle Moraine face off against Vernon.

Division I

CMHS (3-0)

DSHA (3-0)

Vernon (2-1)

Kettle Moraine (1-2)

Brookfield (0-3)

DSHA JV (0-3)

Women's Rugby Interviews (Prt i)

2011-09-23T08:32:00.004-04:00

Part I of a Series of Interviews with Collegiate Women's Coaches

Shannon Bustillos is the head coach of Marquette University Women's Rugby. She has worked for USA Rugby for a number of years as a Coach Educator and holds an IRB (International rugby Board) Coach Educator Certification. She is one of a small panel of coaches who responded to our inquiries. Her responses are below

How has girls high school rugby changed over the last decade?

“The last decade has been one of tremendous growth for girls rugby. The
opportunities these girls have today were not available or even known ten
years ago. I remember trying out for the National Team and playing in the
old All-Star Championships (ITT’s) back in the late 90's during my collegiate playing days and if I didn't pay my own way to get to these camps or make the effort to be seen, I wasn't going to be seen. Now we have camps and championships for HS Girls all over the country where more sets of eyes can see them, therefore giving them a greater opportunity to play at a higher level.”

“Another huge change is the NUMBER of girls playing the game, which can in
turn, be attributed to the dedicated coaches and supporters who want to see
the game grow for this demographic. When I started playing, I had never
even seen a ball. I now see girls starting their college careers with four
year, or maybe even more, exposure to the sport.”

How has collegiate women's rugby changed over the last decade?

“As far as collegiate women's rugby, I REALLY like what I am seeing as far as where the game is headed. As an employee of both USA Rugby as well as the
International Rugby Board, it is refreshing to see that the game is
beginning to lose the hooligan stereotype and slowly gain respect.
Many parents of the girls we currently coach were in college at their
current daughter's age, and saw the singing and drinking that became the stereotype of our sport. We were not respected, nor was our sport.”

“With us respecting the game for what it is and not succumbing to or
perpetuating that stereotype, we are breaking the "mold" of rugby as these
girls' parents remember and that is important if we want the game to grow
and be respected in the United States. Young adults are becoming more and
more athletic as years go by and if we can harness this growth in a positive
light and promote our sport as one of great athleticism, we will be a power
to contend with worldwide sooner than we think.”

Division I, Week 3

2011-09-22T22:18:00.002-04:00

9/22/11
DSHA 86 Brookfield 0

DSHA C 15 Brookfield JV 20

9/21/11
DSHA JV 0 Kettle Moraine 42

9/24/11
CMHS @ Vernon

Division I
DSHA 3-0
CMHS 2-0
Vernon 2-0
Kettle Moraine 1-2
Brookfield 0-3
DSHA JV 0-3

2011-09-16T22:55:00.006-04:00

Week 2, Division I
9/17/11
Vernon 55 Brookfield 0

9/16/11
Kettle Moraine 5 Catholic Memorial 22

KM JV 5 Catholic Memorial JV 0

9/14/11
DSHA JV 15 Vernon 36 (unofficial score)

Division I
DSHA 2-0
CMHS 2-0
Vernon 2-0
Brookfield 0-2
Kettle Moraine 0-2
DSHA JV 0-1

Division II
Menomonee Falls 87 Muskego 0
Oak Creek 45 Wauwatosa 0
Oak Creek JV 29 Fond Du Lac 12

Week I, D2

2011-09-13T08:39:00.002-04:00

Some Division 2 results:
Oak Creek 64
Muskego 5

Menomonee Falls 52
Fond Du Lac 5

Oak Creek b 45
Wauwatosa 7

Week I, Division I Results

2011-09-10T10:25:00.003-04:00

DSHA 61 Kettle Moraine 5
CMHS 73 Brookfield 0

JV Matches
DSHA 24 Kettle Moraine 24
CMHS 60 Brookfield 0

In the Founder's Cup, the annual matchup between friendly rivals Brookfield and Catholic Memorial, a very young and enthusiastic Brookfield side took to the field with a new coach and a several new starters.

The highlight of the match was the after-game social. Both teams shared some food and took pictures with the battered, but treasured cup. At one point, a few Brookfield girls even attempted to walk away with it. The picture posted shows the comraderie and respect the two teams have for one another.

Respect your Local Referee

2011-09-06T14:10:00.006-04:00

Opening weekend is upon us. Everyone's excited.

WGR thought this would be the appropriate time to offer a public service announcement and reminder to all our coaches, players, parents, and supporters.

To quote the Rugby Law Book, Law 6, A.4.a: "the referee is the sole judge of fact and law during a match. The referee must apply fairly all the laws of the game in every match."

This is the law from which rugby draws its age-old tradition that players, coaches, and supporters are not to contest a refereee decision. In fact no one is supposed to even yell at a referee during the match . This is one of the significant ways rugby differs with other sports. It's not like baseball where manager's kick sand on an umpire or spit in their face. You just don't see that kind of disrespect in rugby.

In addition, only one person on the pitch talks to the referee, to ask questions or clarifications. Teams are taught to channel communication through their spokesperson, the captain. A referee's job is hard enough; they can't have thirty people barking in their ear and expect to be able to see everything and communicate all they need to.

The flip side is the caveat that referee's must apply the laws of the game fairly. Consistency is a major component to any good refereeing.

Pictured below is one of Wisconsin's great captains from last year's Kettle Moraine team. Known for her passion for the game, positive leadership, and ability to communicate well, KM's captain shows how to interact with a referee respectfully:

A Classy Interview

2011-08-30T19:09:00.000-04:00

One of the more rewarding things about seeing young women play rugby is how much they grow from the experience. Certainly rugby can't take all the credit ... parents, friends, family, teachers, jobs, sports ... they all play a significant factor in one's personal growth. Nonetheless we at WFGR have been around the girls game long enough to see, repeatedly, so many young women graduate their teams with an incredible gift of confidence. It's a trend and an incredibly positive one. Having to tackle other girls, to let loose completely on the pitch, to run full speed into an opponent; it takes so much character and teamwork that girls leave these programs as different people.

No one here at our offices knows personally the young lady in the interview below. We do know she is one of the most athletic, talented players, and captains to play in WGR. When we see this impressive interview, we see a confident, well-spoken, and classy representative of the qualities we strive to teach through WGR. As a senior in high school, this is a more impressive response to some tough questions than those you see from a lot of pro athletes on television. Great job Peyton. Wonderful interview.

Waukesha Youth Rugby Celebrates Another Year

2011-08-21T21:58:00.007-04:00

Waukesha Youth rugby celebrated another successful summer program this past August. Run through the Waukesha Park and Rec Dept., this is the longest-running youth rugby summer program in the state. It would not have been possible without the help of many volunteers, including some current high school girls players who helped with the coaching.

We'll let the pictures speak for themselves .... it was a GREAT summer activity:

Who Coaches in WGR?

2011-08-17T10:15:00.006-04:00

Where have coaches come from in WGR?

-Seven head coaches have come from Marquette University Men's Rugby Football Club. At least five different assistant coaches have come from that program as well.

-Five different coaches have come from the Marquette University Women's Rugby Football Club.

-Four different coaches have come from UW-Whitewater Women's Rugby.

-There are currently eight female asst. coaches in the league, and they are all alumni of WGR.

-We've had ten female head coaches over the course of WGR history. Six are alumni of WGR.

-Four asst. coaches never played rugby. They knew how to coach, understood sports and how to work with young people, and they learned rugby the rugby along the way.

-Five coaches have had significant referee experience.

-Eight coaches have had significant experience at other levels, including boys, men, women, collegiate, selectside, national.

-Three coaches have had an accent :)

Girls Coach Needed

2011-08-16T23:53:00.004-04:00

A plea from Fond Du Lac, as they look for some help with a great group of young athletes:

"FDL Rugby inc. is looking for a high school girls coach. The FDL Sirens have 35 plus players but no coach. FDLRI will pay for any travel, dues and anything else the coach needs. FDLRI has all the equipment and facilities that a coach needs with great parent support. They start practice Thursday but the coach wont need to start until next week. The team also has a recruiting table at the schools student sign up days this Wednesday and Thursday which should increase the players on the team by at least 10. Any questions please contact Dale Klitzke. If a coach can't be found then they will have to cancel the season."

Brad S Casetta Sr.
President-Wisconsin Rugby Referee Society

Please go to the Fond Du Lac Rugby website for contact information and scheduling info.

Editorial:

The staff here at Wisconsin Girls Rugby can't refrain from commenting on this one. Over the last decade, we've seen many requests for coaching help in the girls league go without ever being answered. It's frustrating and disappointing. We've had teams fail to begin, even though a group of girls sign up and want to play. Worse is when existing teams fold not because of lack of interest from players.

During these same years, probably a dozen boys high school teams in the area have been created and coaches have stepped up to answer the call ... every single time.

This disparity comes across as unfair, really, to a group of young athletes hungry to learn and play. So, why doesn't the rugby community step up better? Why the difference?

We have coaches in WGR who have coached both boys and girls. There certainly is a difference. Coaching young adults, in general, can be incredibly trying of one's patience. But it's also incredibly rewarding and inspiring. That's why coaches coach.

One of the nice things about coaching girls is that they don't have to unlearn a football tackle. Girls generally don't spear tackle or hurl their head at a tucked ball ball like a football player taught to tackle with their "helmet to the ball" to create a fumble. That certainly makes the game safer and more like the flowing, skilled rugby games that can be seen at high levels of the game.

Girls don't try to carry a rugby ball like a football player would either, tucking it under one arm where it can't be passed or controlled.

In my time coaching boys, I remember doing some attacking and defense drills, marveling at the intensity level. I'd taken over an experienced team with 11 returning starters. Practice was undoubtedly more physically intense than one of the girls practices that year. I thought the boys were really getting it.

Come game time it was a different story. Right from kickoff, the boys quickly reverted back to football technique and did whatever they wanted. The mental and technical aspects of the game weren't applied well. That was consistently true throughout my time coaching high school boys.

Girls teams on the other hand consistently applied the lessons of practice far better come game time. Even with far less experienced players, they were more successful and skilled in much less time. They listened and soaked up all aspects of the game incredibly well.

Surely, this is anecdotal, but i know many others in WGR and at the collegiate level who would agree.

part ii of our office's commentary coming in a day or two

Division I Schedule Released

2011-08-11T07:00:00.004-04:00

Wisconsin Girls Rugby is proud to release the 2011 Division I Conference Schedule. The competition will culminate at the 4th Annual State Championship Tournament on Sunday Oct 30th at Naga-waukee Park.

Wisconsin's 2011 Division I competition features:
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, Kettle Moraine, Brookfield, Catholic Memorial High School, and Vernon.

A few notes on the upcoming competition:

-The two teams that make the Division I State Final earn Wisconsin's two seeds to the Midwest Regional Championship in the spring of 2012.

-Divison I teams will all field a second, developmental team in matches played shortly after the first.

-The season opener features Wisconsin's oldest rivalry, now in it's 11th year. It's also a repeat of last year's state championship, as KM faces DSHA.

-The other opener is a repeat of the 2010 3rd Place title match, as well as a Founder's Cup challenge match to boot. with Catholic Memorial facing crosstown rival Brookfield.

-Vernon welcomes Lindsey Fickau, a WGR and Vernon alumn, as their new head coach.

