Girls Nationals Crowns DSHA, Orchard Park
Girls Nationals Crowns DSHA, Orchard Park
Divine Savor Holy Angels of Milwaukee, Wisc. defeated Colorado's Summit HS 15-5 to win the 2022 Girls HS National Championships Sunday at Notre Dame College in the Cleveland area.
This was the second-straight title for DSHA, as they won in 2019 and the tournament was not held due to the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021. This is the 9th championship overall for the Milwaukee school.
DSHA powered down to the Summit line early in the game and used their powerful forwards to crash over. Two breaks by the backs made it 15-0 and the rout seemed on.
However, Summit rebounded and took control of the ball for much of the rest of the first half. Summit camped out in the DSHA 22 but didn't seem to have an answer for Divine Savior's defense around the ruck. With DSHA controlling the point of contact with their forwards, they were able to free up their outside defenders to stymie the Summit backs.
As a result the teams entered halftime at 15-0. Much of the second half was again DSHA defending Summit's attack. The Colorado team did finally get over, but only once and Divine Savior held on to win.
Meanwhile, Eagle HS showed well in finishing 3rd, shutting out Catholic Memorial 33-0 in the 3rd-4th game. Eagle went 1-1 on Day One, beating Columbia Central 57-5 and losing 19-7 to DSHA—essentially the same score that Summit logged vs the champions.
Led by center Kaitlyn Walker and Hailey Revel-Whitaker always dangerous in the backs and with prop Olivia Woods a powerful presence up from, as was her sister Reece at No. 8, Eagle followed up on their undefeated Idaho fall season with an impressive showing this weekend.
In the D2 bracket, Orchard Park beat St. Joe's and Watkins on Day One and handled Ohio-based Highland to take the title on Sunday. It was an impressive showing for the Buffalo-area side that started their preseason training with only eight players. Orchard Park's open, adventurous style saw them produce plenty of points, and it was all, said Coach Lisa Huff-Henrich, about having fun while playing.
Notre Dame College hosted the tournament with The Rugby Network showing the games and Major League Rugby, through their deal with USA Youth & HS Rugby, providing sponsorship.
The first day was interrupted by lightning, but it turned into a massive bonding fest as the teams huddled in NDC's buildings. The Orchard Park players started playing a game that eventually drew all of the players in, producing a nice moment where opponents were suddenly teammates as they waiting for the lightning to clear.
