After a Fall spent rebuilding the team’s competitive edge and a busy winter of fitness, the Wisconsin Women used a dominating spring season to sweep their way to the 2015 Midwest Championship this past weekend. The team has also qualified for the USA Rugby national tournament for the first time since 2001.

Here’s a quick recap of how this awesome Championship came together …

LOOKING BACK: FALL 2014 & SPRING 2015 RECAP

Looking back just one year ago, eventual 2014 National Champion Pittsburgh edged Wisconsin, 20-15, in an heartbreaking loss in the Midwest Division 2 Championship title match. The score stood as the closest any team in the nation turned in against the Pittsburgh Angels in their undefeated run. Wisconsin would lose several starters to retirements and moves, facing a new Fall season of much-needed rebuilding.

Despite the roster losses, Wisconsin returned strong talent across the board and several players who were eager to step into more playing time at newly-vacated positions. The team would complete the Fall season with four wins against D2 league opponents, and two frustrating losses, to rest for winter sitting in second place behind their undefeated rivals, the Milwaukee Scylla.

A busy winter of indoor practices and dedicated fitness efforts would turn into strong building blocks for the young team this spring however. Eager to test themselves against new opponents, the Wisconsin Women traveled east to the DC Ruggerfest Tournament in March. Competing in the open division, the women in red surprised themselves with their day one success as they swept pool play with three victories against fellow Division 2 teams. Wisconsin defeated the Maryland Stingers, 49-0; the DC Furies D2 Women, 54-0; and the Buffalo Women, 45-0. Despite bringing a roster with a majority of forwards, Wisconsin advanced to the tournament final to face the DC Furies Old Girls. With a large roster of alumni, including several Women’s Premiere League and USA Eagles Alumni, the match proved to be a daunting effort for the WWRFC and they fell short, 29-19. Although second place was disappointing, the team played extremely well for early spring and kept up a rally throughout the match that truly tested the Old Girls’ large talent pool.

Returning home, Wisconsin opened up its spring season April 4 with a friendly developmental match with a small roster against the Division 1 Chicago Women, narrowly dropping a 24-22 loss on the road.

Turning to league play on April 11, Wisconsin had waited for a rematch with the Scylla since October, after losing just 23-22 at Milwaukee in September. The physical match saw Wisconsin barrage its rivals in the loose play and break through the defense to win 52-24. The victory also ended the Scylla’s undefeated league run in the regular season. The Scylla’s four tries allowed them to just squeak past Wisconsin in the overall league standings however, earning one bonus point in the super league points, to maintain first place overall.

Wisconsin’s Developmental players earned a lopsided 55-10 friendly victory against the Division 2 Chicago Sirens on May 18, giving the WWRFC a glimpse at the likely competitive level of what awaited them in May’s league playoff crossover match. The Sirens would finish second overall in their Midwestern league behind likely-playoff opponent, the Will County Morrigans.

At the end of the month, Wisconsin hosted the Minneapolis Menagerie on April 25 to wrap up the league regular season. After earning a strong 50-10 victory in Minnesota in October, Wisconsin faced a much-improved and scrappy Menagerie side that afternoon. After a slow start and fighting through less stringent referee calls, Wisconsin earned a 34-0 shutout to complete their Midwest regular season at 6-2 overall and in second place behind the Scylla.

2015 SPRING MIDWEST PLAYOFFS

As the second-place team in the West 2 league (states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa), Wisconsin traveled to play the first-place Will County Morrigans of the West 1 league (Illinois and Indiana) on Saturday, May 9 in Manhattan, Illinois. The Morrigans had cruised through their league undefeated and also provided a very difficult environment for the visiting team with a loud and harassing fan base. The weather also provided both teams with humid conditions on a narrow damp field that was less than ideal, covered in tall, seeding dandelions.

The match’s start was physical and quick, with both teams clashing and earning penalties. The Morrigans earned the first try and the sideline was quick to punish Wisconsin with mentally-taxing screaming and verbal assaults against specific players. The WWRFC buckled down (physically and mentally) though as the forwards pounded in two tries and put points on the board. As the match progressed, Wisconsin began to pick apart the Morrigan’s attack as the home team’s fitness suffered against the fitter visitors. The sideline volume grew noticeably quieter as Wisconsin eventally ran up an unanswered 41 points against the Morrigans’ initial 7 to take the playoff win. The victory also qualified Wisconsin for its fourth-straight appearance at the Division 2 Midwest Championships.

Wisconsin would again face the Milwaukee Scylla, who had earned their own lopsided 72-0 playoff win against the Chicago Sirens in a crossover match.

2015 MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS

Just one week later, the women in red traveled south again to Lemont, Illinois on Saturday, May 16 to face even more humid weather and their long-time rivals. Thankfully, a great sideline was there to bolster Wisconsin as their brother team, the Wisconsin Rugby Club, family, alumni, and friends were all there cheering. The WRC would play for their own championship later that afternoon. [Spoiler alert – they won too!]

