Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Girls High School Rugby Nationals: National Tournament 2020 (Single School)

Girls High School Rugby Nationals: National Tournament 2020



What?    Single School HS Girls National Tournament
When?   May 16th-17th, 2020
Where?  Notre Dame College  Cleveland, Ohio
How?     Register Here (click here)
Format:  Top Tier Bracket (teams ranked 1-8)
               Second Tier Bracket (teams ranked 9-16)
              Possible JV Bracket (TBD based on interest)

Questions?   ngccrugby@gmail.com


Nov 1st, 2019                                                                                    


     The 21st Annual Girls High School Rugby National Tournament for single school programs will take place the weekend of May 16th-17th, 2020 at Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio.


     “Notre Dame College is excited to offer its facilities for the upcoming National Championship. There are incredible opportunities available for girls rugby players and we want to help showcase this, while providing a professional atmosphere for student athletes at the high school level,” added Luke Markovich, Head Women’s Coach at Notre Dame College.


     The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) women’s collegiate program will host matches on Mueller Field and Normandy Field.   NDC has hosted three Rugby Ohio State Championships in the last three years.


    NGCC schools chair John Klein noted, “Bringing the national tournament to another new location is important to the girls rugby community, especially when it helps bring in new competitors.  We are encouraged whenever rugby can help rugby at different levels and are thankful for the NIRA program at NDC for hosting all these girls teams.”


     Single School teams will compete in a quarterfinal and semifinal Saturday May 16th with final matches Sunday May 17th.  Developing programs are encouraged to compete against teams they might not normally ever compete against.  Organizers are once again planning multiple brackets of competition; an eight-team division one competition, along with an eight-team second division.  Planners are considering a JV Bracket, perhaps of 10s, pending interest.


   Klein stressed that “single school competition does not mean teams need be school recognized varsity programs in order to compete. Teams must strive to draw their members from one community. The goal, however far off it may be in any community, is getting a team in every school in America.  Some teams from last year were considered a club at their schools or had other varying degrees of relationships with their schools.  We’re seeing this pay off.  Heading into this year another school has moved to more fully adopt a team with full school support that has competed numerous times at nationals following this pathway.”


    The school brackets could feature returning competition from throughout the Midwest, the South and the West. Organizers are encouraged by the expectation of renewed participation from several East teams who have responded to early surveys.   “Having teams from different territories makes this tournament a National event,” noted Klein. 


   Questions regarding registration and policies should be directed to National Coaches Committee member John Waliszewski.  Venue and city information should be directed to Luke Markovich at NDC. 


    Teams may register here (click)



Tournament Host

Luke Markovich

Head Coach NDC Women’s Rugby

Lmarkovich@ndc.edu

614-584-4163


SPRING 2020 Events


Girls Midwest Championships   April 25th-26th, 2020  (info here)  @Moose Rugby Elkhart, IN

James Foley Memorial Tournament  May 2nd, 2020 @Bill Young Stadium Waukesha, WI

Girls National Tournament (schools)  May 16th-17th, 2020 @NDC  Cleveland, OH

Friday, November 22, 2019

2019 WGR All State Team


2019 Wisconsin Girls Rugby All State Team


FORWARDS


Name                                Year                     Team                                               School

Elizabeth Ausloos             Senior                 Pulaski                                             Oconto Falls HS

Georgia Barczak               Senior                 Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Evelyn Barta                     Junior                  Catholic Memorial HS

Skyler Brackob                 Senior                 Knightmares                                    Oconomowoc HS

Mary Burns                       Junior                  Catholic Memorial HS

Haley Crow*+^                Senior                 Catholic Memorial HS

Soraya Keiser                   Senior                 Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Mackenna Marinello        Senior                 Bruisers                                            Elkhorn HS

Carly Nigro                       Sophomore        Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Rachel Nitka                     Junior                  Catholic Memorial HS