Week 1
9/9/11 Fri CMHS v Brookfield Minooka 5:00pm
9/9/11 Fri DSHA v KM Dretzka 5:00pm
Week 2
9/16/11 Fri KMv CMHS Naga-Waukee 4:30pm
9/18/11 Sun Brookfield v Vernon BCHS/Minooka 12:00pm
Week 3
9/23/11 Fri DSHA v Brookfield Dretzka 5:00pm
9/24/11 Sat Vernon v CMHS Vernon Town Hall 9:30am
Week 4
10/1/11 Sat CMHS v DSHA Minooka 10:00am
10/2/11 Sun KM v Vernon Naga-Waukee 1:00pm
Week 5
10/8/11 Sat Vernon v DSHA Vernon Town Hall 10:00am
10/9/11 Sun Brookfield v KM BCHS/Minooka 1:00pm

Division II Schedule Released

2011-08-08T12:10:00.000-04:00

Wisconsin Girls Rugby is proud to announce the Division Two Fall Conference Schedule. With the season about a month away, teams will begin gearing up over the next few weeks.

The Division Two competition will culminate with the State Championship Tournament on Sunday Oct 30th, 2011 at Naga-Waukee Park in Delafield.

The Division Two conference includes: Menomonee Falls (last year's conference champ), Oak Creek, Fond Du Lac, Muskego, and Wauwatosa.

A few notes on the competitors:

This will be Wauwatosa's first conference campaign, after playing a successful developmental spring season.

Menomonee Falls earned promotion to division one last year after their defeat of Vernon for 5th place at last years state tournament. They elected to remain in the division two competition.

Oak Creek consistently fielded two sides all last year, and looks poised for a strong season.

Date-Day-Division-Home-Visitor-Field-Time
Week 1
9/11/11 Sunday ii Oak Creek Muskego Oak Creek 11:00am
9/11/11 Sunday ii Oak Creek Wauwatosa Oak Creek Noon
9/11/11 Sunday ii Fond du Lac Menomonee F UW FDL Noon
Week 2
9/18/11 Sunday ii Wauwatosa Oak Creek Longfellow MS Noon
9/18/11 Sunday ii Oak Creek Fond du Lac LFMS 1:00pm
9/18/11 Sunday ii Muskego Menomonee F Bluhm Park Noon
Week 3
9/25/11 Sunday ii Oak Creek TBD Oak Creek Noon
9/25/11 Sunday ii Fond du Lac Muskego UW FDL Noon
9/25/11 Sunday ii Menomonee F Wauwatosa Menomonee F 1:00pm
Week 4
10/2/11 Sunday ii Oak Creek Fond du Lac Menomonee F Noon
10/2/11 Sunday ii Menomonee F Oak Creek Menomonee F 1:00pm
10/2/11 Sunday ii Wauwatosa Muskego LFMS 1:00pm
Week 5
10/9/11 Sunday ii Oak Creek Menomonee F Oak Creek Noon
10/9/11 Sunday ii Oak Creek Muskego Oak Creek 11:00am

10/9/11 Sunday ii Fond du Lac Wauwatosa UW FDL Noon

The Late Hit Problem in Girls Rugby

2011-08-04T11:53:00.003-04:00

This is a reprint from an article that struck a chord with a lot of coaches. For the full article, including reader comments, please check out the Goffonrugby Column at Rugby Magazine's website.

GoffonRugby: The Late-Hit Problem in Girls Rugby
written by Alex Goff, May 11, 2011

"Dirty and dangerous play is bad, even if you don’t mean it.

For some years now, I have noticed a problem within girls high school rugby.

[M]y time at the latest U19 Girls Championships, plus discussions with other coaches has shown me this is a bigger problem than just mine.

It is: hitting a try-scorer after she has scored.

This happens much more often in girls rugby than in any other aspect of the game. Generally it goes like this: a player has a breakaway, and dives in at the corner. A girl is chasing said player, and just after the ball is touched down, the defender comes flying in. She comes in knees first and strikes the scorer in the back, the neck, and the head.

At this year’s nationals I saw it happen frequently, and also saw a player touching the ball down (and not sliding) while a defender ran by her and smacked her knee-to-knee.
This rarely, if ever, gets penalized

Why doesn’t it get penalized? I think referees often can’t imagine young girls can be dirty players. Others have suggested the refs have simply registered the try and turned their backs. What gets missed is, this is incredibly dangerous play. Even if it’s a mistake, it’s dangerous. Flying into an unprotected player a she scores a try, and driving two knees into her back, neck or head is very dangerous and should be stopped.

Why does this happen in girls rugby more than others? I think for a few reasons (and remember, I coached girls HS rugby for seven years;):

1. Defenders like to be seen trying, even when it’s hopeless. The best way to be seen doing this is to run desperately (but hopelessly) at a player about to score. Then, to protect themselves, they try to slide on their shins. They are not interested in making a real tackle to prevent a try;

2. Coaches are busy teaching many aspects of the game. They don’t go into the minutia of how it’s illegal to kick a ball out of someone’s hands, or how to legally and effectively tackle to prevent a try;

3. Girls are generally not fighters. In a men’s or boys game, and even in an older women’s game, if someone hit late after a try, there’d be a crowd of angry teammates looking to exact some retribution. Some chest-thumping can be useful. Girls, generally, don’t do that. They gather around their fallen teammate to help her, but don’t seek revenge.

How can we stop it? We can stop it by having refs look for it, and having them penalize teams. A few penalties at midfield, and a few yellow cards can go a very long way to discouraging such dangerous play. One 15-minute session from a coach on avoiding late hits can do a lot, too."

So, have any of you players, coaches, and supporters noticed this or is Goff being overprotective of girls playing rugby?

Eagle Camp Next Week in Milwaukee

2011-07-28T15:59:00.003-04:00

Our offices would like to pass on a quick note from USA u20 Team Manager Jeff Noe to any players interested in attending the USA Rugby Flight Camp next week:

Last chance to sign up for the USA Rugby camp at Marquette University on August 4th-7th. For the local girls that want to commute each day, it is $170 and will provide dinner on Th/F/Sa, and lunch on F/Sa as well as a camp t-shirt.

It is $250 if they wish to spend the night at the dorms. There will be a morning and afternoon practice followed by a chalk talk each night.

To register, please follow this link:
https://spreadsheets0.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dGVvRVVna0VOZnRxdWdYbkg4VGtXWXc6MQ#gid=0

Thanks,
Jeff Noe
Manager
USA U20 Women's Rugby

The Rugby World Cup 2011

2011-07-22T17:03:00.005-04:00

This fall the Rugby World Cup begins. Second only to the soccer world cup and the Olympics, it's one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Now through early September countries will be playing warmup matches.

The USA's schedule is a challenging one. As if the matches aren't emotional enough for the players, everyone will be looking forward to the USA's opening World Cup pool match against Ireland on the tenth anniversary of SEPTEMBER 11th.

RWC BUILD-UP SCHEDULE
August 6, 2011: USA v. Canada (BMO Field, Toronto, Canada)
August 10, 2011: USA Selects v. Glendale Selects (Infinity Park, Glendale CO)
August 13, 2011: USA v. Canada (Infinity Park, Glendale, CO)
August 21, 2011: USA v. Japan (Tokyo, Japan)

RWC 2011 SCHEDULE NEW ZEALAND
September 11, 2011: USA vs. Ireland (New Plymouth)
September 15, 2011: USA vs. Russia (New Plymouth)
September 23, 2011: USA vs. Australia (Wellington)
September 27, 2011: USA vs. Italy (Nelson)

Here's a snapshot of what to expect:

8-Man Football and 10's Rugby

2011-07-18T13:23:00.002-04:00

The WIAA announced this month that five schools in the southern part of the state and eight in the north are going to play eight-man football. Once there are enough schools, playoff options will then be offered and expanded. Milwaukee's School for the Deaf has had a very successful 8-man football team for many years.

With some smaller schools finding it difficult to fund football teams and struggling to find large numbers of participants, this smaller version of the game is gaining popularity. It uses three lineman, a quarterback, and four backs. Other states, notably Alaska, play a lot of 8-man football.

Clearly, it's not only rugby that has a challenge in some places finding enough players for a large team sport.

At the same time, we are reminded about how rugby is a true particpant sport with 15 players on the field. Every rugby team we've seen has athletes getting on the field a lot. It's not like basketball or even soccer, which, while being great sports, often have lots of players sitting on the end of a bench waiting to get in.

This also reminded our board members here about the discussion over whether Wisconsin should have a Rugby 10's division with ten players on the field for smaller teams. Maybe for it's division III (B-side or JV level) competition?

Any comments from our readers on this one?

Wisconsin's First Youth Tag Rugby Festival

2011-07-12T23:06:00.003-04:00

The first-ever Youth Rugby matches in the state of Wisconsin were played this past Saturday at North Middle School in Menomonee Falls. Youth rugby players divided into two divisions: grades 3-5 and grades 6-8, and participants in each division included teams from Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and Fond Du Lac. In all, over 40 youth participated on a warm and sunny day. The Menomonee Falls Burgundy team won the 6th-8th grade division, and Waukesha took top honors in the 3rd-5th grade division.

Menomonee Falls Head Coach Dan Zeroth noted that, " It was great to see the players, especially the 3rd-5th graders, pick up the game so fast. They were able, in a short amount of time, to grasp concepts about teamwork and new rules in only a few practices."

Zeroth also came away impressed with the older division of youth players. "The 6th-8th grade teams were just as impressive, with some dynamic passing, back row moves, and impressive runs. The future of rugby in the State of Wisconsin just got brighter. Today we played simple flag rugby, but the impact that this will have on the high school, college, and club teams, will be tremendous for years to come."

Just looking at the attached picture leads us at WGR to wholeheartedly agree.

What's more exciting is the fact that there's much more to come.

Youth rugby players have the opportunity to play again in August as the Wauwatosa Recreation Department hosts an event on Saturday, August 6th. For more information on the August matches, please contact Dan Chanen at 414-773-1042.

Participation in Interscholastic Activities

2011-07-11T13:52:00.004-04:00

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, or the WIAA, is a voluntary membership organization that supports and governs competitive school sports in Wisconsin. Over 90,000 student athletes participated last year in WIAA sports.

Rugby at this time would not be considered for inclusion in the WIAA until many more teams formed and became included in schools. Inclusion is another topic for another day. What interested our office staff this morning is the idea of participating in high school athletics in general, regardless of WIAA inclusion.

The article from the WIAA excerpted below, has some compelling information on why being a member of a team has special value for high school participants. Some, maybe all, of the benefits could apply to club teams depending on the program, but the unique relationship of a school team that requires and monitors participants' grades, behavior, and health probably makes the benefits more pronounced.

It is worth noting that the value of participation by student athletes cannot be fully quantified. How does one quantify the gift of memories, personal growth, and lifelong friendships formed?

"The “Case for High School Activities” presents volumes of research and survey data that dispels myths or misconceptions that involvement in school activities may be a diversion to a quality education.

Participation the Key
Students that participate and are engaged in school programs, whether it’s athletics or any other extracurricular activity, have less truancy, lower drop-out rates, fewer disciplinary issues and better grade point averages on average than their peers that have no involvement. In 2007, the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise reported that students who took part in more vigorous sports like soccer or football performed nearly 10 percent better in math, science, English and social studies classes. Similar findings were produced by a survey in Minnesota in 2007.

