Wisconsin Growth Part iii: The Positive

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

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

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

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

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

State Championship Results

Championship
DSHA 27 Kettle Moraine 3

3rd Place
Brookfield 39 Catholic Memorial 5

5th Place
Menomonee Falls 21 Vernon 10

7th Place
Oak Creek 12 Northshore 10

Division II
Championship
Fond Du Lac 12 DSHA 10
Oak Creek 32 Wauwatosa 12

Final Standings:
1 DSHA, 2 KM, 3 Brookfield, 4 CMHS, 5 MFalls, 6 Vernon, 7 Oak Creek, 8 Northshore, 9 Fond Du Lac, 10 Wauwatosa, 11 Muskego, 12 Cudahy

The Final: A Preview

This is the first time since the tournament format was adopted that Kettle Moraine and DSHA have met in the final. Both venerable teams battled back and forth for the State Championship from 2000 to 2004. In fact, KM is the only other team to win the state championship besides DSHA.

Is this KM's year again?

KM has seniors, alot of them. You win in high school sports with seniors. KM is driven and the new law interpretations have swung the game back in favor of possession teams to a degree.

DS: they have far more playoff experience, even if they have a younger squad. They are also much faster. Will they get enough ball? Earlier this season, DS scored four tries to one against KM. This is also the first year that DSHA enters a final without a perfect record. Are they better because of it, or more vulnerable?

Last year, the final ended 54-7.
Prediction: it could well be closer than that and KM has a chance. DSHA though, as defending-champions, remain the team to beat.

State Champion Records
Year 1st 2nd 3rd
2009 DSHA Brookfield Vernon
2008 DSHA CMHS Vernon
2007 DSHA Vernon CMHS 1st State Tournament
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

State Tournament 2010

Wisconsin Girls Rugby, in combination with its State Tournament sponsors, Waukesha State Bank and Athletico, announces the field for the 2010 State Championship Tournament, Sunday Oct 31st at Naga-Waukee Park. Twelve teams will participate, with the awards ceremony twenty minutes after the conclusion of the final

Division I
Championship 2:00pm DSHA v Kettle Moraine
3rd Place 12:30pm CMHS v Brookfield
5th Place 11:15am Vernon v Menomonee Falls
7th Place 11:15am Oak Creek v Northshore


Division II
Championship 12:30pm Fond Du Lac v DSHA
3rd Place 10:00am Oak Creek v Wauwatosa

Playoff Results 10/24

In a competitive set of semifinals, the top two seeded teams advanced to the final match at 2pm next Sunday at Naga-Waukee Park. CMHS and Brookfield will play for 3rd place.

DSHA 22 Brookfield 7
KM 23 CMHS 5

Consolation Rounds

The consolation rounds for the State Tournament continue play this weekend. The matches still carry significance as they affect ranking, conference alignment, and promotion/relegation between Division I and II for the 2011 conference season.

Of particular interest should be the Oak Creek v Menomonee Falls matchup. Falls was undefeated in Division II and proved competitive against Kettle Moraine last weekend. The winner secures Division I promotion.

Updated Brackets Released

Quarterfinal Results

Bracket A:
DSHA 83 Northshore 0
Brookfield 51 Vernon 0

Bracket B:
Kettle Moraine 22 Menomonee Falls 5
CMHS 34 Oak Creek 7

Division I Playoff Brackets Leaked to the press!

Division I Wraps up the regular season

The final week of the regular season concluded Sunday with a fierce battle between Brookfield and Kettle Moraine that displayed just how competitive the Wisconsin Girls Rugby conference has been all year.

Brookfield scored first and led at one point 10-5, before a second-half surge saw Kettle Moraine punch in two tries.

DSHA 78 Oak Creek 0
CMHS 26 Vernon 3
Kettle Moraine 15 Brookfield 10

Three teams finished tied for the conference title, a first:
DSHA 4-1, Kettle Moraine 4-1, Catholic Memorial 4-1, Brookfield 2-3, Vernon 1-4, and Oak Creek 0-5.

