Ahman Green Tries Rugby

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Tournament Official Photos

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

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

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




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

Girls League Season 2009

2013 STATE TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL PHOTOS

Appleton/Fond Du Lac putting in against Brookfield

 



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

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



 

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

 

A DSHA v CMHS lineout:

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 State Tournament Player of the Match Awards

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

The 2014 medal recipients during the State Tournament Matches are:
DSHA v CMHS
DSHA  #6 Kayla Pavela; #10 Beth Pokorny

CMHS #2 Alexa Jaeger ; #10 Molly Langhenry

 

Kettle Moraine v  Vernon
KMHS #15 Courtney Krause; #2 Julia Sheckel

Vernon  Lexi Prushiek #20 (scrumhalf); #3 Megan Zettlemier 

 

Oak Creek v DSHA jv

OCHS  Monica Claudio #9; Abby Larch #4 

DSHA  Genevie Ruesch #9; Kately Brost #5

 

Brookfield v Appleton/Fond Du Lac

Brookfield:  Madison Aprahamiah #9; Reina Anderson #17 fullback

Appl/Fond:  Aleah Loll #10 flyhalf; Sarah Herdeman #11

State Tournament Results

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

Championship

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

CMHS #2 Alexa Jaeger ; #10 Molly Langhenry

Tries:
DSHA:  Trowbridge, Holahan, Walker        CMHS:  Else
Conv
DSHA:  Braun (2)                                         CMHS:  Langhenry
Pen:
DSHA:  Braun
 

3rd Place

Kettle Moraine 32  Vernon 10

Player of the Match Awards
KMHS #15 Courtney Krause; #2 Julia Sheckel
 

5th Place

Oak Creek 17  DSHA jv 17 

OT decided after six kicks in favor of OCHS

7th Place

Brookfield 35  Appleton 32

A few pictures from the Final:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State Championship Tournament

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

Naga-Waukee Park

651 State Highway 83  Hartland, WI 53029

 

3:00pm            Award Ceremony

1:30pm           Championship            DSHA (6-0)    v  CMHS (5-1)                       

12:15pm          3^rd Place Match          Vernon (2-3)       v   KM (3-3)

11:50am          7's Exhibition Match   OCHS                 v  CMHS        

10:45am          5^th Place Match          Oak Creek (2-4)  v  DSHA jv (5-0)

9:30am            7^th Place Match          Brookfield (0-5)   v  Appleton (2-3)

 

Tournament Contacts

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

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

State Semifinal Results

DSHA 101 v  Kettle Moraine 0 Coach Klein noted the improved play of the Knightmares even amidst a game where the Dashers were just more experienced and athletic on the day. A good, hard, clean match. 0

DSHA jv 51 v Brookfield 10
The Dashers depth proved to be impressive as they outscored one of the conference's core teams. In a rebuilding year, Brookfield will face Appleton for the 7th place match next weekend.

CMHS 90 Vernon 0
It was a much different match from last week, even though the score may appear similar. CMHS led 28-0 at half after some tighter defense from Vernon. The Crusaders featured several changes to their starting lineup from the week before. Vernon kept possession even more tightly than before, not using their backline at all for most of the match. The Crusaders defense was sound though and their offense kicked into full gear in the second half. Senior flyer Rebecca Haight was unstoppable with five tries to ine-up her tally from the week before. Vernon's scrumhalf Lexi Prushiek (apologies for the spelling, we know it's not right) was physical, as always, on defense, and kept her composure well, helping keep her young team's focus on possession.

Oak Creek 34 v Appleton 0
Neither team scored in the first ten minutes; there were a lot of knock-ons and penalties on both teams. Oak Creek touched down their first couple of tries by swinging the ball wide to Staci Lisowski, their junior wing. Senior Anisa Feto went on to score a few more tries for the Black Knights with zig-zagging runs, and several other ballcarriers were able to penetrate Appleton/Fond du Lac's defensive line, particularly in the second half. Oak Creek's defense was able to consistently make tackles behind their opponent's gain line.