It may also be undeniable that involvement in high school activities bodes well for participants after high school as well. According to researchers in a 2005 study, participation in extracurricular activities gives all students--including those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those without stellar academic accomplishments in high school--measurable improvements on college admission exam scores. Furthermore, students who compete in sports in high school were more likely than those not participating to be active in volunteering, voting, speaking publicly and being aware of current events.

Similar results were confirmed in a 2003 Journal of Adolescent Research report. It indicates high school extracurricular participation leads to fewer school drop outs, greater community involvement, greater academic achievement and a plethora of other positive outcomes. Perhaps the most important impact of participation in high school activities is the short- and long-term personal and emotional benefits that lead to making appropriate choices. According to a United States Department of Education article published in 2002, those who have no involvement in interscholastic activities are 49 percent more likely to use drugs and 37 percent more likely to become teen parents.

The volume of materials and information supporting the values and life-long lessons learned through interscholastic activities is vast. However, we must be careful not to take extracurricular opportunities for granted or underestimate the impact they have on schools and a school’s community.

Interscholastic events are one of the largest windows into what is being taught and learned in our schools. There is no doubt that great things are being learned in traditional classrooms to prepare students for life beyond school; however, access to these learning environments are far less common for those outside the school. This fact makes school activity programs–proclaimed as extensions of the traditional classroom–even more valuable.

Therefore, it is increasingly important to demonstrate to those that live, work and pay taxes in the community the value of extracurricular activities. Typically, the average cost of extracurricular programs is less than one percent of most school budgets, making them a fantastic bargain and value. "

Wisconsin u19 Update

2011-07-05T13:10:00.003-04:00

The Wisconsin Rugby Union's u19 girls team finished the Midwest Selectside Tournament at 1-2 two weekends ago.

WI 36 Michigan 0
Tries: Oury, Ortiz, Wiesmueller, Capelle, Mertins
WI 7 Ohio 17
Tries: Wiesmueller
WI 10 Minn 40
Tries: Mertins (2)

Indiana won their 5th consecutive title by defeating Ohio in the final.

According to head coach Will Traber, "All the girls put forth a great effort and am happy with the way Wisconsin performed with finalizing the roster one week earlier. I am looking forward for the future of U-19 and U-17 women's rugby in this state."

Team Roster

Becker, Lauren KM 8-Man/Prop
Bukvich, Sabrina Brookfield Prop/Row
Bukvich, Becca Brookfield Flanker/W/C
Capelle, Shannon KM Hooker
Capelle, Samantha KM Flanker/Back
Carrasquillo,Talia KM Flanker
Dunn, Danielle Vernon
Dunn, Samantha Vernon
Evans, Lelaina Northshore Prop/Hooker
Harvey,Katelyn Vernon Row/8-man
Hoover, Ashley Vernon Prop
Mertins, Andrea KM Flyhalf
Ortiz, Cheyenne Brookfield Fb/Wing
Porter, Marissa Vernon Flanker/P/H
Rodrigues, Beatrice KM Flank
Rozman,Taylor KM Flank/SH
Rozman,Hayley KM 8-Man/Flank/Row
Sokol, Jaimie Brookfield Prop/Row
Stich, Maggie Brookfield W/OC
Wiesmueller,Kaisee Brookfield C/Wing
Oury, Hannah KM

The 29th Annual Lakefront 7's

2011-07-01T15:55:00.002-04:00

Next weekend, Saturday July 9th is the 29th Annual Lakefront 7's on the shoreline of Lake Michigan along Lake Drive in downtown Milwaukee.

For the first time in a number of years, there won't be a bracket just for girls high school rugby. There's an 8-team boys bracket, but not enough interest from the girls teams. There are two women's brackets, so they will feature collegiate and adult club team players.

Why no girls sevens this summer?

Well, that's a tough question. Some proponents of 7's suggest it's easier to form teams and new teams in particular during a 7's season. Certainly, since you need less players, that should be easy. Plus, there are less skills and set pieces to teach since rucking, scrumming, and lineouts are all simplified in the 7's version of rugby.

With that as a given, we think there are two reasons for 7's being less attractive to recreational athletes. First, it's the summer time. That's synonymous with festival time in Milwaukee. There's music, water sports, and a million other events going on. It's vacation time and travel time. Coaches and athletes return to the rest of their lives. It's also a time for young students to work summer jobs and learn what it's like to have responsibility. In short, it's time to do all those things you can't the rest of the year in the Midwest.

The second reason, and this is purely an opinion and not the official position of WGR, is that Sevens rugby needs only one kind of athlete: A fast one. If you're not fast, it's just not going to be your game. If you're not fast, try playing in the hot summer months on a full size field with half the teammates of a regular match. Be prepared to sprint. The entire time. 15's rugby has grown so rapidly in the Midwest because the short and the tall; the fast AND the slow contribute in meaningful ways to a successful team. Every kind of athlete can find success in 15's. Now, certainly 7's can be a lot of fun. Certainly a lot of tries can be scored, quickly. But i wonder if 7's will ever be as popular as 15's. What do you think? Leave us a note .....

The Conferences are Set

2011-06-17T14:45:00.003-04:00

A slow week for rugby news. The one noteable announcement from the league office is that following a productive league meeting, WGR decided to continue building its high school leagues with two divisions of play.

A five team conference composed of top programs will compete for the State Championship and Wisconsin's two seeds to the Midwest Championships. The six remaining programs elected to vie for the Division II title.

Division I: DSHA, Kettle Moraine, Brookfield, Catholic Memorial, and Vernon

Division II: Oak Creek, Muskego, Northshore, Wauwatosa, Fond Du Lac, and Menomonee Falls.

The MVP

2011-06-13T20:38:00.004-04:00

The National All-Star Championships were this past weekend. The Midwest Thunderbirds defeated the USA u20 team in the final 26-25, in a thrilling match.

Brittany Houston, of UWM and Vernon, earned MVP honors for her play over the course of the tournament. Our editor here thought this worth a shout out because she's the first WGR alumn to earn such recognition. Just let that sink in a little. That means she was selected as the most outstanding player out of all the all-star players at the selectside tournament. Pretty cool.

An excerpt from Rugby Magazine's match report gives readers an idea as to why she is so deserving of recognition:

"She's a field general," Riley said of the tournament MVP. "She had a marvelous game. Brit is about to graduate but won't be a full-time student next semester, so there's a lot of talk about where she's going to play her club rugby."

A longtime scrumhalf, she's been a widely respected player for many years now, first playing for the USA u20 team and after aging out, continuing to play selectside rugby with the Midwest.

It's also nice to see her giving back to the game, as she's an asst. coach for the Wisconsin u19 selectside, set to play this summer. Best of luck!

While rosters have been hard to find, word on the street is that CMHS alumn and Grand Valley State scrumhalf Emma Pesci was also on the Midwest all-star roster. Congrats on the championship!

Wisconsin Selects

2011-06-06T11:10:00.002-04:00

WI Select Info

Will Traber, the Vernon coach for the last number of years has been named as the WI Girls Selectside Coach.

Here's this summer's info:

Seniors that just graduated can still tryout. If you or any of your players have anyquestions feel free to contact me. Please spread the word to all your players.
Thank you.
Will

Camp 1 - 6/11 - Vernon Town Park, Big Bend, WI
9:15-1:00 -
No Cost

Camp 2 - 6/18 - Dretzka Park, Milwaukee, WI
9:15-1:00 -
No Cost

Tournement - 6/25-6/26 -
Will travel down there on the 24th
St. Charles, Ill
Cost is still being determined but looks like very minimal.

Update 6/13: Former Vernon and UWM players Lyndsey Fickau and Brittany Houston are also on the coaching staff.

Book Review: Miracle in the Andes

2011-06-01T09:39:00.003-04:00

Nando Parrado's nonfiction story of survival, Miracle in the Andes, was a book I'd been meaning to read for a long time. One of those I'd never found time for, until a late Easter Break and a short rugby season opened a brief window of freetime. You might be familiar with his story: a team of Uruguayan ruggers from the Old Christian Brothers Rugby Club board a plane for a tour of Chile. They never make it, crashing deep in the Andes Mountains. For 90 days they struggle to survive. A lack of food leaves them with no choice but to turn to the bodies of the dead. With no other hope, Nando and two teammates trek over the Andes to find help: no winter clothes or climbing gear ... just some rugby cleats.

I'd known that Nando Parrado had played rugby, but it wasn't until i found myself immersed in the pages of his personal story that i'd discovered how much rugby was a part of this story. Much of the first chapter is about how rugby's influence helped him survive. In a land dominated by soccer, the Christian Brothers from Ireland sent missionaries to Uruguay and brought with them rugby, insisting the boys learn the game through the mission school because in their words "no other sport taught so devoutly the importance of striving, suffering, sacrificing in the pursuit of a common goal," fundamentals inherent in living a Chrisitan life. Nando would draw on these lessons daily in the mountains.

Another great passage captures why many play and coach youth rugby. Playing with the same group of guys for eight years, Nando says: "We had grown up as teammates, drawing from each other's strengths, learning to trust one another when the pressure was on. But the game of rugby had not only shaped our friendships, it had shaped our characters, and brought us together as brothers."

WGR League Meeting

2011-05-25T12:13:00.003-04:00

On June 2nd, WGR convenes its league-wide meeting at the Wauwatosa School District Offices at 7pm.

Any new teams wishing to join the conference must be present at this board meeting to petition for admission. In addition, several key agenda items including Division Realignment will be resolved for next fall. Keeping in mind that rugby is still an emerging sport, should teams elect which division they play in? Should divisions be determined by objective factors such as won/loss record, school enrollment, or how many schools and communities a club draws from? Should the goal be to eventually move all programs up to division one? Should there be a mandatory and objective promotion/relegation system?

These aren't issues unique to rugby. The WIAA continues to struggle with division and conference alignment. They regularly adjust conferences every few years as some communities have shifting school enrollments and populations. They do have a clear cut policy of division alignment based on school enrollment, but some conferences mix teams of different divisions.

While players may have finished their seasons, coaches and administrators are hard at work, year round, working together as a league to decide what's in the best interest of everyone, working to grow the game.

DSHA Wins 3rd Place Championship Match

2011-05-22T19:53:00.002-04:00

DSHA 8 Kent 7

Two of the first girls rugby programs in the USA squared off again at Nationals in the 2011 Third Place match. Adding another memorable chapter to a storied rivalry, DSHA was able to edge out Kent, as both sides completed a brutal weekend of three matches against amazingly talented and well coached teams. Between them, the two sides played Sacramento, Fallbrook, West Carroll, and Lakewood. While a little less known to us in the Midwest, one observer called West Carroll's forward pack "one of the most physical i've ever seen." Congratulations go out to DSHA for such an amazing accomplishment.

In the title game, Fallbrook defeated Sacramento 60-0.

Another challenge for rugby?

2011-05-22T08:40:00.000-04:00

Wisconsin politics and education policy have made big headlines over the past few months. However, relatively modest proposal in 2011 Sensate Bill 95 may have unintended consequences for Wisconsin's growing high school rugby community.

This bill, among other proposed changes to education policy, would allow school districts to grant credit to student-athletes for participation in athletics if the sport is WIAA sanctioned. Over the past decade, we have successfully grown high school girls rugby programs. One challenge has always been changing the mindset of parents and players that playing for love of the game and putting rugby as your extra-curricular was as worthwhile as earning a varsity letter (with limited exceptions for those private schools that voluntarily grant varsity letters to their rugby athletes). Now will we need to convince players that rugby is a better deal than fulfilling course requirements?