Hannah Pfersch*+            Senior                 Hamilton HS

Angelina Pieters*+           Senior                 Catholic Memorial HS

Eleanor Rehmann             Junior                  Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Bekah Schmitz                 Senior                 Knightmares                                    Pewaukee HS

Sonia Spitz                       Senior                 Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Elizabeth Susek                Sophomore         Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Georgia Uselman              Senior                 MadTown Furies                 James Madison Memorial HS

Ellie Villnow                     Junior                 Panthers Rugby Club (SPASH)       Amherst HS

Maura Walsh                     Sophomore        Divine Savior Holy Angels HS



*2018 Wisconsin AST

+2017 Wisconsin AST

^2016 Wisconsin AST



2019 Wisconsin Girls Rugby All State Team


BACKS


Name                                Year                     Team                                               School

Skylar Allen                      Senior                 Knightmares                                  Pewaukee HS

Aly Cunningham*+          Junior                  Catholic Memorial HS

Laci Crow                          Sophomore        Catholic Memorial HS

Lauren Ferge                     Junior                  Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Taylor Fryda                      Senior                 Hamilton HS

Alexis Haskins*+              Senior                 Catholic Memorial HS

Katie Heinrich*+               Senior                 Knightmares                                  Oconomowoc HS

Jaclyn Jarosz*+^               Senior                 Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Libby Klich                        Junior                  Oshkosh                                         Appleton North HS

Abigail Kayser*+              Senior                 Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Valentina Medrano*+        Senior                 Catholic Memorial HS

Molly McGuire                 Senior                 Panthers Rugby Club (SPASH)     Home School                

Danielle McQuillan          Junior                  Pulaski                                             Pulaski HS

Lucy Mueller                    Senior                 Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Emme Ohnmacht              Junior                  Catholic Memorial HS

Leah Preuss                       Junior                  Bruisers                                          Brookfield Central HS

Lexi Scott                          Senior                 Pulaski                                             Pulaski HS

Grace Smith                     Senior                 Panthers Rugby Club (SPASH)      Stevens Point AHS

Nadia Trinh                       Senior                 Pulaski                                             Pulaski HS

Halle Quadracci                Junior                  Divine Savior Holy Angels HS

Bayli Wisialowski             Junior                 Oak Creek HS



*2018 Wisconsin AST

+2017 Wisconsin AST

^2016 Wisconsin AST



Wisconsin Girls Rugby 2019 League Awards



Team Sportsmanship Award:                   Madison-Oshkosh

              For their noteworthy efforts to grow girls rugby in two different parts of the state, an hour away from each other.  The two programs came together to compete in 15s every week and did so with positive energy and spirit.  Their socials were noteworthy throughout the league for their hospitality and friendliness.   





Spirit of the Game Award:                        Betsy Wendelberger

              For her efforts throughout Wisconsin to grow youth rugby.  Betsy coached Kettle Moraine to it’s highest state finish in six years and she did so without any assistant coaches.  She volunteers as an active member of the WGR Board and works with a youth rugby program each summer.



WGR League Contacts



Bruisers Rugby Club                      Neil Grintjes                     neilgrintjes@yahoo.com

Catholic Memorial HS                   John Waliszewski                 jwaliszewski@catholicmemorial.net

DSHA                                               John Klein                         chinnychinchin_2000@yahoo.com

Hamilton RFC                                 Barry Holloway               hollba@hamilton.k12.wi.us

Knightmares                                   Betsy Wendelberger              knightmaresrfc@gmail.com

MadTown Furies                           Michel Johnson               johnsonbone1@uwalumni.com

Oak Creek HS                                  Adrianne Maniscalco              amaniscalco09@gmail.com

Oshkosh, Appleton, FDL               Matt Stenerson           CoachCaveman@OshkoshYouthRugby.Org

Pulaski                                             Fran Brunette                  Gbrugger20@yahoo.com

Stevens Point                                 Carrie Diamond (GM)     cp9333@gmail.com

WI All-Stars                                     Jeff Noe                            jeff_noe_78@hotmail.com

Modern Coaching

                                         Coach Logic Co-founder Mark Cairns
“In a time of information overload the coach is no longer the fountain of knowledge but someone who can guide their players and impact positively on their behaviours. Great coaches take time to notice instead of being in the centre of it all shouting and organising. Knowledge about the game is a given but the ability to manage a range of personalities and direct them to a common goal is key. For me, two of the top contemporary coaches have to be Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.”



