GRR: HS Girls
The holidays are that much cheerier for Maryville, which won the girls Tennessee State 7s Championship earlier this month. Even more impressive than its third 7s title is the fact that the team doesn’t even start playing 7s until the conference playoffs – a feat that suggests the Maryville program is churning out some superb rugby players.
Sound like a holiday tale? Not quite, but 2014 has been a magical one for the Oregon girls team. The Grackles – a combination side composed of Grant, Reynolds and Clackamas 15s players – won the state summer 7s championship in its debut year, and then followed with a High School Girls Fall 7s championship this November.
The idea that coaches and sports help young people out of difficult circumstances is a strong one, a good and demonstrably true adage, but that doesn’t mean the journey upward is easy.
Billy Nicholas has been busy. He took over Lindenwood University’s varsity women’s program in August and coached the DI team to an Illinois conference title, before making an appearance in the fall Round of 16.
Fourteen forwards and 13 backs were named to the Wisconsin Girls High School's 2014 All-State team. State champion Divine Savior Holy Angels has 11 players named to the list, with four (all seniors) making repeat appearances on the all-state team. State runner-up Catholic Memorial sent six representatives to the state squad, with five of six players being juniors.