Perhaps it is time that we ask, what does it take to be a WIAA sport? If anyone has connections with the state legislature, perhaps the bill can be amended? Why should the WIAA have control over a decision of whether credit should be granted versus a decision by the local school board or private school?

It is just one more potential challenge. But if we didn't enjoy tough challenges, we wouldn't play, coach, cheer for, and love rugby! B

National Championship Semifinal Update

2011-05-21T19:31:00.004-04:00

Semifinals
DSHA 0 Falbrook 19

Kent lost / Sacramento won:
Kent was up 10-0, before Sacramento came back to defend their title in tomorrow's championship

Consolation Bracket
Lakewood Sebastian River

West Carroll NYRC

National Championship Update

2011-05-21T17:49:00.005-04:00

No details yet, just some scores as DSHA advances to the semifinals:

Saturday May 21st
Quarterfinals:
DSHA 22 West Carroll 10
Fallbrook 18 New York RC 0

Kent 11 Lakewood 10 (OT)
Sacramento 33 Sebastian River 5

Semifinals
DSHA v Fallbrook

Kent v Sacramento

Mauston Border Battle 2011

2011-05-19T10:34:00.005-04:00

In a spring that has not seen great weather for rugby, teams from WI and MN met in Mauston, WI for the annual Border Battle between the two states. This is an open friendly competition where teams from the greater Milwaukee area meet at a neutral location with teams from the Twin City area.

After a 3rd place finish at Midwest, Kettle Moraine is looking to next fall and preparing for the highly competitive state competition. Said coach, Jeff Noe, "While the scores didn't reflect the way we wanted to end our season, the tournament allowed us to see multiple combinations and look at some players at different positions for future lineups next fall."

The MN teams are in the middle of their league season with three weeks before their State Championships on June 4th. They had probably the toughest time of any region getting started this spring because of the weather. Edina and Rogers are both at the top of the tier 2 bracket, while Armstrong is just behind the leaders in Tier I. Brookfield notched a nice win against Armstrong, who was Minnesota's representative to the D1 Midwest Championships two weeks ago, finishing sixth. Armstrong's season ending matchup against Wayzata could be a preview to the State Final as both teams remain undefeated

KM v Hopkins 57-7
Brookfield v Armstrong 15-5
KM v Rogers 0-25
Brookfield v Edina 32-12
KM v Armstrong 5-7
Brookfield v Hopkins 49-5
KM v Rogers 12-17
KM v Edina 34-0

Championship Week 2011

2011-05-17T12:07:00.005-04:00

"I hated every minute of training. But i said to myself, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." Muhammad Ali

It's 'Championship Week' again. Congrats to all those who strove to be the best this year. A special note of congratulations and best wishes to DSHA as they play in the final eight this weekend at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. Since they are there every year, perhaps it's taken for granted by some observers just how hard it is to be a state and regional champion, year after year, and to continue to acheive that kind of sustained excellence.

Posted below is last year's High School National Championship promo video. Enjoy the highlights; you might see a few familiar faces and teams!

Founders Cup Pictures

2011-05-13T22:04:00.007-04:00

Some great pictures from the best and most competitive Founders Cup Match to date. It was a physical and skilled battle by two outstanding programs.

The Founder's Cup is a traveling silver trophy passed on to the victor anytime CMHS and Brookfield meet. The head coaches of Brookfield and CMH at the time were the 'founding' coaches of the first girls team in the state of Wisconsin. Finding themselves on opposite sides after starting new programs and teaching the game to other kids years later, 'The Cup' was initiated to add a little fun and tradition whenever two old friends met on the field on opposite sides.

The Cup has remained with these two programs as coaches continue to move, and the tradition has come to be represent healthy competition among young adults from two cross-town competitors. Defeats can always challenge one's emotions. The exchange of 'The Cup' after the matches is one of the more memorable moments of a season. Not because one side or the other rejoices over a vanquished foe, like you might see with trash-talking pro athletes on T.V. Rather, because as captains, players, and coaches meet eye to eye after expending all their heart and sweat, it tests the grace and good sportsmanship of those on both sides, and reminds us of what it feels like to be on either side of that hand shake.

Fond Du Lac Girls Rugby Looking for a Coach

2011-05-11T13:56:00.000-04:00

Fond du Lac Rugby is looking for a coach for our girls HS team, the FDL Sirens. We have 27 players on the team this year.

The person who is the next coach has everything available for them:Practice equipment, great facilities both outdoors and indoors. We have our own personal trainer for the team that is at every practice and match. There is great parent and school support. We also can offer expenses to be covered and any dues.

Anyone who is interested should contact Fond Du Lac through their website.

National Top 25 Update

2011-05-11T11:30:00.002-04:00

One magazine's opinion, not WGR's, updated to include Midwest Championship results.

Nice to see four Wisconsin teams in the Top 25. Congrats to all those players and coaches.

Girls' U19/High School Top 25 - May 4, 2011
1 (2) DSHA (Wisc.) (10-1) (13-1). Won Midwest Championship defeating St. Joseph's 36-0, Fox Chapel 42-0 and Lakewood 35-6 in the final
2 (1) Summit (Colo.) (8-0). Idle
3 (3) Fallbrook (Calif.) (6-0). Advances to So Cal Championship after defeating Fullerton 50-0 in semifinal
4 (4) Kent (Wash.) (5-0). Won Rugby Washington by defeating Budd Bay 45-0.
5 (5) Sacramento Amazons (Calif.) (7-1). Won Northern California championship defeating Mother Lode 15-10 in final
6 (6)Lakewood (12-1). Finished second at Midwest Championships, defeating Armstrong 32-0, Kettle Morraine 32-7, and losing to DSHA 35-6
7 (10) Mother Lode (Calif.) (7-1). Finished second in Nor Cal, losing to Sacramento 15-10 in the final
8 (8) West Carroll (Md.) (6-0). Won EPRU's West Division
9 (9) Portland (ME) (2-4). Defeated Algonquin 38-0, Lincoln-Sudbury 65-0
10 (6) Kettle Morraine (Wisc.) (8-3) (10-4). Finished 3rd at Midwest Championships! Defeated Traverse City 27-5, lost to Lakewood 32-7, defeated Fox Chapel 24-0
11 (12) Beaverton (Ore.) (7-0) (7-1). #1 Oregon seed after defeating West Linn 28-10
12 (14) Ravenwood (Tenn.). (6-0). Won Middle Tennessee title
13 (18) Karns (Tenn) (6-0). Defeated Maryville 12-7 for SMAC title
14 (12) Douglas County (Colo.) (6-2). Idle
15 (16) Maryville (Tenn.) (5-2). Lost to Karns Blue 12-7 in SMAC final
16 (11) Canby (Ore.) (4-1) (4-2). #2 seed heading into State Tournament after defeating Reynolds 45-27
17 (7) St. Joseph's Academy (Ohio) (4-2). Lost to DSHA 36-0, defeated Columbus (IN) 48-0 and Armstrong (MN) 19-0 for 5th in the Midwest
18 (15) Fairfax (Va.) (3-0) . Defeated Fort Hunt 39-7.
19 (unr) Catholic Memorial (Wisc.) (8-3).
Won Midwest's DII with 10-0 win over Brookfield.
Record listed incorrectly .... (5-3) (8-0)
20 (unr) Lowland (Utah) (6-1). Won Utah seed to Pacific Coast Championship after defeating Snow Canyon 12-5
21 (13) Brookfield (Wisc.) (6-5) (9-6). Finished 2nd @ MW Championship tier 2
22 (18) Fairport (NY) (3-0). Defeated Kenmore West 25-0
23 (unr) Downington (Pa.) (4-0). Advances to MARFU Championship
24 (unr) New York (4-0). Playing in NRU Championship against Union

A Few More MIdwest Pics

2011-05-05T20:25:00.005-04:00

A few pictures .. send us more!

2011-05-03T21:33:00.007-04:00

Picture #2: Kettle Moraine's senior fullback Samantha Capelle with a brilliant offload between two Lakewood tacklers in the Midwest Semifinal match. Click it to enlarge and fully appreciate how she threads the needle!

Picture #1: The strong technique of KM and Lakewood can be glimpsed just before their scrum engagement.

Girls Midwest Championship Scores

2011-05-02T20:19:00.005-04:00

-----Opening Ceremonies 4/30/11-----

Midwest Girls High School Championships 2011

Sunday 5/1/11
Championship DSHA 36 Lakewood 5
3rd Place Fox Chapel 0 Kettle Moraine 24
5th Place St Joseph’s 5 Armstrong 0
7th Columbus 15 Traverse City 0

Second Division:
Catholic Memorial 10 Brookfield 0

Saturday 4/30/11
Quarterfinals:
DSHA 36 St Joseph’s 0
Fox Chapel 5 Columbus 5
Lakewood 32 Armstrong 5
KM 27 Traverse City 5

Semifinals
DSHA 42 Fox Chapel 0
Lakewood 32 Kettle Moraine 7
Consolation Bracket:
St Joseph’s 48 Columbus 0
Armstrong 10 Traverse City 10

Division Two:

Quarterfinals
Catholic Memorial 55 Carmel 5

Brookfield 22 South Bend 0

Semifinals
Catholic Memorial 62 Plainfield 0
Brookfield 51 Penn HS 0

DSHA, Lakewood, KM, Fox Chapel, St Joseph's, Armstrong, Columbus, Traverse City

Midwest Championships

2011-05-01T20:41:00.004-04:00

In winning their 12th Midwest Championship, DSHA high school, the all-girls high school team from Wisconsin, defeated Lakewood, Ohio 36-5 Sunday afternoon.

Interestingly, the Midwest Championship victory ended up being by a wider margin of victory than DSHA's State Championship battle with Kettle Moraine. In advancing to the MW final, DS also defeated an athletic Fox Chapel in the semifinals, something like 30-0 and a really good St Joseph's Academy in the quarterfinals by a similar score.

Kettle Moraine had a fine run as well, winning the third-place game against Fox Chapel 25-0. KM ran into some bad luck, as their captain and #7 went down with a bad ankle injury in the first few minutes of their first match on a very patchy and uneven pitch. Still, KM put in some excellent performances in defeating two different state champions in Traverse City and Fox Chapel. KM's semifinal against Lakewood was a good battle, with Lakewood pulling away late to advance.

In the second division championship, Brookfield and Catholic Memorial High School both put in dominating performances to advance to an all-Wisconsin final. CMHS won 10-0 in an outstanding back-and forth match.

After our field reporters check-in, we hope to post some pictures and official scores.

Updated Midwest Brackets

2011-04-29T12:08:00.003-04:00

The Midwest Rugby Union has made some changes to the Championship brackets for this weekend.

DSHA now plays St Joseph's Academy in the quarterfinal opening match, who was moved up from the second division. Tough break for DSHA, as they now face the #11 team in the country. Tough break if you are a #1 seed, and although it may not appear fair at first glance, it is in keeping with the precedent of trying not to put teams from the same state in the same side of the bracket. Althought SJA doesn't have the same championship tradition, being far newer, they do boast some eerie similarities: an all-girls Catholic school, with players only from their one high school. They won their first Ohio State Championship last fall.