Appleton/Fond du Lac played a very physical game. Their forwards were able to hold up Oak Creek's mauls and effectively defend short runs off of set pieces, despite giving up a lot of size to the Black Knights' larger pack. Appleton/Fond du Lac's inside center [check her name; I think she wore #11] ran through Oak Creek defenders and chased down several of the opponent's ball carriers throughout the game. Even Appleton/Fond du Lac's newer players - some of whom played at fullback and wing - took and applied more than a few hard hits. By the end of the match, Oak Creek's experience allowed them to sustain more drives and come out on top.

STATE FINALS

130pm  CHAMPIONSHIP    DHSA v CMHS
1215pm 3rd Place  Vernon v Kettle
11:50pm 7's OCHS v CMHS
1045am  5th Place  DSHA jv  v Oak Creek
930am    7th Place  Brookfield v Appleton

State Semifinal Previews

This weekend the revamped State Semifinals take place.  The top four teams have the opportunity to challenge for a medal and in addition, the opportunity to represent Wisconsin at the Midwest Championships in the spring.  Wisconsin has had three teams in the Midwest Championship that last few years and last year we even had a fourth represent.  Wisconsin is anticipating having three again in 2014.  That means this is essentially a double-elimination playoff, for this weekend's losers in the top four, have a chance to qualify for Midwest by winning the 3rd Place match.  Last year also saw WGR's top Division two team, OCHS, play in the Midwest Championship second tier for the first time.

Championship Semis
DSHA v Kettle Moraine  10am Brookfield Soccer Complex (Weyer Rd)
    While DSHA handled KM in their opening week match, it is clear that KM has improved.  Their first week they were adjusting to a new coach.  KM struggled with consistency early in the year and some unfortunate absences in key early season matches.  KM has been playing their best rugby of late, with an impressive scoreline over Oak Creek; in fact, they produced a better scoreline against OCHS than CMHS did.
     DSHA is also playing their best rugby at the moment and they've shown the ability to get better with each match.  They remain a clear favorite to return to their 7th straight final.

CMHS v Vernon 10am Minooka Park
     It's always tough playing the same opponent two weeks in a row, in any sport.   Both teams will be very familiar with what each other does and that may give defenses an edge and make for a tighter match.  CMHS will be the favorite going in, but Vernon always plays the Crusaders hard in this rivalry match.

Consolation Brackets
Brookfield v DSHA jv  12pm Brookfield Soccer (Weyer Rd)
     These playoffs are a chance for teams to play some different clubs and for the Division II teams, after getting some experience early in the year, to play more experienced teams.  The DSHA jv team gets a chance to prove themselves against an established program.  DSHA jv has been extremely strong the last few years, winning two matches in the Midwest Championship bracket last spring.  They could very well come away with another win here.  Brookfield has made several adjustment to their young lineup the last few weeks and could be clicking at the right time.

Oak Creek v Appleton/Fond Du Lac 1130am Minooka Park
     Appleton's impressive debut will conclude with two tough tests against more established teams.  Oak Creek has a chance to end their season on a high note, to end with two consecutive wins, something they haven't been able to do this fall. 

State Tournament Notes:
-This is the 7th Annual State Championship Tournament.  The first tournament was held in 2007.  Prior to that the state champ was determined solely by conference finish.

--Kettle Moraine has a chance to finish in the top three for the fourth consecutive season; the only program besides DS to do so.

--CMHS could become the first team other than DSHA to play in three consecutive state championships, and their fourth in the seven years of the tournament.

--DSHA could play in their unparalleled seventh straight state championship.

-Tournament T-shirt pre-orders are due Sunday. 

-State Records-
2013                Tbd                             Tbd                              Tbd
2012                DSHA                         CMHS                         Kettle Moraine

2011                DSHA                         CMHS                         Kettle Moraine

2010                DSHA                         Kettle Moraine            Brookfield

2009                DSHA                         Brookfield                   Vernon

2008                DSHA                         CMHS                         Vernon

2007                DSHA                         Vernon                         CMHS

2006                DSHA                         Vernon

2005                DSHA                         Vernon

2004                DSHA                         Kettle Moraine

2003                DSHA                         Kettle Moraine

2002                Kettle Moraine            DSHA

2001                DSHA                         Northshore

2000                DSHA                         Kettle Moraine