Iowa Impresses in First All Star Tourney
Iowa Impresses in First All Star Tourney
Kelsie McDowell has enjoyed an exciting 2015 thus far. First, the Southeast Polk girls high school coach was named head coach of Simpson College’s first women’s rugby program. Second, Simpson College qualified for the NSCRO 7s national championship last May and represented the region in West Point, N.Y. And then last Saturday, the Northern Iowa alum took the state’s first-ever girls high school select side to the Midwest All Star 7s Invitational in Madison, Wisc., where it finished 2-2 against teams from Wisconsin and Minnesota. The competition marked the first out-of-state and spring assembly for the girls.
“Iowa had a great showing,” McDowell enthused. “To me, really validating our league’s talent was super important. The girls finally got some exposure to upper-level play, and they killed it.”
Iowa league MVP Sarah Niswander had to withdrawal from the competition last minute, and her absence bred some apprehension. Those nerves showed themselves in the first game against Wisconsin Red, which ended 29-19 to the host.
“The girls were super nervous for that game, not knowing how they would stack up,” McDowell said. “After a couple of hiccups, it was a close game, and they were excited for the next game.”
Iowa captain Kassi Shultice did an excellent job solidifying the team, while players like Iowa state MVP Josline "Juice" Osman and Hannah Fultz led the way with tries scored. Shannon Werts was also integral, especially in Iowa’s second game against Wisconsin White. She finished the day 9/15 on conversions, having never kicked a dropkick before the tournament, and her boot enabled the 26-22 win in round two.
Iowa was 1-1 heading into Round 3, where the Minnesota Tundra awaited.
“After watching Minnesota beat up on teams all day, I knew the girls would really have to come together,” McDowell said. “Under the leadership of Kassi Shultice at captain, we were the only team to beat Minnesota in the tournament, 29-22. Kassi scored a hat trick.”
It was a huge triumph for Iowa, but the team had emptied its reserves in that victory. It came down to kicks in game four against Wisconsin White, but this time, it went the other way for the 26-22 loss. Iowa finished 2-2.
“The biggest eye-opening moment for the girls was knowing that they can compete with the other programs around the Midwest; they were very nervous about getting blown out,” McDowell said. “The girls really did hold their own. They looked just as experienced and controlled as the other teams there.”
Nearly as important, the Iowa all-stars connected with their Midwest counterparts, and bonded especially with the Tundra players.
“As we walked back to the cars [to go home], every player was asking if we could come back next year,” McDowell said. “It was an extremely positive experience.”
Stay tuned for more information from the tournament as a whole, including the all-tournament team and director commentary.
Iowa Girls All Star 7s Team
Head Coach: Kelsie McDowell
Martha Arbaiat
Kendra Clark
Macie Codina
Grace Estes
Hannah Fultz
Hannah King
Josline Osman
Isabelle Pierotti
Makenzie Pyles
Kassi Shultice
Shannon Werts
Avery Wolfkill
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