The other interesting change is a Lakewood v Armstrong (MN) rematch of last spring's opening match, narrowly won by Lakewood. Armstrong's experience in the Championship Division, their familiarity with Lakewood's style, and the fact they've been dominant this spring could lead up to this being a great match. Lakewood seems to have regained their mojo and prevailed against SJA to claim Ohio's top spot.

This change shifted KM's opener to a face off with Traverse City. The other match is unchanged.

In the second division championship
Brookfield now faces South Bend and Catholic Memorial faces tournament hosts Carmel, Indiana, playing on their home pitch.

Midwest Championships 2011

2011-04-27T11:03:00.001-04:00

This weekend, four Wisconsin teams converge on the Midwest Championships. With nineteen different programs and twenty-four sides represented in three different divisions, including five b-sides, this event has become probably the largest and most competitive girls rugby event in the country. Six different state champions will be represented in a unique regional championship. Established in 1999, the Midwest will crown its 13th Regional Champion. With six different teams currently listed in Rugby Magazine’s top twenty in the country, and several more who could stake a claim to consideration, the brackets are as stacked as they’ve ever been.

The top two brackets feature several great matchups. In particular, if #6 Lakewood and #7 Kettle Moraine manage to advance, and that’s by no means a given, they are poised for an epic semi-final clash of two talented programs with high aspirations.

Midwest Championships 2011
Carmel, Indiana
Division I Championship
DSHA HS v Traverse City
Columbus v Fox Chapel
Kettle Moraine v Armstrong
Rockford v Lakewood
Blue Championship Bracket
Brookfield v Carmel
Lakeview v Plainview
Catholic Memorial HS v Livingston
Penn HS v St Joseph’s Academy

Wisconsin Youth Rugby: Summer Registration Open!

2011-04-23T16:47:00.002-04:00

Rugby for Kids!

Tag rugby has been added this year at Wauwatosa and Menomonee Falls in addition to the programs already available in Waukesha and Fond du Lac. Please get the word out and get your kids, kids' friends, nieces, nephews, grandkids, and/or neighbors' kids out to play. To grow rugby in Wisconsin and the US, we need kids starting at a younger age and this is the best way to make it happen.

For Wauwatosa Tag Rugby with Dan Chanen click here:

For Menomonee Falls Tag Rugby with Dan Zeroth (page 15):

For Fond du Lac Tag Rugby contact Ben Blanc at920-979-6591 or bblanc13@frontier.com

For Waukesha Tag Rugby by Joe Cunningham (page 24):

or register here!

Please forward this information to your teams, listservs, groups, and any others who might be interested. Thanks!

Joe Cunningham

Catholic Memorial Hosts Final Tuneup

2011-04-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

(Pictured: Nikky MacLeod running on April 2nd vs DSHA @Valley Fields)

Thursday April 21st:

Catholic Memorial 77 Muskego 0
Catholic Memorial jv 15 Wauwatosa 12

In thier final tuneup before heading off to the Midwest Tournament next week, Catholic Memorial High School hosted Muskego and Wauwatosa at Minooka Park, on Thursday afternoon.

The best match of the day was a back-and-forth tussle with Tosa and CMHS. Freshman Becca Silas scored a try as time expired to pull the Crusaders ahead in a narrow 3-try to 2-try battle.

Can you find the ball?

2011-04-22T01:42:00.003-04:00

Click on the picture for a bigger image. Can you spot the kick? Everyone was transfixed by this kick during the CMHS and DSHA JV match on April 2nd. Kicker Lynsey Bluma tries to persuade the ball in, in her best Carlton Fisk-like fashion.

Kettle Moraine holds off Brookfield Again

2011-04-22T01:02:00.003-04:00

Kettle Moraine continued their buildup to the Midwest Championships on Wednesday against another top twenty team in the country, Brookfield. Playing in brutally cold and windy conditions, both teams showed poise and teamwork in a back and forth match that reflected the combined experience of two really talented, veteran teams. Both sides looked to play some good rugby and push the pace of the match to build momentum into the regionals next weekend.

In the end, Kettle Moraine just seemed to have Brookfield's number this year, as they were able to grab a tight 17-14 victory over their crosstown rivals. Andrea Mertins had 2 tries, Lauren Becker 1 and Megan Klemm the conversion for the Knightmares. Brookfield's inside center had the most memorable try of the day on a smoothly run skip and loop around the outside center.

Next week Kettle Moraine takes on Minnessota's Armstrong in the opening round of the Midwest Championships. In the second division of the tournament, Brookfield faces off against one of Indiana's older teams and the hosts of the tournament, Carmel.

In addition to this Wednesday's match, Brookfield had traveled up to Fond Du Lac for a match on April 17th. Brookfield came away with a 24-7 victory.

The Midwest Challenge, Des Moines, Iowa

2011-04-19T14:07:00.002-04:00

-- Kettle Moraine's Makinzie Rogahn pictured, on the run against the Kansas City Dragons--

Last weekend two Wisconsin teams, Kettle Moraine and Vernon, made the six hour drive to Des Moines, Iowa for the Annual Midwest Girls Rugby Challenge, hosted by the Des Moines Women's Rugby Club at their fine facility and club house.

In addition to the hosts, the St Louis Sirens, Liberty United (from KC), Orono (MN), and Pearl City, IA were in attendance. One of our field reporters was there and provided a few details:

Saturday
Kettle Moraine All Blues 50 Liberty 0
Kettle Moraine Stripes 10 Orono 15
Kettle Moraine All Blues 15 Kansas City 0
Kettle Moraine Stripes 51 St Louis 0

Sunday
Kettle Moraine All Blues 15 Orono 5
Kettle Moraine Stipes 51 Liberty 0

"The Kettle Moraine Knightmares split into two squads for this past weekend's tournament. The All Blues started the day off strong with a 50-0 display against a new Liberty, MO squad. The All Blues were led by sophomore Megan Tutkowski with 3 tries in the opening match.

The Stripe squad found a much more difficult match to start off the day. Against Orono, one of the top teams in MN, they found a back and forth match leaving them on the losing side of 10-15. Freshman Justice Powell and Caelee Whiteaker were able to find the try zone in the losing effort.

The All Blues last match for Saturday found them against a more experienced Kansas City team. With balanced scoring between the forwards and backs, they were able to prevail 15-0.

The Striped squad had a much easier time in the 2nd match of the day against a St. Louis side. The communication between the backs and forwards was greatly improved and resulted in a solid 51-0 victory. In the picture, rookie Freshman Makinzie Rogahn, takes off on a run for her first try of the day.

Frustrated from the first match on Saturday the Stripe squad again committed to a balanced attack and being able to move the ball quickly to space out wide. The backs used their speed and scampered their way to 8 tries in the route of the young Liberty, MO side. Junior Megan Klemm, put on a kicking display converting 8 of 11 opportunities for the extra points.

The All Blues finished off the day against their stiffest competition of the weekend in Orono. Orono, quickly took to the attack and marched down the field in a confident push to the first points of the day. Down 5-0, the All Blues again looked to their backs to showcase their speed as they fought their way back into the game. With the forwards able to control the rucks, the backs were able to find the space needed to answer back with 3 tries of their own. After a long, hard fought weekend, the teams were pleased to end the day with a 15-5 victory.

The Knightmares now look to reassemble and continue to prepare for their march to the Midwest championships in Indiana on April 30th. Said coach Jeff Noe, "I can't wait, after this weekend a lot of newer players are beginning to step up and accept a larger responsibility as part of the team. They are making it very difficult for selections going forward."

April 16th Marquette Women's Rugby Showcase

2011-04-16T18:41:00.002-04:00

On Saturday April 16th, Marquette University Women's rugby hosted the Spring High School Rugby showcase, with Catholic Memorial High School, St Charles, Illinois, and Plainfield, Illinois at Marquette's Valley Fields.

While it wasn't the nice spring day everyone hoped for, the teams were still able to play two fast-paced matches on Marquette's artificial turf.

CMHS defeated St Charles 38-7 and Plainfield 51-5. CMH's Freshman wing Rebecca Haight stood out with three tries in the second match, while the St Charles Captain and #8 stood out for her great runs, kicks, and tackling.

April 9th-13th Updates

2011-04-15T21:24:00.003-04:00

On Sunday April 9th
Kettle Moraine 0 UW-Milwaukee 37
KM B 10 Northshore 55

A few notes from our field reporter:
"UWM had a strong flyhalf that killed KM. Julie Thorn and a few other forwards were tough and having Reilly plus one of the Bruni’s in the backline to keep the rest stable made it hard for KM to keep a steady attack. KM got down to the goal line several times times but were turned away.

Northshore was more of the same against KM's B-side. Taking on Northshore's athletic A-side, KM's B-side were competitive. The size and speed of some of the NS athletes kept KM off guard. NS was able to break free on some impressive runs and controlled the match. Having Reilly at flyhalf, again filling in, for NS let them have a more disciplined approach. The effort from the underclass/rookie side of KM, with no one with more than a season, was impressive. KM was able to get some big runs in and find their way to two tries.

On Wednesday April 13th DSHA took on an ever-improving Oak Creek.

DSHA 80 Oak Creek 0
DSHA 41 Oak Creek B 0

Despite missing several key players, including their regular flyhalf to scrumhalf combination, DSHA was able to set the pace of both matches. In the first girls match hosted on the grounds of Oak Creek High School, a nice crowed turned out to mark the occassion. An improving Oak Creek side showed flashes of their potential, with some good scrummaging and the ability to get a few turnovers.

Quick Spring Updates

2011-04-11T23:13:00.003-04:00

Just a quick update here with a few scores:

DSHA 41 Vernon 0
DS B 50 Vernon B 0
CMHS 44 Fond Du Lac 0
CMHS JV 7 Fond Du Lac 0
KM UWM B (unreported)

On Irish Storytelling and Character

2011-04-03T11:52:00.003-04:00

On Storytelling and Character

Our office staff here at Wisconsin Girls Rugby subscribes to several overseas newspapers. One of the more enjoyable is the Irish Independent. The writing style of their sportswriters is different from our American newspapers; a wee bit of that celtic gift for storytelling is infused in the retelling of the games and the opinions on the great people involved with sport. They seem to love their stories and anecdotes and people more than the plays and the stats. Maybe that’s part of rugby’s charm. We don’t keep a lot of statistics. It’s more about character and people.

One excerpt from “Laying Down a Marker” by Hugh Farrelly describes a team’s reaction to being scored on:

“Paul O'Connell stood tall as the players gathered behind the posts. Between injury and suspension, Munster's second-row and captain was featuring in only his fourth match of the season, but the gravity of the situation was not lost on him.

That ignominy of another defeat, the silent despair of the Thomond crowd, the ebullience of their opponents and the trials of a tough week forced Munster to a dark place behind those posts and a communal conclusion -- enough is enough.

When the Munster forwards jogged back to half-way for the restart, there was a different air about them. The bitterness, frustration and anger (absent in Toulon and the equally damaging defeat away to the Ospreys) was back and London Irish bore the brunt.”

Coaches and players have probably all faced a moment like that.

The article that caught our eye early this morning came from Brendan Fanning speaking with chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald about where Munster Rugby is headed. Munster is both an Irish Province and one of the more famous rugby teams.