The Championship tournament brackets and seeds will be officially released tomorrow. I'm sure everyone will be eager to get their office's involved in picking their brackets!

Week 4 DII Results

Menomonee Falls v. Tosa 60- 0
North Shore vs. Fond du Lac 50-10
Muskego v. Cudahy 25-10

An exciting week of Division II, Northshore and Menomonee Falls clninched spots in the DI play-offs.  North Shore and Fond du Lac, two of D2's oldest team faced-off in a must win for Fond du Lac.  Northshore came away with the victory, maintaining its undefeated record for the season. 

CMH Girls Rugby Topples Defending State Champion DSHA

WAUKESHA, Wis. (October 2, 2010) — Catholic Memorial High School Girls Rugby handed defending state champion Divine Savior Holy Angels its first loss in seven years, beating the Chargers, 7-5, today at Minooka Park in Waukesha, Wis. DSHA had not lost a match in Wisconsin since Oct of 2003, making most of this year’s seniors only 10 years old the last time the Dashers lost a match. (For the record, KM is the last Wisconsin club to defeat DSHA in Wisconsin, when it went 2-0 against DS and became the first club in Wisconsin state history to have an undefeated record during regular season play -- DS having a perfect recrod in Wisconsin since that date!).

DSHA pulled ahead early in the game with a try made by senior outside center Elli Miller, with the half ending 5-0 in favor of DSHA. Just 10 minutes into the second half, CMHS junior fullback Sara Dillett fielded a short kick and raced around the corner, outpacing three defenders for a cross-field 60-meter try. She went on to nail the conversion to give the Crusaders a 7-5 lead, sealing its first win in team history over DSHA. Both teams stand at 3-1 overall in conference play after today’s match.

Photo (attached): CMHS senior center Maggie Armstrong carries the ball during Saturday’s 7-5 win over state defending champion DSHA. (Photo by Jeff Bohlman)

Week 4, Division I

Scores from week four:
CMH 7 DSHA 5
In a tight battle, the underdogs prevailed to complicate the conference standings. DSHA still looks dangerous and just missed on several scoring chances.

Brookfield 22 Vernon 10
In a game they had to have, Brookfield toppled their rivals for the second time in team history. With a tough schedule early on and two close losses, Brookfield now appears to be gaining momentum at the right time. Vernon continues to be competitive against good teams. They could be primed for an upset this coming week.

KM 65 Oak Creek 0
After playing DSHA tough the week before, KM won against a young and struggling Oak Creek side that's showed character in playing up to the division one level. Will this experience give Oak Creek the advantage if they come up against a second division team in the playoffs?

DI Standings:
DS 3-1, KM 3-1, CMH 3-1, Brookfield 2-2, Vernon 1-3, OC 0-4

Friday Night Lights...

If you are looking to see rugby at the next level, the Marquette University Women will be playing UW-Madison under the lights at the Valley Fields Complex on Friday, October 8, 2010.  The B side is slated to start at 6:30pm with the A side match to follow at 8pm.


The Valley Field Complex is located down by Potowatami Bingo.  The games under the lights are very fun and exciting. The atmosphere of a night game under lights is so different than a regular Saturday afternoon. Come support your local collegiate Women's rugby clubs and get a whole new view of the game from the stands!

Week 3, Division II

Menomonee Falls defeated Muskego 56-0, Fond du Lac defeated Tosa 61-0 and North Shore defeated Cudahy 69-5.  The race for entrance into the Wisconsin Cup play-offs is heating up as we enter week 4, as Fond-du-Lac plays a must win game against North Shore in order to remain in the top 2 to qualify for the cup play-offs; A win by North Shore clinches this venerable team a spot in the elite 8 tournament.  Menomonee Falls remains  in the drivers seat.  A win this weekend secures this new, but up and coming team a spot in the top 2 and a chance for Division I glory.

In the picture, the Northsohre team hangs tough after a difficult and emotional week, before posting a convinging win over Cudahy.