Never strangers to each others’ styles, Wisconsin and Milwaukee began slowly and physically in the humidity and soggy fields. The Scylla, unable to score tries, jumped on the scoreboard first with a penalty kick before Wisconsin flanker Kris Peterson scored her first try. The Scylla again notched a PK to retake the lead, 6-5, but after that, the sky opened up with much-needed rainstorm and Wisconsin opened up the field to roll to a 37-11 semifinal victory. The Scylla’s lone try was scored in the closing minutes as the heat and humidity returned to tax the teams.

In the other semifinal match, the undefeated Cincinnati Kelts shut out the Buffalo Women, 39-0, and would stand in the way of Wisconsin’s championship hopes.

Sunday morning, Wisconsin was refocused and renewed in coming out fast and strong against a Kelts team that was known for its swift and gifted backline. With thoughts of coming so close in 2014 clearly on the minds of several players, nerves were high. But it would prove to finally be Wisconsin’s day.

From the first kickoff, Wisconsin looked like a new team for the weekend jumping out to batter the Kelts across the field in all aspects of the match. Jumping out to a quick three-try lead before the Kelts finally scored, Wisconsin held a 31-10 lead at halftime. But the Kelts kept up their backline attack and tried to find cracks in the Wisconsin defense heading into the second half. Nerves remained high across the Wisconsin roster as time began to tick down in the red team’s favor and they built a 43-17 lead with the minutes dropping into single digits. Not quite believing the end of game whistle, the team that was supposed to be “rebuilding” was now jumping for joy as the 2015 Midwest Champions. Additionally, Wisconsin qualified to play in the USA Rugby East Regionals in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 30-31.

Sunday’s championship match also represented the first match in the national round of 16, so Wisconsin’s victory ensured a spot as one of the last eight teams in the nation (out of 85 total D2 women’s teams) still playing for a national title.

Registration is now open for the annual Stuart Daily Memorial 10s Rugby Tournament at the Wisconsin Rugby Club Sports Complex.

Due to the addition of the new Madtown 7s in June, this year’s Memorial tournament will offer 10s games for women, instead of the more recent years playing 7s.

Women’s teams can register for $200 until the week of the tournament. Please email ww_rfc@yahoo.com with any questions.

If you believe in rugby gods, then they surely were looking over the Wisconsin Women on Saturday.

After suffering a last-second 12-11 loss to the Milwaukee Scylla last Saturday, Wisconsin earned the #2 spot in the Central League standings and traveled northwest to Minnesota to play the Northern League’s #1, the Twin Cities Amazons.

The home team opened up scoring first taking a 7-0 lead. Wisconsin answered back with a try by flanker Meghan Blodgett, coverted by hooker Elisa Becker, to even it at 7-7. The Zons took advantage of a lethargic first half for Wisconsin knocking in two more tries to build their lead to 19-7 before Wisconsin got on the board one more time with a try by prop Melissa “Helga” Pohleber (conversion missed) to notch 19-12. Prior to the half, the Amazons broke through Wisconsin’s defense a fourth time to enter the break at 24-12.

It was the tale of two halves however, as Wisconsin rallied back from it’s subpar first half to dominate play in the second half, with two more tries by Meaghan White and Mary Hanks, respectively. Weather conditions made kicking difficult and Wisconsin failed to convert on their scores, but shut down the Amazon attack successfully, allowing just a single penalty kick as time wound down.

Down 27-22 with no time left on the clock, Wisconsin’s outside center Nicole Helmer received a pass weakside from flyhalf Meaghan White to race in and score a try in the corner to tie the match.

The Assistant Referee signaled the try and the Wisconsin sideline exploded with cheers, however the Head Referee signaled a forward pass call to pull back the play, then immediately signaled the end of game. Many questioned the call (among others throughout the game), but the 27-22 result stood and Wisconsin’s season was done prematurely.

… Or was it?

Wisconsin’s long ride home and Sunday recovery saw a team distraught and angry at Saturday’s final play and the overall result of the last two game’s losses both in the final seconds. Coach Bob Jafferis credited the team for putting together one of the best comebacks he had seen in 30-some years of playing and coaching rugby. Amidst the mourning, plans were hatched for the off-season and how the team could rally back in 2013.

Monday proved a fateful day for the team however, as Wisconsin team captain Nadia Riese notified her teammates that – despite the loss – Wisconsin had qualified to the 2012 D2 Women’s Midwest Championships after all. Citing injuries and low roster numbers, the Amazons had forfeited the win to Wisconsin and could not travel to the Midwest tournament in two weekends. The official score would be recorded as 28-0 win for Wisconsin.

Further proof of the rugby gods favoring Wisconsin? They’ll play the Pittsburgh Angels in the first match of the tournament, earning a shot at revenge for the 2011 Midwest Championship final loss played in the snow and mud in Pittsburgh. The winners of this match will play the winner of the Milwaukee Scylla – Scioto Valley semifinal.

More details posted soon.

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Wisconsin rolled to an dominating 127-0 victory against the visiting Chicago Sirens in front of a large home crowd Saturday.