Fitzgerald said: "The strongest aspect of Munster rugby, and always had been since before I was heard of, are the people. Our success has been built on having excellent people on and off the field, people with great character who have grown up in a slightly different culture given that lots of our areas of support are more rurally based than you'd get elsewhere. Those people run everything from schools rugby to club rugby to supporters and the professional staff and up to the overseas players we've been very lucky with. It's a different culture and those people have been our success. And the cross-sport support is a huge thing in Munster as well.

The weaker area is our facilities. I wouldn't be happy with them generally. Up to 20 years ago, rugby was seen as a Cork and Limerick thing but now it's right across the five counties. I'd like to see us improve our facilities across the board, not just stadiums. All the young players are honed in the domestic game in clubs and schools and I'd like to see us improve them. Personally, I think a lot of our underage rugby should be played in the better-weather months of the year. In Ireland, we try and train our kids in the worst months of the year and it's an issue for our skills and enjoyment of running and passing. I'd love to see us play into May and even have 10-a-side rugby for kids in August and September. Our competition model for our young players needs to improve also. “

I found this an inspiring reminder. Somedays we at WGR wish our facilities were a little better or that we were further along in our game development. Yet, here’s a perfect example of how one of the best rugby teams in the world, lacks some material things. Anyone who has ever played on the sloped pitch at DSHA, the one that used to have a tree in the field of play, would agree.

Or, just look at the Butler Bulldogs collegiate basketball team. They aren't a huge school, yet they just made it to the national championship game, and they play in the Butler Fieldhouse, built in 1928. If you’ve ever watched Hoosiers, it’s where they play the state championship game. It’s one of the older and smaller facilities in major college basketball. If you want to get an idea of how they’ve been able to be successful, look at some of the things Butler’s coach, Brad Stevens says. He’s only 34 years old and already he’s coached in two final fours.

Fitzgerald’s second comment also appears worthy of discussion around here. Our spring seasons are always such a challenge, with miserable weather affecting the ability of teams to develop skills and enjoy the game. Most teams gave up trying to schedule matches in March a few seasons ago. Should we wait even longer in the future? Start after Easter?

Rugby in April

2011-04-02T15:52:00.006-04:00

Some scores from the early action this spring:

3/26 Brookfield 84 Muskego 0

4/1 DSHA 22 Marquette 0 (one half)
CMHS 14 Marquette 0 (one half)
CMHS JV 12 DSHA JV 12

4/2 DSHA 65 Rockford 0
CMHS 44 Rockford 0

Brookfield @ St Louis Ruggerfest
Brookfield 43 St Louis Sirens 0
Brookfield 27 Kansas City 0

4/3 Brookfield vs TBD
Kettle Moraine 32 @ Vernon 10
Kettle Moraine B 5 vs Wauwatosa 15
Kettle Moraine B 10 vs Vernon B 0
Oak Creek @ Muskego

Updated Rankings

2011-03-28T20:38:00.004-04:00

This week most teams begin their season. Despite temperatures an average of 15 degrees below normal, everybody's excited about the upcoming games.

Although they haven't been updated in two weeks, Rugby Magazine's most recently posted girls rankings see Kettle Moraine move into the Top 10, after not being ranked. This is probably in recognition of their impressive fall season, with their only two losses coming to DSHA. Brookfield drops to #13 without losing a match. Sorry ladies! Probably just an adjustment in fairness to Kettle Moraine's higher finish.

It should be pointed out that these rankings are not the work of WGR, nor do they express the opinions of any WGR staff or adminstration. They are mentioned here purely to generate interest and debate, as well as, perhaps, motivation.

While it appears that only three of the teams in the top twenty field players from only one school, these three single school teams are all in the top ten. Most of the programs listed draw players from mutiple schools.

GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL/U19 TOP 201
(1) Summit (Colo.) (8-0). Idle
2 (3) DSHA (Wisc.) (7-1). Idle
3 (4) Fallbrook (Calif.) (2-0). Defeated Hawaiian Gardens 75-0, Back Bay 53-7
4 (5) Kent (Wash.) (2-0). Defeated West Linn 24-0, Budd Bay 20-0
5 (2) Sacramento Amazons (Calif.) (1-1). Dftd Alameda 51-5, lost to Mthr Lode 22-10
6 (unr) Kettle Morraine (Wisc.) (6-2). Idle
7 (unr) St. Joseph's Academy (Ohio) (8-1). Idle
8 (9) West Carroll (Md.). Idle
9 (8) Portland (Maine). Idle
10 (19) Mother Lode (Calif.) (2-0). Dftd Lobo Girls 66-12, Sac Amazons 22-10
11 (10) Canby (Ore.). Idle
12 (11) Douglas County (Colo.) (6-2). Idle
13 (6) Brookfield (Wisc.) (4-4).
14 (12) Ravenwood (Tenn.). (1-0). Defeated Independence 43-17
15 (13) Fairax (Va.). Idle
16 (17) Maryville (Tenn.) (1-0). Defeated McMinn 109-0
17 (14) Fullerton (Calif.) (1-1). Lost to Back Bay 15-5, defeated SOC Gators 68-0
18 (15) Fairport (NY). Idle
19 (16) Fox Chapel (Pa.). Idle
20 (18) North Clackamas (Ore.). Idle 20 (20) Harbour (Wash.). Idle

Youth Tag Rugby, June 17-July29

2011-03-22T14:34:00.001-04:00

For information on registration contact Joe Cunningham, cunningjoe@gmail.com

The Substitution Laws

2011-03-15T10:05:00.002-05:00

The Substitution Law

In an older era, rugby teams started a game with fifteen players, and if a player was unable to continue, they played short. It was an accomplishment of stamina and toughness to finish a match. Each game had a sense of accomplishment attached to it. Later, changes were made to allow the replacement of injured players. This made sense, since playing injured could lead to further injury.
This was taken another step farther with the introduction of tactical substitutions. A quick summary of the laws, taken from Rugby Football History, is quoted below:

“The Replacement of injured players was added to the 1968-69 Laws (law 12: up to two players per team).
Mike Gibson replaced Barry John in the Lion’s first test against South Africa in 1968 was the first official replacement in a test match (although replacements happened unofficially in New Zealand, South Africa and Australia before that.
Tactical substitutions were introduced in 1996 (three replacements).”

Eventually substitutions were increased to seven per match. Some professional competitions recently adopted an eighth substitute that can only be a front row player to prevent uncontested scrums. The one caveat is that substituted players cannot return to the match, except as a “blood sub.” Just as in other sports, a player with blood must be substituted, treated, and may return. In rugby the player has ten minutes to be treated, and then may return if the referee deems their return clean and safe.
Last week’s story brings up the issue of substitutions with youth teams. Would allowing players to be substituted and then to return later, be better for the youth game? Certainly it would help more kids get on the pitch. Young players could more experience and coaching: they could be subbed out, and coach could immediately address situations in the game with the player. It could be a great teaching tool. Then, they could return to immediately apply what they’ve learned. Furthermore, newer or younger players could be given five or ten minutes of experience in the middle of a match. This would help keep players happier, more focused, and would improve their development. It may also have benefits for less fit players. They could contribute to the team as they continue to progress as athletes.
How many of you coaches have also felt unable to substitute a player out, because that player coming off is your backup 9,10, and 15 or some other combination that experienced players offer? Teams with that tricky middle number of 24 players could get everyone in the game. This would also be safer. Some young players just aren’t ready for the physical demands of a full sixty minutes of an a-side level high school rugby match.
Now, Wisconsin High School soccer allows players to be substituted in and out of matches, without slowing the match down. In rugby this could be done after a score, at injury minutes, or lineouts near one’s own sideline. That way the flow wouldn’t be interrupted.
On the other side of the argument is tradition and character. Would we be losing part of what makes rugby so unique and special if this change were made? Is it worth the trade off?
So, coaches and players, what do you think?

The Rugby Spirit Moment of the Season?

2011-03-10T17:10:00.005-05:00

It's basically a playoff game. The two top teams in the conference. Neither team has been seriously tested until this match. Both sides are anxious, athletic, and amped up. They go at it, back and forth. One side gets up; the other claws back.

This was the scene of the Northshore - Menomonee Falls match at the end of the regular season. Amidst this all, there's the background too: of Northshore losing their back captain, Sydney Tabakin, to a tragic car crash earlier in the year. And of Falls being a first-year team to conference play and finidng itself loaded with athleticism and potential, making a remarkable run at the playoffs.

Like many smaller teams, Northshore struggled with numbers in the teens. Their captain kept getting dinged up, taking an injury minute on two occassions. Finally, nearing the end of the half she comes off the pitch for a subsitute. At the second-half kickoff, she asks to be subbed back on, having gotten herself back together, along with some tape. The referee, knowing this is a conference match, follows the laws and won't let her back on. Confusion. Tears. From Northshore's point of view, they'd had some earlier blowouts, and as frequently happens these teams suspended the subsitution laws, in the best interest of getting kids to play more.

But this was different. Right?

Then the Menomonee Falls captain stepped up to the ref, "It's okay sir. Just let her play." A quick confirmation from the sir, "You sure?" And the reply comes immediately, "Yep."

A knowing glance and nod is briefly exchanged between oppossing captains; a quiet recognition of mutual respect that most everyone else misses.

There are a lot of great plays and moves over the course of a season. Then there are the gestures that make coaches, teammates, and yes, even opponents, proud to play rugby.

"Rugby in America: Worth a Try"

2011-03-02T14:23:00.003-05:00

Rugby coaches and players aften remark how this sport is the fastest growing in the country. I've seen the same claim made anecdotally by a few other sports as well. The article below quotes some statistics from an independent business group that support the claim that, yes, rugby is the fastest growing team sport in America.

Rugby in America: Worth a try
More and more Americans are being converted to the sport
Feb 3rd 2011 SAN FRANCISCO

Some passages below from a recent article in the Economist:

"Last year almost 360,000 children played a non-contact form of the sport at school, according to USA Rugby, the sport’s national governing body. That has helped raise rugby’s profile: a study by America’s Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) found that between 2007 and 2009 (the latest year for which data is available), it was the fastest-growing team sport in the country, outpacing rivals such as lacrosse and hockey. In 2009, says the SGMA, some 750,000 Americans played rugby, over 20% more than in 2007. “For the sport to be on our radar screen is a sign it’s got some legs,” says Mike May, an executive at the association."

"To bolster the game’s appeal, USA Rugby is launching a college premier league next month that will see teams compete in four regional “conferences”, with the top two from each conference heading to playoffs in May. The league’s promoters hope it will act as a magnet for high-school players, as well as introducing rugby to more students."

"The sport in America also stands to gain from the fact that a seven-a-side version of rugby (as opposed to the standard 15-a-side contest) will be included in the 2016 and perhaps the 2020 Olympic games. The last time rugby featured in the Olympics, back in 1924, America won the gold medal. Although a repeat performance is unlikely in five years’ time in Rio de Janeiro, the prospect of representing the USA Eagles, as the national team is known, should attract more athletes to the game. Some impressive players already compete in an annual super league competition, which includes teams from some of America’s 2,400-odd rugby clubs."

Spring Thaw

2011-02-28T19:56:00.002-05:00

We may have inches of snow left on the ground here, but with tomorrow being March 1st, most everyone is daydreaming of getting back outside and playing some rugby. It's always a challenge to get out on some grass in the spring, for if the thaw doesn't leave things totally soaked, the rains can make fields unplayable for some time.