Week 3, Division I

Brookfield 5 CMHS 13

Vernon 73 Oak Creek 0

KM 5 DSHA 26

Vernon busts out with a big match to secure a crucial conference win. After scoring first, Brookfield lost a close, tough Founder's Cup match to CMHS. Brookfield and Vernon, both 1-2, square off Sunday. The winner keeps hopes of a top three finish alive and well. It's a big rematch of the historic upset last year that propelled Brookfield to the state final.

Divine Savior remains unbeaten and takes command of the conference lead in handing KM their first loss of the year. DS faces CMH this week, while KM will look to regroup against an Oak Creek side that's still looking for some offense.

Division I: DSHA 3-0, KM 2-1, CMH 2-1, Brookfield 1-2, Vernon 1-2, Oak Creek 0-3

Pictured: CMH freshman Rebecca Haight on the run against Brookfield, 9/24/2010

Week 2, Division II

Here are our week 2 results:

FDL v. Muskego (61-5)
Menomonee Falls v. Cudahy (51-0)

The game between Tosa and Northshore was postponed due to the tragic death of Sydney Tabakin, who died on Saturday morning in a fatal car accident.  The Wisconsin High School Girls Rugby community mourns the loss of one of Northshore's players, which has been a difficult loss of her family, firends, and teammates.

Week 2, Division I

DSHA 58 Vernon 0
Kettle Moraine 20 Catholic Memorial 19
Brookfield 68 Oak Creek 0

DSHA and Kettle Moraine are tied for first and meet this weekend. Brookfield and CMHS are tied at 1-1 and meet this weekend. Vernon will battle an improving Oak Creek side that has two full sides to build on.

WEEK 1 Division 2

Here are the results of last week's Division 2 matches as we head into week 2 of our pool play:

Mequon v. Fond du Lac   28-0
Cudahy v. Tosa 32- 10
Northshore v. Muskego 79-0

Northshore showed its athleticism in its season opener against Muskego.  Is this venerable club ready to claw its way back to Division 1?  While only in its second season, Mequon posted a solid win over Fond du Lac, showing a lot of promise that this young team may be able to earn a bid into the Division 1 playoffs and upset some of the league's older teams.

Week I, Division I

Division I
DSHA 12 Brookfield 7
Vernon 13 Kettle Moraine 34
Catholic Memorial 34 Oak Creek 0

Brookfield and Kettle Moraine each made a statement in their season openers with strong performances. Vernon was the team KM could never quite get past in the last few season. Have they turned a corner? DSHA continues to find a way to win close matches.

Midwest Select-Side Camps

The Thunderbirds, the Midwest Rugby Football Union's select-side team, is holding a camp at Nagawaukee Park in Delafield, on October 10, 2010 from 11-4.  The camp will be used to select players for the Girls U17 and U19 Select-side, which completes against the other regional select-side teams in a competition organized by USA Rugby.  Participation in the Thunderbirds is one pathway for our local high school girls to earn a spot to represent the USA as a U-20 Eagle, our National team's developmental side. 

Interested players should talk to your coaches about this opportunity and to ask for the registration paperwork.  The registration paperwork has been emailed to all area coaches.

Wisconsin players have been well represented on our regional and national teams, as has our coaching staff.  Kettle Moraine coach, Jeff Noe, is the current manager for the U20 National team.

It is hard to believe that we're talking about select-side play, as we are just kicking off our Fall season!  There is a lot of rugby going on in Wisconsin this Fall!

Wauwatosa Girls Rugby Team Debuts

This Sunday, Wisconsin's newest girls team debuts, fittingly, against Cudahy, WGR's second-youngest team. The "New Kids on the Block Trophy" offers the excitement only a new start can offer.

Wauwatosa is open to high school girls in the area where a team does not already exist. New players are still encouraged to come out and give it a try.

For more information and registration, visit the Wauwatosa Recreation Department and use Activity #139300-00.

Register ONLINE, or print a Registration Form. Please print and submit a Rugby Medical Release Form.

