National Championship

Two Wisconsin teams are again participating in this year's Emirates Airlines USA Rugby Girls High School National Championship.  The brackets have been released to WGR's media coordinator:

1 Fallbrook (CA)
2 DSHA (WI)
3 Kent (WA)
4 West Carroll (MD)
5 CMHS (WI)
6 Lakewood (OH
7 Downingtown (PA)
8 Amazons (CA)

     There are some great rivalry games in the first round, as Fallbrook and the Amazons meet for the third year in a row at the national event.  The last two years it was for the final.  Maybe it's a sign of the growing depth in girls rugby that this is the 1 v 8 matchup.  Fallbrook appears to be on a roll again this year and just won 38-10 in their state playoff semifinals.  As the #1 seed, they will look to use their speed and fitness to defend their title.

     Kent and Lakewood, two programs with long-standing success on the field square off again.  That's another matchup worthy of a final too.  Lakewood has been a little off-the-radar in their buildup this spring, but should definately be a dangerous opponent.  They won the Ohio Classic Tournament handily last weekend and always bring incredible fitness to their matches.  Kent is always a contender; they already have a win over Fallbrook under their belt.  One veteran coach said, after seeing them at the Fullerton Youth Invitational, that "they look like a championship team." 

     Downingtown hasn't been scored on in their spring buildup.  Along with Catholic Memorial, they appear to be the two wildcards in this year's tournament.  West Carroll is one of the good stories of what this tournament does for participants and their experience level.... they bring a record of three consecutive appearances ... and they've clawed their way up a position in the rankings each of those years.  Not easy to do when starting as a lower seed.

     DSHA has earned the  #2 seed and are a favorite to advance out of the other bracket.  What's made this year especially remarkable for them is that their B-side won the Midwest Second Division tournament.  Their young side did it in impressive fashion winning 45-0, 74-5, and 27-5 in the final.  They are especially deep and play with great passion.