Hopefully, in about a month, weather depending, the following matches should kick off the 2011 season:

Sunday March 27th Muskego and Wauwatosa at Brookfield, noon

Fri April 1st DSHA and CMHS at Marquette, 6pm

Sat April 2nd CMHS @ DSHA, 9:30am

Sun April 3rd KM @ Vernon 1pm; Tosa v KM @ Vernon, 2:30pm;Oak Creek @ Muskego, 12pm

RugbyMag Girls Rankings

2011-02-19T13:06:00.004-05:00

RUGBYMag.com publishes a girls rugby national ranking. Here's their latest:

Girls Top 20

1. Summit (Colo.)

2. Sacramento Amazons (Calif.)

3. DSHA (Wisc.)

4. Fallbrook (Calif.)

5. Kent (Wash.)

6. Brookfield (Wisc.)

7. Lakewood (Ohio)

8. Portland (Maine)

9. West Carroll (Md.)

10. Canby (Ore.)

11. Douglas County (Colo.)

12. Ravenwood (Tenn.)

13. Fairax (Va.)

14. Fullerton (Calif.)

15. Fairport (NY)

16. Fox Chapel (Pa.)

17. Maryville (Tenn.)

18. North Clackamas (Ore.)

19. Mother Lode (Calif.)

20. Harbour (Wash.)

There are a lot of great teams and programs on this list and it reflects the continued growth and increased depth of girls teams across the country. It's also some well deserved recogniton for two WGR programs and four Midwest teams.

Some of the predictions are also thought-provoking. That's what sports writer's strive for, right? We'll see how this plays out on the field this spring. First, the reigning champion, Sacremento Amazons, aren't ranked #1. Unusual for a national champion? Some say that until you're knocked off, a champion remains just that, a champion. Maybe it's a reflection of a large graduating class last year? How many programs can continually challenge for a championship, year in and year out?

Summit, a team that has never defeated Sacramento, DSHA, or Kettle Moraine is ranked #1. They last competed nationally losing in the first round in 2009. Their highest finish is fourth. Fox Chapel, a perennially athletic and dangerous team from the Allegheny Union, gets into the top twenty. They finished fifth at the Midwest Regional last year.

Brookfield, a team loaded with talented athletes, cracks the top ten. How did Kettle Moraine miss out on being ranked? KM defeated Brookfield twice this school year.

Lakewood is another talented program that's always in the discussion. They lost their state championship last year to St Joseph's high school. A sign of things to come? St Joe's fails to crack the top twenty.

Lastly, a lot of west coast teams in there. They appear to be doing a nice job of building youth programs that lead into their high school teams. Fullerton is one of those teams that's well regarded for building a bottom-up program for boys and girls and this is clearly paying off for them.

Developing Youth Through Rugby

2011-02-18T12:06:00.004-05:00

Our first video postings capture the spirit, skills, and teamwork of the rugby community:

This second video is a little more good rugby action here .......

Rugby on NBC this weekend

2011-02-11T22:31:00.002-05:00

Check out some rugby on national television this weekend. With rugby 7's added to the list of upcoming Olympic sports, the USA is building momentum with a major international tournament held in Las Vegas this weekend. On NBC, catch the action from 2:30-5pm Saturday and 3:30-5pm on Sunday.

Most of us are used to rugby as a game played with fifteen players on each side. Sevens though is an abbreviated version, like futsal is to soccer, with less than half the regular number of players on the same size pitch. It's fast, skilled, and free-flowing rugby at its finest. If you get a chance, teams like Samoa and New Zealand play a unique and special brand of sevens that is just amazing to watch. Samoa won last year's USA 7's tournament with a dramatic last minute try and have hopes of repeating this year.

Sevens is offered in Wisconsin during the summer months at several tournaments across the state. The most famous and prestigous being the 29th Annual Lakefront 7's hosted during Summerfest right along Lake Michigan's shoreline. It features over 70 teams, with a special high school girls and boys bracket set for Friday night. The organizers are hoping to expand the high school brackets this year!

Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Supports Rugby!

2011-02-05T18:23:00.006-05:00

What do these two things have in commeon? Let me explain.

I'm a lifelong Milwaukee Brewers baseball fan. As kids, whenever we'd see a police officer in the nieghborhood, at a summer festival, or a ballgame, my brother and i would run up to them pleading for a baseball card. Cops on bicycles were always easier to approach, i think, because they were a little closer to our own height when they sat down to ride. I don't know if other cities did this, but our local police dept's all carried a set of cards provided by the Brewers, and we'd try to collect them all. My brother and I would journey three blocks from our house, an epic journey for an eight-year-old, to the nearest gas station to buy baseball stickers and then TOPPS cards.

Even better, our Dad had season tickets. We played all summer long. That kind of stuff made my brother and I fans for life.

Perhaps this is a little random, but I'm proud to see the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club

supporting rugby. They are one of the sponsors for some events by The US Rugby Football Foundation next weekend supporting youth rugby. The USRFF is once again hosting the 2nd Annual Scrumble Golf Outing and the I'Maul In No Limit Texas Hold 'em Poker Tournament prior to the International USA 7's tournament next weekend at the Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

While there are a bunch of suporters, their press release mentions that, "the USRFF would like to thank the following for their support of the 2011 Scrumble and I'Maul In Tournaments: ... the Milwaukee Brewers ... ."

Go USA! Go Brewers!

Book review

2011-02-02T17:14:00.001-05:00

This is not about high school girls rugby in Wisconsin, but I thought it might be of interest to our blog readers. Perhaps you are trapped in doors by a foot and half of snow and looking to read a good book about rugby. Unfortunately, those books are hard to come by on the shelves of American book stores. Well, I have a solution.

Browsing google books, I found a couple of free books about rugby. I am in the midst of reading "Rugby Union Football" by Philip Christian William Trevor. This book recounts the development of the game of rugby from the erly 1870's to the modern era (circa 1910). Despite the age of this book, it gives a unique perspective on the development of rugby tactics and positions from the lawless early days into a form of rugby that would be Diy recognized today. In addition. The book provides detailed discussions of the tactics of backs, forwards, and key positions, like the full-back. The book also discusses the success and struggles of England, Wales, Ireland. And Scotland, in the chapters discussing the international game.

It may be a little dated, but it is a fun read. It provides an authentic voice for rugby's history and, despite it's age, many of the author's tactical discussions still ring true today. Search for "rugby" on googlebooks, and I am sure this tome will pop up.

A Successful Debut

2011-02-01T09:13:00.001-05:00

Fall 2010 was a remarkable year for WGR. It's worth mentioning that this past year marked the successful debut of a new program. The Wauwatosa High School girls team, organized through the Tosa Park and Rec Dept, fulfilled all their obligations in conference matches during their inaugural season. They had a valiant showing in the State Tournament and they've also paved the way for a boys team, which will be starting this coming spring.

Wisconsin's first team began with seven players fifteen years ago. Hopefully Tosa will find just as much success. It takes a lot of character (and a patient coach) to play a new sport with an entirely new program. Tosa did a remarkable job toughing out a conference schedule and now, teams are really looking forward to playing at Hart Park, Tosa's home turf field.

Youth Conference Update

2011-01-31T17:09:00.002-05:00

A few highlights from the youth conference last weekend:

-140 people attended the youth conference, the most ever. 27 states had non-profit youth organizations represented, with several more being formed.

-Rookie Rugby and Play Rugby USA are growing significantly in other parts of the country. Checkout the picture used at the top of Rookie Rugby's home page; it features one of Wisconsin's great high school players, and four-time national champion, Lauren Franzen.

-All but three of the attendees said they supported USA Rugby's eligibility proposal focusing on strictly high school teams, instead of u-19 clubs.

-The long-term vision of USA Rugby is to support a single-school team system, with an understanding that we’re a long way off from that.

-The reaction to USA’s All-star schedule was more divided.

-Support for a national championship remained strong.

-There did not appear to be any interest from other states in 7’s or all-star teams for girls in the spring. That’s their team season for now. Indiana has some interest in a fall girls season.

Wisconsin Delegate to Speak at National Conference

2011-01-17T10:41:00.003-05:00

This coming weekend, WGR’s John Klein will be speaking at the National Youth Conference on the Game in Indianapolis. Klein has the rare honor of speaking at the beginning and end of the conference. In one of the opening sessions, Klein will present about the opportunities for girls rugby and how these opportunities have increased dramatically in the last few years. At the conference’s final session, as part of a prestigious panel including Mike Tolkin and Lee Kelly, Coach Klein will address how great programs are developed. Mike Tolkin coaches Xavier High School in New York (The 2010 National Champions), Superleague team NYAC, and the USA Men’s National Team, as defense coach. Lee Kelly, coaches Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C.

WGR will be dispatching one of its beat writers to report back live on the event.

No More High School National Championship?

2011-01-13T11:02:00.003-05:00

As reported by Rugby Magazine, USA Rugby’s Youth and High School Committee is considering several significant changes.

"The long-term outcome of this vision will be to create a High School focused season leading to a state championship; followed by a ‘travel or club’ season, potentially leading to a national championship," said Youth & High School Committee member Kurt Weaver. "These travel teams might be all-star teams, city based club programs, or even sevens clubs, but the focus will be on an actual season for these programs instead of the one-off tournaments we currently support for our select teams. Through this process, both our saturation and our rugby talent will improve."

“Proposal Highlights:
U19 designation changed to "High School Club."
Players on High School Clubs must be in high school to play.
Players in Single-School teams must be current students at the school they play for.
Age requirements (must not have turned 19 by September 1 of the School Year) remain.
Players who graduate during the season can still play.
Provisions allowing players who graduated last year to the year before to still play will be stricken.”

Implicit within Weaver's statement is that USA will no longer support a high school national championship. The committee’s intent, according to the article published Nov. 29th, was to have the proposals adopted by the New Year. Not a lot of time for discussion or feedback. No further announcements have been made at this time, so it appears the issue may still be open.

The High School and Youth Committee is:
Bill Middleton (chair) bmiddleton@usarugby.org Kurt Weaver kurt@rugbyohio.com
Mark Van Trees everythi@mindspring.com Tal Beyer tbayer@hydedc.org
Dick Podmore dick@dickpodmore.com Mark Griffin mgriffin@usarugby.org
Erin Kennedy ekennedy@usarugby.org

Women's Rugby Pioneers

2011-01-06T13:53:00.014-05:00

( Photo courtesy of the New South Wales Heritage Library, Australia.)

For our 201st post, we'd like to pay tribute to all the girls playing rugby in America. You are pioneers who help break stereotypes. For one, there haven't been women playing contact sports in great numbers, especially as a team sport. In addition, you've all been playing a sport that for a long time was seen as foreign.

Sometimes rugby inspires that kind of independence and i suppose it's been that way for some time. Women's rugby had some success in France starting in the 1920's. Some French even tried a women's version of rugby they called "barette" which did away with rucks but kept scrums and lineouts. Our first vintage picture is from a French magazine advertisement of that era. The second is a group of Australian ruggers from New South Wales.

The first documented evidence of an attempt to form a purely women's team occured in 1891 when a tour of New Zealand by a team of female rugby players was cancelled due to a public outcry.

In Wisconsin, Divine Savior Holy Angels High School began forming the first girls team in 1996. These brave young women played mostly college b teams. It took two years before they scored the first try in team history, thanks to a young Miss Allison Urbanski. It wasn't until years later, the Fall of 2000, that the second team, Kettle Moraine, came on the scene.