The Quest Begins

Conference play begins this week with a clash of powerhouses in division one. The Quest for the title begins again.

Brookfield meets DSHA in a rematch of last spring's Midwest Championship and the National Championship 3rd Place match, won by DSHA 64-0. Has the gap closed? Brookfield looked powerful last weekend in pre-season play.

Two other title contenders meet as Vernon travels to Kettle Moraine on Sunday.



Pictured: Brookfield near Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah at last years National Championship.

Scottish Highland Games update

Scottish Highland Games 2010:

Catholic Memorial 7 Brookfield 5
Kettle Moraine 10 Vernon 12
Brookfield 17 Kettle Moraine 17
Catholic Memorial 7 Vernon 10
Catholic Memorial 0 Kettle Moraine 15
Vernon Brookfield (not reported)

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

The Wisconsin Girls Rugby season kicks off this weekend with several pre-season matches involving division one teams.

DSHA high school opened the season in typically strong fashion against Marquette University in a friendly scrimmage that saw the defending State champions put up 30 points in the first half.

In other action, Brookfield, Catholic Memorial, Kettle Moraine, and Vernon face off at the Wisconsin Scottish Highland Games on Saturday. The first match of the day is a Founder's Cup match between Brookfield and CMHS. Check in for scores at the end of the day ...

Women's World Cup Kicks Off

While not exactly "WGR" material, the Women's Rugby World Cup does kick off Thursday in England. With a bunch of matches broadcast on the official website, let's roll out some support for our amateur women's players as they take on the world.

Official Website and match broadcast

Update: USA 51 Kazakhstan 0

Eagle Flight Camp @Marquette University

Pictured: Coach Jeff Noe instructs campers: #7 Talia Carrasquillo (KM), #23 Julia Hilbert (DSHA), and # 41 Megan Aprahamian (Vernon).

Last week, eighteen Wisconsin high school rugby players attended the u20 Eagle Flight camp at Marquette University's Valley Fields in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin (the home field of the MU women). Mixed in with scores of players who traveled from around the country to attend, the event offered girls a chance to experience other levels of rugby. Braving the heat and humidity of Wisconsin in August, the girls trained for three days and scrimmaged.

Wisconsin's own Jeff Noe helped organize and run the event. One of the true gentlemen of rugby, Noe somehow manages to continue playing for his Division I team, The Milwaukee Harlequins; coach the Kettle Moraine girls; act as conference coordinator for Wisconsin Girls Rugby, AND manage the USA's u20 Women's Rugby Team. He's coached hundreds of girls with great success, and probably doesn't get enough recognition for all the good he quielty does. Where would WGR and all those players be without his selfless class and dedication? Thanks Jeff.

Camp Attendees Included:

Brittany Aprahamian, Vernon
Megan Aprahamian, Vernon
Margaret Armstrong, CMHS

Lauren Becker, KM

Alyssa Blavat, DSHA

Holland Bohlman, CMHS

Talia Carrasquillo, KM

Mari Franzen, DSHA

Julia HIlbert, DSHA

Briana Klein, Brookfield

Erin McCullough, DSHA

Emma Metz, CMHS

Elie Miller, DSHA
Kristy Ruplinger, Fond du Lac
Katie Toshner, Fond du Lac

Emily Van Bibber, DSHA
Kaisee Wiesmueller, Brookfield
Katie Yanke, Vernon

Fall 2010 Division I Schedule

Wisconsin Girls Rugby released its 2010 Division I Schedule today. After unveiling its new competition, experts are predicting a fiercly competitive Fall season.

DSHA are a unanimous AP selection as pre-season favorites. After all, they haven't lost a match in the state since 2003 and return some devasting speed all around the pitch, especially in leading scorer Ellie Miller. Plus, they feature a returning 9-10 combination with loads of talent and experience. With a great coaching staff and depth, they will be tough to beat.

That should not mislead observers into thinking the state is short on talent though. The DI competition should be very competitive. For starters, all the Division I teams could field two sides this fall. Plus, there's no avoiding a top team anymore, as each team plays each other once in conference. Expect an absolute battle.