Monday, November 4, 2019

Girls High School Rugby Nationals: National Tournament 2020

What?    Single School HS Girls National Tournament
When?   May 16th-17th, 2020
Where?  Notre Dame College  Cleveland, Ohio
How?     Register Here (click here)
Format:  Top Tier Bracket (teams ranked 1-8)
               Second Tier Bracket (teams ranked 9-16)
              Possible JV Bracket (TBD based on interest)

Questions?   ngccrugby@gmail.com


Nov 1st, 2019                                                                                    



     The 21st Annual Girls High School Rugby National Tournament for single school programs will take place the weekend of May 16th-17th, 2020 at Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio.


     “Notre Dame College is excited to offer its facilities for the upcoming National Championship. There are incredible opportunities available for girls rugby players and we want to help showcase this, while providing a professional atmosphere for student athletes at the high school level,” added Luke Markovich, Head Women’s Coach at Notre Dame College.


     The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) women’s collegiate program will host matches on Mueller Field and Normandy Field.   NDC has hosted three Rugby Ohio State Championships in the last three years.


    NGCC schools chair John Klein noted, “Bringing the national tournament to another new location is important to the girls rugby community, especially when it helps bring in new competitors.  We are encouraged whenever rugby can help rugby at different levels and are thankful for the NIRA program at NDC for hosting all these girls teams.”


     Single School teams will compete in a quarterfinal and semifinal Saturday May 16th with final matches Sunday May 17th.  Developing programs are encouraged to compete against teams they might not normally ever compete against.  Organizers are once again planning multiple brackets of competition; an eight-team division one competition, along with an eight-team second division.  Planners are considering a JV Bracket, perhaps of 10s, pending interest.


   Klein stressed that “single school competition does not mean teams need be school recognized varsity programs in order to compete. Teams must strive to draw their members from one community. The goal, however far off it may be in any community, is getting a team in every school in America.  Some teams from last year were considered a club at their schools or had other varying degrees of relationships with their schools.  We’re seeing this pay off.  Heading into this year another school has moved to more fully adopt a team with full school support that has competed numerous times at nationals following this pathway.”


    The school brackets could feature returning competition from throughout the Midwest, the South and the West. Organizers are encouraged by the expectation of renewed participation from several East teams who have responded to early surveys.   “Having teams from different territories makes this tournament a National event,” noted Klein. 


   Questions regarding registration and policies should be directed to National Coaches Committee member John Waliszewski.  Venue and city information should be directed to Luke Markovich at NDC. 



    Teams may register here (click)





Tournament Host

Luke Markovich

Head Coach NDC Women’s Rugby

Lmarkovich@ndc.edu

614-584-4163


SPRING 2020 Events


Girls Midwest Championships   April 25th-26th, 2020  (info here)  @Moose Rugby Elkhart, IN

James Foley Memorial Tournament  May 2nd, 2020 @Bill Young Stadium Waukesha, WI

Girls National Tournament (schools)  May 16th-17th, 2020 @NDC  Cleveland, OH

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

An Open Letter to the Wisconsin Girls Rugby Community

Published in the WGR State Tournament Program 10/27/2019.  Worth publishing here as well:

An Open Letter to the Wisconsin Girls Rugby Community    

Today we gather again for the 20th time to contest for the title of Wisconsin High School Girls’ Rugby Champion.  There is a strong and steady growth in quality of play and number of players since our first State Championship.

