As Rugby Colorado enters its second league weekend, a rematch of last year’s girls high school championship is ready to unfold. 2013 finalist Fort Collins may not be the second-best this year, as the team lost 27-10 to Northside (2-0) last weekend, but Summit has made an early, convincing case that it’s building to another state championship.

Last weekend, the Tigers bettered Regis Jesuit 65-7 in its home opener. The upperclassmen led the way on the scoreboard, as seniors Luda Kosmowski (2), Trish Stasiowski and Rachel Fitch, and junior Meg Rose all scored tries. Junior fullback Ally Pothier nailed seven conversions and was named Player of the Match. Freshman Cassidy Bargell (2) and sophomore Marin Pennell represented the underclassmen well with their three combined tries.

The JV team was successful, too, defeating first-year team Palmer (Colorado Springs) 50-5. The junior squad saw many players compete in their first-ever game. Stephany Serrano and freshman flanker Kassidy Pothier each scored 10 points – two tries for Serrano and five conversions for Pothier. Kassidy, younger sister of Ally, did the family name proud and also earned Player of the Match.

“We graduated some good players, but I think we’re pretty strong this year,” Summit coach Karl Barth said. “It’s a mix of players. We have some standouts from the High School All American game and China [Youth Olympic Games] along with those who were biding their time behind the Lily Weldons and Taylor Bohlenders. We have fewer superstars, but good role players and some developmental players. We’re very solid, just not as splashy.”

Two of Summit’s stars include Saturday try-scorer and front row Rachel Fitch, who not only competed in the Stars & Stripes game but was also named to the 15-member HSAA team; and Becca Jane Rosko, who is unfortunately injured right now, but played with APEX in Seattle, Tiger Cubs at the Cancun 7s, and the USA at the Youth Olympic Games in China this August.

Summit has always placed its players on national age grade teams, so the concept of high schoolers traveling across the world to play rugby isn’t as novel as it might be at other developing programs in the U.S. And with Barth running APEX, which won the 7s Serevi Cup in Seattle this August, the Tigers have access to one of the higher profile, more consistent all-star teams.

But even for those players who don’t take advantage of the traveling teams, Barth diversifies their experiences with in-season trips. This fall, the Tigers will be heading to Kansas City to play Jimmy Hanson’s Armstrong (Minn.) side in 15s. The two squads will then break up into 7s teams and play a tournament against the host, St. Louis and possibly a side from Oklahoma during the weekend.

“It’s a fun road trip for the kids, and it helps set up rugby in Kansas City,” Barth said.

State titles, rugby tours, age-grad stars – all of those highlights aren’t really affecting Summit’s numbers. Barth indicated that he routinely carries about 50 players. What is changing, however, are the post-high school prospects, and that is changing the way players think.

“The college situation is a little different,” Barth said of the evolving landscape, particularly scholarship availability. “Now that there’s more opportunity in college, they’re thinking about where they can play,” in concert with finding the right school. Summit now has several alumni who have landed rugby scholarships, including Hailey Wyatt and Lily Weldon at Quinnipiac, and Taylor Bohlender at Lindenwood.

But for now, the focus is another Colorado State Championship, and the Tigers are well on their way. After that, watch as Summit’s players pepper select side rosters’ around the country, and maybe sign onto the burgeoning list of college varsity programs.