Brookfield, who finished 4th in the country last season, returns a lot of athletes, including USA's Brianna Klein and perennial All-Tournament selection Rachel Santulli at scrumhalf. They should continue to grow from last year's experiences. Now, how will the team respond to the departure of Head Coach Dan Chanen? He guided them to improvement each season he was at the helm.

Vernon, fed by a pool of young players coming up through their B-side and youth program, consistently fields strong, competitive teams. They also had a good spring season. Will a new generation of leaders step up to replace the graduation of key players?

Kettle Moraine may be the "horse" to bet on, as the Knight-mares return 14 senior starters. Many have been starting since their days as underclassmen. They have a powerful pack that's already fought together through two conference seasons. They are hungry for success. One wonders though if they have enough balance and speed in the backs?

Catholic Memorial will also have been hit hard by graduation. They seem to always have some speed, but the other power teams will certainly be asking questions of their 15. Do they have enough depth to compete with the Bruisers, Harlequins, and Knightmares?

Oak Creek is coming off a good spring season. They've done well to introduce rugby to the southside of Milwaukee, and without their success, one wonders if Cudahy would've gotten off the ground. Now, can they build off their progress in the spring? Built around a core of girls forced to start as freshman three years ago, they may just have grown up as a team. Their numbers were noticeably up last spring. With regular All-Tournament team selection Keyline Vega, a dangerous and speedy runner, they may pull off a surprise or two.

Division I: DSHA, Brookfield, Vernon, Catholic Memorial, Kettle Moraine, Oak Creek

DSHA:
09/12 Sunday Brookfield TBD
09/19 Sunday Vernon TBD
09/26 Sunday Kettle Moraine TBD
10/02 Saturday Catholic Memorial Minooka 10:00 am
10/10 Sunday Oak Creek Dretzka 1:00 pm

Brookfield:
09/04 Sat Highland Games Waukesha Expo
09/12 Sunday DSHA TBD
09/19 Sunday Oak Creek Minooka 1:00 pm
09/24 Friday Catholic Memorial Minooka 4:30 pm
10/03 Sunday Vernon TBD
10/10 Sunday Kettle Moraine TBD

Catholic Memorial:
09/04 Sat Highland Games Waukesha Expo
09/11 Saturday Oak Creek General Mitchell 3:30 pm
09/17 Friday Kettle Moraine Naga-waukee 4:30 pm
09/24 Friday Brookfield Minooka 4:30 pm
10/02 Saturday DSHA Minooka 10:00 am
10/09 Saturday Vernon Minooka 09:30 am

Kettle Moraine:
09/04 Sat Highland Games Waukesha Expo
09/12 Sunday Vernon Naga-waukee 1:00 pm
09/17 Friday Catholic Memorial Naga-waukee 4:30 pm
09/26 Sunday DSHA TBD
10/03 Sunday Oak Creek General Mitchell 1:00 pm
10/10 Sunday Brookfield TBD

Vernon:
09/04 Sat Highland Games Waukesha Expo
09/12 Sunday Kettle Moraine Naga-waukee 1:00 pm
09/19 Sunday DSHA TBD
09/26 Sunday Oak Creek General Mitchell 1:30 pm
10/03 Sunday Brookfield TBD
10/09 Saturday Catholic Memorial Minooka 09:30 am


Oak Creek:
09/04 Sat Highland Games Waukesha Expo
09/11 Saturday Catholic Memorial General Mitchell 3:30 pm
09/19 Sunday Brookfield Minooka? 1:00 pm
09/26 Sunday Vernon General Mitchell 1:30 pm
10/03 Sunday Kettle Moraine General Mitchell 1:00 pm
10/10 Sunday DSHA Dretzka 1:00 pm

PLAYOFFS:
Quarterifinals 10/16- 10/17
Semfinals 10/23-10/24
DI and DII State Championship
10/31 Naga-Waukee Park, Delafield, Wisconsin

Fond Du Lac Coaching Position

Fond du Lac Rugby Inc. is accepting applications for head coach of its girls team. The "Fond du Lac Sirens" have 25 solid players and are growing every season, with 2 girls at the U20 camp this last weekend. Fond du Lac high school is the 2nd largest school in the state and is supportive of the rugby club.