Welcoming alumni and the club’s little sister team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin saw eight different players score tries during the match and three players notch conversions.

Outside center Kelly Mullen lead the team with six tries for 30 points during the match, followed by wing Emi Frerichs with four tries. Hooker Elisa Becker converted on eight of nine kicks to score 16 points in the first half, while teammates Mary Hanks and Liz Robinson handled the conversions in the second half of the match.

The team followed the match with a friendly b-side scrimmage with the UW team and celebrated the day’s victory with a joint social with its fellow victorious brother teams from the Wisconsin Rugby Club.

Just an all-around fun autumn day for Wisconsin Rugby in Madison. The team improves to 2-0 in league play and 3-0-1 overall this season. Wisconsin’s 127 points takes the mark as the largest amount of points scored in Midwest D-2 Western league play, knocking down the Twin Cities Amazons 122 and Palmer’s 111, both scored against the St. Cloud Sirens.

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Wisconsin Women – 127
Chicago Sirens – 0

Wisconsin Tries – Jessica Burda, Emi Frerichs (4), Shoshana Griffith, Mary Hanks (3), Kelly Mullen (6), Melissa Pohleber, Amanda Stoltz, Meaghan White (2).

Wisconsin Conversions – 16 of 19 total; Elisa Becker, 8 of 9; Mary Hanks, 1 of 2; Liz Robinson, 7 of 8.

Wisconsin Lineup:
1.  Nadia Riese
2.  Elisa Becker
3. Molly Overby
4. Melissa Polheber
5. Steph Maule
6. Mary Hanks
7. Sarah Whaley
8. Kelly Clerkin
9. Rebecca Stillman
10. Meg White
11. Jane Sachs
12. Nicole Helmer
13. Kelly Mullen
14. Emily Frerichs
15. Shoshana Griffith
16. Dana Gordon
17. Corinna Senn
18. Jessica Burda
19. Samantha Clevenger
20. Emily Mastandrea
21. Liz Robinson
22. Amanda Stoltz
23. Michelle Blaser

B-Side with UW
Ericka Becker
Meg Dickoff
Jenny Pederson
Jess Winkler

The Wisconsin Women kicked off 2012 rugby action with five victories to claim the 2012 Whiskey 10s crown this past Saturday in Chicago.

Sporting new beautiful red uniforms with a shout out to our awesome sponsor Wilson’s Bar & Grill, Wisconsin knocked out three wins in pool play including defeats of the Division I Chicago Women and 2011 National Champion Division 1 Chicago North Shore.

In a twist for the day, Wisconsin next beat its little sister team, the University of Wisconsin Women, to advance to the title game. Tired from the first day of real rugby in a few months, the women in red rallied late against an Illinois mixed side team called the Bandits. Tied up 7-7, Wisconsin veteran Nicole Helmer dotted down a late try in the corner for the game – and tournament – winner.

More details and photos will be added once available.

Tournament Team
Elisa Becker
Kelly Clerkin
Sammy Clevenger
Emi Frerichs
Kelly Mullen
Laura Hanks
Mary Hanks
Nicole Helmer
Lily Khadempour
Jenny Pederson
Liz Robinson
Jane Sachs
Katie Schott
Maggie Smith
Rebecca Stillman
Sarah Whaley

The Wisconsin Women brought a full squad to Milwaukee’s Lakefront 7s Rugby Tournament, Saturday, July 9, to finish second overall in the Competitive Women’s bracket.

Wrapping up the day overall with four wins and one loss, Wisconsin was pleased with the day’s rugby and the veteran roster welcomed new teammates Kayla Soliday, Shoshana Griffith and Rebecca Stillman to the WWRFC.

In pool play, Wisconsin opened the day with a tight 10-5 victory over Chicago North Shore (D1). They swept the rest of their pool with a crushing five-try shutout against the Rockford Ravens and a three-try shutout versus a mixed Chicago Women’s side. With 10 tries racked up for the day and a 3-0 record, Wisconsin drew the second seed entering semi-finals and easily handled the UW-La Crosse Women with another five-try shutout.

Wisconsin met the Twin Cities Amazons in the final, but were unable to shutdown the Minnesota side’s national-team players. The women in red saw Katie Meyer lead the team in scoring, joined by Soliday, Stillman, Caitlin Keating, Meaghan Odling and other teammates.

Thank you to our coach Kyle Malaney for his leadership and support throughout the match, in addition to the UW-Madison Women and Wisconsin Rugby Club men, and the whole Madison rugby community down at the tournament.

Roster (Above in Photo) – Back (L-R): Nadia Riese, Kayla Soliday, Katie Meyer, Jenny Pederson, Emma “EZ E” Zoch, Shoshana Griffith, Rebecca “Reba” Stillman, Laura Hanks; Front (L-R): Kelly Mullen, Meaghan Odling (Captain), Jessica Burda, Caitlin Keating-Bitonti, Mary Hanks (Captain) and Steph Maule. Coach Kyle Malaney not pictured.