The Midwest women’s age-grade select sides, the Thunderbirds, are right in the middle of a trip to the Canadian prairie.

The Thunderbirds U20s defeated Manitoba U18s 67-0 and Saskatchewan U18s 41-0 in shortened games on Saturday. The U23s will face the Prairie National Women’s League team later on Saturday. Then they do it all over again on Sunday.

Leading the way for the Thunderbird U20s was captain Stephenie Snoeberger of Wright State, and Northern Iowa center Angie McCardle.
McCardle’s coach at UNI, Steve Murra, is heading up the coaching staff and was quick to point out that Roger Riley, a Kiwi now coaching at Winona State, did “90 percent of the work” in organizing the team.

After a brief assembly in Minneapolis, the team took the bus to Brandon, Manitoba, where the mosquitos, so it’s told, are the size of B52s. The team has handled that well so far and the U20s showcased some impressive ball handling and all-position skills.

“We want to put these players in position to play international rugby, and since we struggle to beat Canada, let’s go to Canada,” said Murra. “It’s a good test for them. I think the Manitoba and Saskatchewan teams are younger than us, so that’s a test for them, but our U23s will have their hands full with Prairie.”

Midwest U23 Roster
Stephanie Bowers Scioto Valley Women’s Rugby Football Club
Talia Carasquillo University of Northern Iowa
Haley Katz Palmer College of Chiropractic
Dalena Khothsombath U of Minnesota
Nadia Nassif Winona State University
Crystal Nye University of Northern Iowa
Kanke Tongrit-Green Minnesota State University Mankato
Maggie Armstrong University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Naomi Ayodele U of Illinois
Patsy Ford Notre Dame College
Grace Hovde Wisconsin Women’s Rugby Football Club
Mel Janss University of Northern Iowa
Kristen Kaderabek University of Wisconsin LaCrosse
Kate Kloster St. Louis Sabres
Jade Koenigs University Wisconsin Madison
Hannah Long Notre Dame College
Alycia Washington Scioto Valley Women’s Rugby Football Club
Charli Jacoby Chicago Women’s Rugby Football Club
Mary Jo Reddy Ohio State University

Midwest U20 Roster
Rachel Aufdembrink U of Minnesota
Lindsey Bucki Winona State University
Jessica Dumbrowski University of Illinois State
Anisa Feto Oak Creek
Brittany Kapsalis Notre Dame College
Ileen Lieb University of Northern Iowa
Jacki Linberg Winona State University
Cynthia Stevenson Dayton Area Women’s Rugby Club
Lanoria Duhart Winona State University
Olivia Frye University of Northern Iowa
Missy Hargadine Mankato State University
Angie McCardle Unversity of Northern Iowa
Joanna Mcelroy Mankato State University
Megan Salyars University of Northern Iowa
Stephanie Snoeberger Wright State
Bri Towers University of Northern Iowa
Ripley Klemm UW- Whitewater
Rachel Ehrecke Valley High School Des Moines, IA
Kate Campbell Mankato State University