The Sirens have a strong club that includes:
-The aid of a manager and 2 asst. coaches; although the head coach may bring their own staff.
-Use of all equipment, scrum sled, field and anything else FDLR Inc has.
-Practices set to begin Aug. 19th at 5 pm with practices on Tues/Thurs. through Oct.
-The new coach can set the practice times and days. Indoor facility access as well.
-Parents are active in the club, taking care of the after match social and other logistics.
-The position includes travel expenses, CIPP, and coaching clinic attendance.

-Anyone who would like more information please contact:
Brad S Casetta Sr.
Vice President
Fond du Lac Rugby Inc.
bcasetta@powerweb.com

Division 2 High School Girls Rugby

Wisconsin Girls Rugby released its Division II schedule today.

Featuring three teams entering conference competition for the first time, it is hoped that the competition fosters even more of Wisconsin's impressive growth in girls rugby. The competition involves an annual promotion and relegation battle, with Fall playoff brackets. The top two regular season finishers compete in the Division I playoffs, affording them the opportunity to challenge for a midwest regional seed. The remaining teams playoff for the Division II Championship.

Noteably, Cudahy (est. 2010) and Menomonee Falls (est 2009) both played a season of non-conference matches to jumpstart their development, while Wauwatosa (est. 2010) bravely enters conference play in its inaugural season. Returning powers Muskego, Fond Du Lac, and Northshore will be keen to advance deep into the playoffs. How it turns out should be exciting to watch.

Wisconsin Division II Fall 2010
Northshore, Muskego, Fond Du Lac, Menomonee Falls, Cudahy, Wauwatosa

Cudahy:
09/05 Sunday Highland Games Waukesha Expo
09/12 Sunday Wauwatosa General Mitchell 1:00 pm
09/19 Sunday Menomonee Falls @ Falls? 1:00 pm
09/26 Sunday NSH General Mitchell Noon
10/03 Sunday Muskego Bluhm 10:00 am
10/10 Sunday Fond du Lac @ FDL 1:00 pm

Fond du Lac:
09/05 Sunday Highland Games Waukesha Expo
09/12 Sunday Menomonee Falls TBD TBD
09/19 Sunday Muskego Bluhm Park Noon
09/26 Sunday Wauwatosa TBD TBD
10/03 Sunday NSH TBD Noon
10/10 Sunday Cudahy @ FDL 1:00 pm

Menomonee Falls:
09/05 Sunday Highland Games Waukesha Expo
09/12 Sunday Fond du Lac TBD TBD
09/19 Sunday Cudahy @ Falls 1:00 pm
09/23 Thursday Muskego Bluhm Park 5:00 pm
10/03 Sunday Wauwatosa @ Falls 1:00 pm
10/10 Sunday NSH @ NSH 1:00 pm

Muskego:
09/05 Sunday Highland Games Waukesha Expo
09/12 Sunday NSH @ NSH Noon
09/19 Sunday Fond du Lac Bluhm Park Noon
09/23 Thursday Menomonee Falls Bluhm Park 5:00 pm
10/03 Sunday Cudahy Bluhm Park 10:00 am
10/10 Sunday Wauwatosa @ Wauwatosa 1:00 pm

North Shore Highlanders:
09/05 Sunday Highland Games Waukesha Expo
09/12 Sunday Muskego @ NSH Noon
09/19 Sunday Wauwatosa @ Wauwatosa 1:00 pm
09/26 Sunday Cudahy General Mitchell Noon
10/03 Sunday Fond du Lac TBD Noon
10/10 Sunday Menomonee Falls @ NSH Noon

Wauwatosa:
09/05 Sunday Highland Games Waukesha Expo
09/12 Sunday Cudahy General Mitchell 1:00 pm
09/19 Sunday NSH @ Wauwatosa 1:00 pm
09/26 Sunday Fond du Lac TBD TBD
10/03 Sunday Menomonee Falls @ Falls 1:00 pm
10/10 Sunday Muskego @ Wauwatosa 1:00 pm


DI and DII Championships:
Oct 31st, 9am-4pm, Naga-waukee Park, Delafield

USA Camp in Milwaukee

There is one week left for players to register!