Wisconsin Growth Part iii: The Positive

2010-12-31T14:04:00.007-05:00

The Positive

WGR’s first two installments examined Wisconsin’s rugby growth in terms of numbers of teams and players. The third and final part to our year-end-review looks at indications of excellence and the relative stability or strength of programs. Wisconsin Girls rugby and the Midwest in general is growing stronger and more stable than a decade ago:

(Picture courtesy of Ric Benavides. DSHA offloads in the 2010 final vs KM 2010)

-Every girls team in division one played second side matches. That’s a lot of young ladies getting the opportunity to play and learn on a regular basis. Kids stay involved when they play games and contribute.
-Girls teams get game and playoff experience each week. Each division one team played nine weekends of matches in the Fall. Playoff teams continue to play, even after a loss, to determine their final ranking and possible qualification for Midwest or for promotion/relegation. There were zero match cancellations in division one this Fall. Playing a Fall Conference season with its manageable weather helps in this regard. Couple that with eight or so weekends in the spring and young players are getting the opportunity to play on a regular basis. A decade ago it was difficult to find matches; they tended to be against the same two or three teams over and over again.

-The competitive success of these girls teams is remarkable.
-Wisconsin has had five different teams qualify and compete at the National Championship: DSHA, Northshore, Kettle Moraine, Vernon, and Brookfield.
-Of the thirteen Midwest championships, Wisconsin has won twelve and placed a second team 2nd or 3rd on seven occasions.

-The Midwest High School Girls Championships is an impressive event. Teams from seven states compete in three divisions of play. 24 girls sides competed in 2010. This event has improved the level of play for MW girls teams by providing serious incentive to compete at higher levels, against different regions. The event is well-run by dedicated volunteers in Carmel, Indiana, who continually impress parents, players, and supporters with the event.

-There isn’t another girls championship event of this size in the country. The Midwest has 81 girls teams. The Northeast is the next closest territory at 37. Overall, girls teams have more than doubled in the last five years, from 121 to 243. The results of this growth can be seen in the competitiveness and increasing athleticism in good teams. DSHA has acknowledged on more than one occasion that the challenge the MW Championship provides is part of the reason they find so much success at Nationals ---- they often have to defeat three state champions just to advance.

-The runner-up from the Midwest has finished in the top three at Nationals on nine occasions, out of eleven championships. Seven times a Wisconsin team has been the Midwest runner up and finished in the top three. These teams are competitive at the highest levels.

-DSHA’s success is unparalleled, both in height and longevity: Six National Championships and twice runner up since the championship was first held in 2000; Twelve Midwest Championships, and a seven-year unbeaten run.

-Division I and II works. Dividing teams by program size and development level helped these newer teams find some success, while also providing competition. The scores of teams playing in their own division showed that each week was competitive. There weren’t any 100-0 matches, which isn’t healthy for either side involved. The semi-finals were more competitive than the finals of year’s past.

WI Youth Growth Part II: Rugby and Lacrosse

2010-12-17T17:52:00.009-05:00

Marquette University’s announcement today that it is fully funding varsity men’s and women’s Lacrosse should not come as a shock. It’s a reflection of LAX’s enormous growth. Let’s look at the facts (see the chart above).

This is the explanation from Marquette's Athletic Director, Steve Cottingham;

“We saw this as a strategic opportunity. There has been incredible growth in lacrosse. There are only two men’s and three women’s programs in the Upper Midwest, in five states. Eighty-two percent of our freshmen class come from those states.

“We really thought it was an opportunity, a great demographic fit. And if you look at the schools that play lacrosse, it’s sort of a natural demographic. It’s a sport we thought we could become competitive at fairly quickly. Lacrosse made a great deal of sense to us.”

I wonder if rugby's incredible growth the last ten years will lead to more schools adopting MU's philosophy. It's not too hard to imagine similar comments about rugby. The catch is, it's also difficult to imagine schools (high school or college) adopting two new sports. So, let's look at how rugby's growth compares. The numbers above compare WI’s rugby from ’05-’10, to Lacrosse’s growth from ’04-’09. The data comes from Rugby Magazine’s 2010 census and a study conducted by the Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation in 2009.

Observations:

I. LACROSSE IS GAINING MAINSTREAM ACCEPTANCE:

Eighteen varsity LAX programs in a matter of five years, with six more teams in the process of applying for varsity status. Clearly, they are organized. They have trained coaches, and they’ve convinced parents that this is a safe, rewarding contact sport. Varsity status equates to more access to students and more funding. Kids like getting recognition for playing for a school team. It might not be the main reason they play, but it certainly helps and gives the sport creditability.
Rugby has made few inroads in this area. Name one varsity rugby program in the state? Our most successful program, DSHA, is NOT one. Is this a conscious strategic choice by our rugby teams not to pursue varsity acceptance? Has rugby failed to show the qualities needed to gain mainstream acceptance?

Another observation: varsity lacrosse programs dominate the Madison area: Sun Prairie, LaFollette, Verona, and Middleton all boast impressive numbers of boys and girls. Has Lacrosse affected high school rugby in Madison? The girls rugby team there folded a number of years ago.
II. Selectside Teams Have Played Little Role in LAX’s Growth in WI:

It’s just not a big focus. They encourage local teams and building numbers in order to play. Look around their league and youth websites. One of their lead articles is that they announce an All-State team, like other traditional high school sports, in order to recognize kids.

III. THE SNOWBALL EFFECT:

How many more Lacrosse teams will start up as a result of the number of grade school kids playing or because of the lure of a college program? Where’s the motivation or interest for kids to start high school rugby teams going to come from? Check out Dunhams or Sportmart. Do you see rugby balls for sale there? No. Lacrosse nets and sticks? Probably. It seems Lacrosse is hitting up both ends of the spectrum: elite collegiate teams and youth.

WGR Coach Development Program Continues

2010-12-14T10:46:00.004-05:00

In an effort to support the efforts of young coaches, WGR has renewed its coach development program for a second year. The most significant obstacle to starting and developing existing programs is a lack of coaches and the hope is that this will make things just a little bit easier.

Any coach may apply to this program through the WGR board, and if the application is approved, WGR will help cover the costs of a USA Rugby Coaching accreditation course. Conveniently, Marquette University is planning to host these courses in Milwaukee for the third consecutive summer.

Coaching certification offers several benefits:
(1) Education: there's always something to learn about rugby, something to get better at, especially as the laws continue to change.
(2) Credibility: certification is tangible. It's something we can show parents or school administrators to reassure them that coaches are properly trained and knowledgeable about the sport and safety issues.
(3) Prevention: We live in a litigous society and certification helps protect individuals from liability. Awareness of safety issues and concussion procedures, wth an eye towards prevention, is fundamental to coaching in any sport. If an injury were to occur, and an angered parent is looking for blame, an uncertified coach is unfortunately an easy target. It would be unwise for any coach these days to not possess some sort of documented certification.

Out of the twelve programs in WGR, there are four registered coaches according to USA Rugby.

Midwest Youth Rugby Growth Trends

2010-12-09T09:00:00.012-05:00

Rugby Magazine conducted a club census comparing growth from 2004 to 2010. A direct comparison of teams in the Midwest is revealing. The "union total" statistic is an indication of overall strength, totaling male and female clubs at all levels. A few observations:

--Look out for Chitown!
Chicago youth rugby is exploding. They added almost as many boys teams in this period as currently exist in Wisconsin in total. Perhaps some of their success comes from the Illinios Youth Rugby Assocation's implementation of three different divisions for their boys competition, plus an additional championship for b-sides AND their u-15 teams. We imagine this creates a place for new teams, small schools, and the established competitive programs to all find the right fit. This system is being coupled with a whole league's worth of u-15 teams. Sure, they conceivably have a larger pool of ruggers scattered around the big city to help coach and ref, but they've set up a model that is clearly helping these volunteers get connected to families new to rugby.

--The Indiana Anomaly
So, they lead the Midwest in youth teams, an impressive 13 clubs. Yet, they contracted the number of high school teams. Did they grow too quickly? Focus resources on introducing rugby to younger kids? Time will tell if their youth programs lead to greater growth down the road.

--Ohio, who knew?
A huge team total of 122. They have the most boys teams and second-most girls teams.

--WISCONSIN: FALLING BEHIND.
The four states ahead of Wisconsin at least DOUBLED Wisconsin's youth growth. Look at the number of youth teams added. This should be a wake up call to all those in Wisconsin. A chunk of Wisconsin's growth came from the increase in girls teams. The truth behind the numbers is more disconcerting. One of the 12 teams won't compete in 2011, and another, baring a dramatic change in recruiting efforts, will find itself unable to field a team next fall. That's 16% of the girls teams right there. If this is taken into account, Wisconsin finds itself last in total number of high school and youth teams.

What's one common denominator? Wisconsin is the only state on the list without a unified youth rugby organization. Certainly that's not everything. It's only paper. A core of dedicated volunteers has to run any organization. That's been the case with all of Wisconsin's youth efforts to date. The work of the boys leagues to build 27 programs was probably inconceivable 25 years ago. But, now we have to look at the present landscape. The question has to be, can we be doing even better? As they say, can't let what's 'good be the enemy of what's great.' Would Wisconsin be better served if there was a unified youth rugby organization that crosses all the lines: counties, genders, schools, clubs, and traditional rivalries?

Looking forward to hearing your comments ...

Rugby's Youth Conference on the Game

2010-12-03T16:05:00.005-05:00

Next month the national Youth Conference on the Game is being held in nearby Carmel, Indiana.

A quick review of Wisconsin shows that youth participation continues to grow steadily. Rugby Magazine recently conducted a state-by-state census and found that Wisconsin teams grew 16% from 2006-2010. The high school girls league showed the most growth, peaking at 12 teams this fall. The Badgerland boys high school conference has 15 teams in the Madison and Milwaukee area, while the Northeast Wisconsin (NEW) Conference now boasts 12 programs in the Green Bay and Fox Cities area.

This census did not account for some youth programs run through local park and rec organizations, since they are not considered official clubs in their own right. The Fond Du Lac rugby club has been offering elementary age kids a program for years, as has the Waukesha County Park and Rec Dept each summer.

One area where Wisconsin differs from other states, at this time, is organizationally. The three high school organizations run independently of one other. This decentralized approach has resulted in substantial growth. What's interesting is that all of Wisconsin's bordering states have moved in a new direction, forming State-Based-Organizations like Rugby Indiana or Illinois Youth Rugby. Their sole focus is the growth of high school and youth rugby. 26 States now have chartered SBO's.

In the long run, will these other states outpace Wisconsin's growth, because they have paid administrators organizing and promoting the sport? A recent example: Rugby Indiana hired a professional executive director in January 2009.

These issues and more will be discussed at the national Youth Conference on the Game (YCOG). It is an annual event held for all those involved in youth and high school rugby. This conference provides professional development workshops and presentations to better the game at the youth level.

When and Where is the YCOG?
The 2011 YCOG will be held on the following dates:
January 21-23, 2011
Carmel, IN

What is the agenda for the YCOG?
The agenda includes:
Workshops and Discussions on Game Development
High School Coaching Course Modules
Rookie Rugby 7s Launch (Introduction to Contact)
Youth Referee Certification
Concussion and Safety Information
CEUs for Coaches
Networking Opportunities