MW Championship Lures Top Talent
A big weekend awaits in girls high school rugby, as the Midwest Championship is poised to play out in Elkhart, Ind. Division I will bring some of the region’s best teams together, while Division II allows up-and-coming teams to share in the competitive weekend.
Leading the DI field are perennial finalists Divine Savior Holy Angels and Catholic Memorial from Wisconsin. The Dashers have played a couple of warm-up matches, downing Plainfield (Ill.) and Brookfield (Wis.) in their traditionally dominating fashion. DSHA is ranked #2 in the nation, and watch for senior standouts like center Maggie Brennan and prop Taylor Bragg-Brock (who recently signed with Lindenwood for fall 2015) to lead the way to the title bout.
Plainfield Poised for an Upset?
The girls high school Midwest Championship occurs this weekend in Elkhart, Ind., and a great cast of teams comprise Division I. The field is led by Wisconsin’s Divine Savior Holy Angels and Catholic Memorial, both of whom will be challenged by a host of state champions.
Midwest Youth Girls V.P. John Waliszewski, who is also Catholic Memorial’s coach, predicted that some upsets were in store, and Illinois’ Plainfield is making a good case for itself. The Thundercats played both of the Wisconsin heavyweights last week, and performed well.
First up, perennial Midwest champion Divine Savior Holy Angels. Through 55 minutes of a 60-minute match, Plainfield held the Dashers to a 14-point lead.
Orem's Reign Continues
The Lady Stallions celebrated an unforgettable 2014. In its debut season in the Utah girls high school league, Orem edged perennial powerhouse Vipers for the state title. The team followed with a state 7s title in the fall, and only good things awaited for the Lady Stallions is 2015. But Lady Stallions coach Jeremiah Tiatia had no idea that the league would unfold the way it has.
“This year’s been different,” Tiatia said. “I had no idea our defense was so good; we haven’t had anyone score on us this year. I don’t know what’s different in this year from last year, but it must be the experience gained.”
Grant's A'au Sisters, A Legacy in the Making
It was 2012, and Sui A’au was finally joining her older sister in high school. Naomi was a junior at Jefferson High School (Ore.), her little sister a freshman, and they decided to make their two years together special.
“We both wanted to be a part of something together before my sister graduated,” Sui remembered. “Our goal was to spend as much time together as possible. We spent two weeks thinking, and since we’re both active, we decided on sports. We asked around and heard about a community club rugby team, the Grant Generals.”
Valkyries Beat League Leader
Last weekend was an important one in Pennsylvania. Four of the top four high schools competed, and the results helped sort the upper tier of division I. The Valkyries (North Penn) defeated North Bay 36-17, and Downingtown beat State College 26-17.
Armstrong Freshmen Determine Height of Success
On the one hand, Armstrong looked the same. The Minnesota powerhouse opened up its high school season last week with a 109-0 win over Rogers. But the reigning state champ looked different, too, as the 25-player team included 10 freshmen.
“This year’s team has a very interesting mix of young athleticism,” Armstrong coach Jimmy Hanson said of his biggest freshmen class to date. “Beyond being the largest, it’s also the most athletic, with a lot of multi-sport athletes.”
An Exciting PA Season Awaits
There’s a lot of finger-pointing within the Pennsylvania girls high school league – the good kind. When North Bay beat both Downingtown (19-12) and Doylestown (51-10), coach Scott Hoffman was humble in victory and pointed toward North Penn as a potential state powerhouse. Valkyries coach Jesse Richter confirmed that 2015 could be a special year, but also suggested looking at State College as a contender. Bernie Cantorna is coaching a young, athletic State College and hesitated emphasizing his team’s 12-5 win over North Penn, and recommended Joe Capp’s Penn Legacy (formerly Hempfield) as the dark horse for the season.
Kent Patient in the Rebuild
Why is Kent well known? The Crusaders have won the last 15 Washington state championships, competed in five national title games, and continue to send alumni to national teams and scholarship-awarding colleges. Some of the program’s most impressive accomplishments aren’t acknowledged by awards, but they are nonetheless noteworthy.
Kent is in the process of replenishing its depth, a process that has been at work the previous two years. In 2013, when Kent finished second in the nation, 15 of 21 players were rookies; in 2014, 18 of 26 were first-years. 2015 has shaped up similarly, as the 38-player roster is composed of 28 rookies.
2015: A 10th Title for North Central?
Suzi Dillon did something that she never thought she’d have to consider: The North Central head coach held tryouts for this year’s varsity and JV sides. The nine-time Indiana state champion has claimed the previous six titles, and the lure of wearing the Panther jersey is being reflected in surging participation numbers. Those numbers will continue to swell, as the township has just launched a middle school rugby program.
Hellander Scores Four for Morris
Morris surprised itself in its 52-5 win over the Play Rugby Academy during the teams’ first league match of the season. The New Jersey side had expected the New York City-based team to be its toughest competition - especially since the teams' last meeting in a 5-0 win to Morris - but the home side proved well prepared.
Mustangs Run Away With Vipers Win
If you thought the Utah girls high school race was a two-team event, then think again. A week after lauding the Vipers’ results, Herriman has stepped into the spotlight. Trailing at the half, the Mustangs posted 34 unanswered points in the second half to defeat the Vipers 51-21 on Saturday.
“You don't get much more exciting rugby than when Herriman plays the Vipers,” Herriman coach Joe Hoff enthused. “One of the things that makes the matchup compelling is the stylistic differences. Vipers like to get fast ball out to the punishing runners they have at wing and center. Herriman goes for more of a control approach for winning set pieces and phase play dominated by the forwards.”
Girls High School Top 20 - March 26, 2015
There was some shaking-up in the Girls High School Top 20, and Danville is at the epicenter of it all. The Lady Oaks have been getting better every week, and the NorCal team is going to be the one to watch at nationals this year.
Morris, Berkshire Girls Play for Cause
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The Morris Rugby Girls HS team out of New Jersey and Berkshire, Mass. girls made this past weekend's preseason match a community event in NJ.
Together they supported the Drive For Autism and the Lions Club of New Providence - NJ by attending a Pancake Breakfast before the game.
All-Stars Buoy Morris in Strong Start
Morris' season began in friendly fashion. Berkshire United drove south from Massachusetts and enjoyed a pre-game pancake breakfast with the home club, raising $1,000 for a local autism group. But once the whistle blew, it was all business, and Morris banked a 71-5 win over last year’s national championship host.
Camaraderie Focus of Rainier Spring Fling
The Rainier Plateau rugby program is hosting a rugby festival in East Bonney Lake, Wash., and it's an interesting format in that the purpose isn't to crown a winner, but just to enjoy the game.
The festival is for girls teams and is modeled after events that tournament organizer Andy Ramsay has seen in Canada.
"There are no finals, no winners or medals," said Ramsay. "It's more a celebration of being part of girls youth rugby and relaxing from wins and losses and having a good time."
Teams that have signed up so far:
Kent (Wash.)
Rainier (Wash.)
Shelton (Wash.)
Valley Panthers (Ore.)
Beaverton Barbarians (Ore.)
Shawnigan Lake School (BC)