One of WI’s own, Brittany Houston, will be helping at the camp and will speak to her experiences in trying out and finally making the national squad. Danielle Miller, current forwards coach, will talk about her path from a college player, through the select sides and ultimately onto the 2006 World Cup team. It should be fun and interesting with the work on skills, in addition to the stories of how others found success through various levels in rugby. It will be a smaller camp, so the opportunity for a player to have one on one time with the staff will be readily available.

U20 WNT FLIGHT CAMP DETAILS:
Who: Female athletes age 13-19
What: The USA Rugby U20 WNT player development open camp.
Why: This is an open camp designed to give young players of all skill levels an opportunity to
receive coaching from the USA U20 Women’s National Team Coaching Staff.
When: July 29-Aug 1, 2010 (Athletes should arrive by 4 PM July 29 and may depart after 1 PM on the 1st.)
Where: Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
Contact: Jeff Noe: Jeff.Noe@constellation.com

On Player Pathways ...

With all the World Cup Soccer in the news lately, plus word of rugby’s inclusion in future Olympic games, representing one’s country seems to be a dream often contemplated and seldom achieved. But, how does one actually get there?

Rugby, much like USA Soccer’s Olympic Development Program (ODP), has a system of select teams to offer young players development opportunities. While their merits are often debated, these pathways lead upwards from State age-level select teams, to a regional level, and finally the US National team. The rugby calendar is filled with camps around the country for all these levels. Using age groupings also results in a mixing of high school and young college players.

At the u19 level, a great athlete could conceivably go from the Wisconsin u19 Girls selects to the Midwest Regional u19 Team, and then the USA u20 Women’s Team, commonly referred to as the “Eagles” in rugby circles.

It doesn’t always work out that way. Some outstanding athletes burst onto the scene quickly and jump right to the Eagles. Before these pathways were solidified, some WGR players jumped right to the u19 (now u20) Eagles. DSHA’s Joanna Hoffman earned four caps beginning in 2004 and Kettle Moraine’s Kati McCormick earned six caps beginning in 2005. They went on to great careers at Ohio St and UW-Milwaukee. McCormick made it all the way to the USA Women’s National Team; the first and only WGR alumni to earn such an honor, although hopefully not the last.

These pathways offer players diverse coaching, unique camaraderie with similarly driven young women, and the experience of travelling to unique places.

The editorial offices of WGR would like to encourage those of you who’ve participated in these programs to add a comment or two about your experiences. Dream on!

J.

Wisconsin All-Stars Continue Competition

The Wisconsin u19 All-Stars competed this weekend.

Wisconsin places 5th:

Saturday
Wisc. 17 Illinois 17
Wisc. 0 Indiana 36

Sunday
Wisc. 15 Minn 12 (5th Place Match)

Ind 15 Ohio 5 (Championship)

Hopefully, more details will follow soon ....

New Look Fall Season and Expanded Teams!

The official scheduling meeting occurred last week and the league has now expanded to 12 teams.  In order to ensure parity in competition, the twelve A-side teams have been sorted into two Divisions. 

Division I (by ranking): 
1.  DSHA
2.  Brookfield
3. Vernon
4. Catholic Memorial
5. Kettle Moraine
6. Oak Creek

Division II (by ranking):
1. Muskego
2. Northshore Highlanders
3. Fond du Lac
4. Cudahy
5. Menomonee Falls
6. Wauwatosa

Division I B-side teams will also compete in a Division III competition.  As in the past, the top 8 teams will play for the state championship (the Wisconsin Cup), with the top 2 DII teams being invited to the Div. I play-off.  Division II teams will compete for the Bowl Championship.  At the end of the play-off season, the 7th and 8th Ranked team will be relegated to Division II for the coming Fall. 

