In 2013 the Virginia Girls All-Stars scored a total of 17 points at the Rugby Challenge Cup in Pittsburgh; after graduating some top-notch players, Virginia might have been forgiven for thinking things would be worse this year.

But thanks to a dedicated preparation schedule and hard work from players and coaches that fed a new attitude, Virginia not only improved, they won the entire tournament, defeating Empire/New Jersey 6-0 in the final thanks to two Madison Pennell (West Springfield) penalty kicks.

But it was all more than Pennell kicking goals.

"I knew all-stars was coming and that the team had struggled in the last couple of years," said Matt Estes, who took over the team this year. "We held three practices for evaluations, one more practice for a final evaluation, and then we had seven practices to get ready. So I put it on the girls. I told them, that to be successful we had to put the work in, and that meant practicing more than you normally do for your club or on your own. Everyone bought in."

Returning players did not want to lose games again, and Estes said that attitude crept through the squad.

"The attitude came from the players, but what I said that kind of distilled it was, 'you guys are good enough to win,'" explained Estes. "We're going to All-Stars, so we're going up there to win."

Privately most coaches and players just wanted to win more than they lost, and things did look tough in the opening game, where Virginia held off New York West 19-7.

"Against New York West it was challenging, and we squandered a couple of opportunities to score, but overall they played well," said Estes. "We won the breakdown and scrums and they showed the commitment level we needed."

They kept winning, kept sticking to the game plan, and suddenly found themselves in the final, where they edged Empire/New Jersey.

Along the way they surpassed Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, all states with very strong pedigrees in girls HS rugby.

"During our practices we kept getting better," said Estes. "Fitness was a concern so we built a fitness component into it. And in the tournament we kept it up."

No. 8 Elizabeth Wilson (West End) was the tournament MVP and, said Estes, "played absolutely out of her mind."

Scrumhalf Abbie Tobias (West End) was also instrumental, while lock Dana Briosos (Fort Hunt) gave the team go-forward all weekend. One newcomer turned heads in the guise of Jadazha Brown. A freshman wing from Heritage HS in Virginia, Brown had been playing rugby for only four months when she made the all-state team.

"She made the team on athleticism and guts and made several try-saving tackles for us," enthused Estes.

And one more key to the Virginia effort was an all-in approach. Estes, coach of state champs West End, didn't want players to think he favored kids from his club, and among the things he did was encourage players to leave the club-specific practice gear at home. They weren't from any one club anymore, they were Virginia.

And they were champions.

(Photo below, freshman phenom Jadazha Brown yes to hold the trophy and a very large rugby ball.)