 It is difficult to name all I have seen over the years. Showing up to the field, in the roles I play, always leaves me feeling I am a part of something bigger than myself. I can picture the many moments when I get to see a player finally understand the game and enjoy a hard fought and well played match. 

More than witnessing our growth in size and talent, what continues to impress me is how high school girls’ rugby has brought a supportive, nurturing and unique community to high school sports.  Rugby asks a lot of its players -- physicality, skill, discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship.  But, it also requires the commitment from supports off the field--volunteers coaches, referees, and parents.   When a group comes together and gives it their all in leadership, sport and play, a unique bond develops. Something special gets created every time players and fans from diverse schools and communities bond over a meal after giving it their all on the field.  

In the early years, I did not know that Wisconsin Girls Rugby would host the first National Invitational Rugby Tournament in Milwaukee in 2000 or enable young women leaders in high school to represent USA on international tours and earn college scholarships. Nor did I expect that so many of them would return to the league to coach, referee, and contribute to the game.  Today, we are statewide. Many clubs, players, fathers, mothers, referees--some with experience, some without--are here to celebrate with us today. 

My own daughter takes the field today for the second year in a row.  I could not feel more humbled knowing that this rugby community is supporting her and many other young women to succeed both on and off the field.  I now get to watch her as she forms new friendships with players from teams across the state. She carries on a rugby tradition where we can be competitors on the field and community after the match.  I have seen her gain strength and confidence with the support of her teammates and coaches.  I can only wish for all our players what I tell my own daughter: play hard, play smart, and have a good time.

Thank you to all of you who have contributed to make today possible and who continue to grow the game.  Good luck to all our teams!

Sincerely,

WRRS Referee
Former League President
Former Coach DSHA, KM, CMH, Brookfield, Wauwatosa

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

2019 WGR State Championship

Oct 27th 2019 Milwaukee County Sports Complex

9th/10th - Madison Co-Op- 72 vs Oak Creek HS - 14
7th/8th - Brookfield - 22 vs DSHA JV - 17
5th/6th - Pulaski HS - 39 vs Hamilton HS - 24
3rd/4th - Kettle Moraine - 40 vs Stevens Point Area HS - 23
1st/2nd - DSHA- 18 vs CMHS - 7 (State Championship)



State Final Box Score:
Tries:  Abby Keyser (DSHA), Haley Crow (CMHS), Jackie Jarosz (DSHA)

Conv:  Jackie Jarosz (DS), Aly Cunningham (CMH)

Field Goals: Jackie Jarosz (2)

2019 WGR Final Standings
1 DSHA
2 CMHS
3 KM
4 SPASH
5 Pulaski
6 Hamilton
7 Brookfield
8 DSHA JV
9 Madison
10 Oak Creek HS


Historical State Finals Archive:
WGR State Championships (15's, Fall)

Year                1st                                2nd                   3rd

2019                DSHA                         CMHS             Kettle Moraine
2018                DSHA                         CMHS             Hamilton HS

2017                Catholic Memorial      DSHA              Brookfield

2016                DSHA                         CMHS             Oak Creek HS
2015                Catholic Memorial      DSHA              Brookfield

2014                DSHA                         CMHS             Brookfield

2013                DSHA                         CMHS             Kettle M.

2012                DSHA                         CMHS             Kettle M.

2011                DSHA                         CMHS             Kettle M.

2010                DSHA                         Kettle M.         Brookfield

2009                DSHA                         Brookfield        Vernon

2008                DSHA                         CMHS             Vernon

2007                DSHA                         Vernon             CMHS      1st State Tourney

2006                DSHA                         Vernon

2005                DSHA                         Vernon

2004                DSHA                         Kettle Moraine

2003                DSHA                         Kettle Moraine Northshore

2002                Kettle Moraine            DSHA              Northshore

2001                DSHA                         Northshore       Kettle Moraine

2000                DSHA                         Kettle Moraine