One of the Toughest D1AA Conferences: Heart of America
One of the Toughest D1AA Conferences: Heart of America
The Heart of America Conference kicks off with Iowa State at Iowa on Friday, but there’s plenty more to come.
Defending champs Iowa State return a substantial part of the squad that made the CRAA final this past spring. The Cyclones weren’t happy about their performance in that final—that’s an understatement; they were gutted. It was not their best game and U. San Diego took them apart. So ISU has a plan to get back there and put that memory to rest.
The Cyclones graduated just five players from last year’s roster, and of those only three were regularly on the A side. In that final against USD they lost Alex Geisert to an injury early, which derailed Iowa State cause a bit. The big, powerful lock and main carrier is back for another year. So are CRAA D1AA All Americans Ian Klein, Justin Johnson, Ryan Snide, and Zach English.
So Iowa State should expect to be as good as last year, perhaps better, but they also have that extra motivation which will guard against any complacency that could creep in.
Kansas seems nicely set to have a solid year. The Jayhawks enjoyed a successful tour of Australia in May and they have somewhat opened their eyes to how valuable that is. So next week they will be hosting members of Souths Rugby in Adelaide, Australia. Those tourists, whose men and women are coming to Lawrence, Kans. as a direct result of the Jayhawks’ tour of Australia, will play and train with the Kansas played, capping it off with a game on September 14.
Kansas also opened their season with a game against Lindenwood’s 2nds, losing a lightning-shortened game 31-3. It was a very useful hit-out for the Jayhawks. Led by captain and All-American wing Jonah Dolphino, Kansas has embraced testing themselves.
Iowa is one of the most improved teams in D1AA over the last few years and much of that is thanks to the energy of Head Coach Tyler Dailey. Six all-conference players come back for the Hawkeyes and this weekend’s meeting with Iowa State will be an excellent early-season test … but not a final example.
Missouri is a powerful, physical team that is never easy to play; Minnesota has some important continuity led by skipper Connor Slette and they have a solid forward pack.
Kansas State was a top four team and they have very close to the same lineup this year. They return about 11 regular starters and that continuity will be crucial as they welcome new Head Coach Weston Loder, KSU Class of ’17. A smart, dedicated rugby man, Loder should be in good shape to challenge again.
This is a hugely competitive conference, and could well be labeled one of the best in D1AA around the nation. Every team is good. Teams we haven’t yet mentioned— Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Truman State, and Arkansas—can all play. All are actually improving. Arkansas perhaps is best poised to break into that top four, but you never know. The Razorbacks return a huge percentage of their starting lineup, but, as you see from above, so do others. So it’s about those players coming back and finding improvement in their game, as well.
Longtime Head Coach Warren Fyfe knows how to achieve that.
That’s a little look at the Heart of America. This is a hugely competitive conference. While it was fairly clear who were the stronger teams, there were no more than one or two big blowouts in this league. Losing teams score tries. Winning teams have to work for it. Our feeling, at first glance, is that winning teams will have to work a little bit harder this year.