Our newest team, Wauwatosa RFC is adopting the model of organization from Menomonee Falls and Cudahy -- i.e. working in conjunction with a Recreation Department within a public school district to create a team. 

As the season progresses, and our new blog co-author comes on-line, we hope to be providing in-depth team profiles, more timely score reporting, and (hopefully) more pictures. 

Help Wanted!

Due to the drop off in the quality (and quantity) of posts, the Wisconsin U19 Girls Rugby blog is looking for a blog Co-Editor in Chief to help expand the amount and depth of coverage of our site.

Position Title:  Co-Editor In Chief
Position Duties:  Expand in-depth reporting on Wisconsin High School Girls Rugby
Compensation:  It's a really rewarding experience

Minimum Qualifications:

• minimum 10 years experience coaching Wisconsin Girls Rugby
• Wisconsin teaching license (English license preferred)
• Advanced degree (Juris Doctor preferred)

Apply by posting comment to blog.

DSHA and Brookfield

Just for the record, DSHA finished #3 in the Nation this year, after defeating Brookfield (now #4). 

Congratulations to Brookfield for thier first run at the National Tournament!  While I know that there are many rival clubs in Wisconsin who were plotting and planning for DSHA's first defeat since the Fall of 2002, but I think I speak for Wisconsin when I say we all wish that first defeat had been from a Wisconsin club!

Congratulations to the new National champions, the Sacremento Amazons.  I know that each team from Wisconsin that has had to face the Amazons, both Brookfield this year, and KM in the past, recognize that they are a fierce and deserving team.

Now-- it's time to start thinking about the Fall 2010 -- and the run up to next year's National title run by a Wisconsin team (or two)!

Go Wisconsin!

A quick post just to say good luck to DSHA and Brookfield as they compete in the National Tournament this weekend. Hopefully, we will see Wisconsin teams ranked #1 and #2 in the nation. Obviously, I am rooting to see a new #1 this year -- but still -- best of luck to DSHA as well.

Here the the link to the JSOnline article.

Watch the games live at the USA Rugby media site. The Brookfield team kicks off against Portland, ME at 9 a.m. local time (10 p.m. CST) on field 1. DSHA kicks off at 10 a.m. local time (11 p.m. CST) also on field 1. Only the field 1 games are broadcast. The second match of the game will be determined by the win-loss record. A complete schedule of matches can be found here.

Midwests Championship Weekend

I have been so busy, it has been hard to find the time to publish. However, the news has to be put out there. This past weekend, DSHA again dominated the competition to take home another consecutive Midwest Championship. The brackets and scores are available online at the Midwest Youth Rugby.

The Brookfield Bruisers also qualified for Nationals for the first time in Club history in its first trip to the Championship bracket. Brookfield upset Lakewood OH, last years Midwest and National number 2 seed, in a close fought 10-7 quarter final match.

In the festival division, Vernon and KM played for #1 and #2 , with Vernon prevailing.

DSHA-B side an Brookfield-B side took home 2nd and 4th respectively in the Div. II Festival Bracket.

So, with 24 teams competing, Wisconsin B-sides had a 2-4 record. For Wisconsin A-side teams (KM, Vernon, DSHA and Brookfield) and those losses were to other Wisconsin teams! Go Wisconsin!!

Finally -- I ask for some help for Brookfield. Brookfield is trying to raise money to complete the Cinderella Story and meet DSHA again in the final round at Nationals (hopefully with a different result -- we are coming to compete after all!). The Brookfield parents and players will be selling hot dogs and brats at the Sam's Club in Brookfield (on Springdale Rd.) on Sunday, May 16, 2010 throughout the day. Please stop by and have some food! And wear your club's Rugby gear and show just how supportive and close knit our Wisconsin rugby community can be!