Wisconsin Opens Fall With 92-0 Win, 5-5 Tie

Wisconsin scrum versus Minneapolis Menagerie, August 25, 2012

Wisconsin opened up its Fall 2012 season scoring 15 tries Saturday to cruise to a 92-0 victory against the Chicago Sirens and a 5-5 tie against the Minneapolis Menagerie.

In a friendly round-robin of Midwest Division II women’s teams hosted by the Milwaukee Scylla at the Gun Club pitch on the shores of Lake Michigan, Wisconsin played a 60-minute match against Chicago and turned around to play a 30-minute match against Minneapolis.

Five Wisconsin players scored tries on the day with wings Kelly Mullen and Emi Frerichs leading the charge with five tries a piece between the two games. Prop/Hooker Elisa Becker nailed 11 of 15 conversions in the games to help her team.

After a hour-long game delay in 80-degree heat due to a lack of lines on the field, Wisconsin kicked off aggressively against their Midwest opponent and Mullen opened up scoring against Chicago just 30 seconds after the kick. Wisconsin’s backline picked apart the Chicago defense throughout the match with tries scored both down the middle of the field and wide out. The Wisconsin forwards suffered a few injuries in the pack, but rallied throughout the match to maintain ball possession and turned over several Siren rucks.

The team took a brief 15-minute rest following the victory to catch its breath, drink some water, and discuss strategy before kicking off against the always competitive Menagerie. Both Wisconsin and Minneapolis were qualifiers to the 2011 Midwest Championships held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last fall. Wisconsin finished second and Minneapolis finished fourth.

Emi Frerichs earned Woman of the Match honors for her great playing and five tries.

Wisconsin’s second game saw the Menagerie’s fresh legs score first in the match after several minutes of strong defense by Wisconsin, including a held-up scrum drive, a stopped 8-man pick and strong runs by the Minneapolis centers shut down. A missed conversion kept the score at just 5-0.

Both teams battled hard and shut down a number of scoring opportunities, but Wisconsin finally cracked through into the Menagerie try zone on a hands-out series to Emi Frerichs on the wing. The play started off some strong rucks from the Wisconsin forwards followed by a massive crash by inside center Laura Hanks. A quick ruck off the Hanks ball winged the ball out wide to Meaghan White and Frerichs to dive over the line.

The short game ended in a 5-5 tie with Wisconsin considering the difference in scoring against the Menagerie had the team also had fresh legs. The rest of the day saw the Milwaukee Scylla go on to defeat both the Menagerie and the Sirens as well.

Wisconsin named Emi Frerichs as its Woman of the Match for her great playing and five tries.

Wisconsin rests this weekend and will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of its brother team, the Wisconsin Rugby Club, at the WRC Sports Complex. Wisconsin opens up its league season on the road against the Will County Morrigans on the road in Illinois on Saturday, September 8. They’ll see the Chicago Sirens again on Saturday, September 22 in Madison for Wisconsin’s Alumni weekend.

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Wisconsin Women – 92
Chicago Sirens – 0

Wisconsin Tries – Tonya Achter, Emi Frerichs (4), Laura Hanks, Kelly Mullen (5), Meghan White (3),
Wisconsin Conversions – Elisa Becker, 11 of 14

Wisconsin Women – 5
Minneapolis Menagerie – 5

Wisconsin Tries – Emi Frerichs
Wisconsin Conversions– Elisa Becker, 0 of 1

Flanker and scrumhalf Mary Hanks charges up the field with support from No. 8 Melissa “Helga” Polheber and teammates Elisa Becker, Amanda Stoltz, and Michelle “Mike” Blaser.

Fall Team Practices Kick Off Today!

Lily Khadempour tackling a Detroit player at the Firehouse 7s, 2012.

With an eye on a trip to the USA Rugby Division II National Championships in November, the Wisconsin Women kick off their Fall 2012 team practices today.

Practices will be held every Monday and Thursday night. See our event schedule for more details.

Wisconsin finished second overall in the Midwest Division II women’s conference, just one win shy of qualifying for a trip to nationals in 2011.

The team’s 2012 goals include winning the Midwest Division II Championship and traveling to Florida, Nov. 9-11, for this year’s National Championship tournament.

Wisconsin prop Nadia Riese leading a scrum versus the Chicago Women.

The team is also happy to announce two new team captains.

Fullback Lily Khadempour will be the Backs Captain and Prop Nadia Riese will be the Forwards Captain this fall.

Congratulations Lily and Nadia!

Wisconsin Places 5th at Lakefront 7s

Wisconsin Women at Lakefront 7s, 2012 – Pictured, L-R, first row: Nadia Riese, Meaghan Odling, Jessica Burda, Mike Blaser, Rebecca Stillman, Emi Frerichs; Second Row: Corinna Senn, Nicole Helmer, Mary Hanks, Tonya Achter, Jenny Pederson, Kelly Mullen, Mollie Overby, Maggie Smith.

After a 5th place finish at last week’s first qualifier of the summer, the Wisconsin Women put together a full roster to travel to Milwaukee for the Lakefront 7s.

The team finished 5th again with two losses to Chicago North Shore and the La Crosse Women, respectively. They rallied back in their final match to defeat Ann Arbor again for a final win for the day.

This roster welcomed several new players who had not yet played 7s for the summer. Additionally, several players picked up extra games in the social bracket filling in for the CARFU women’s side (who had late players due to last-minute cancellations).

The women’s team was joined at the tournament by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Women and two sides from the Wisconsin Rugby Club men. All in all, it was a decent day of rugby on the shores of Lake Michigan enjoyed with more than 40 Madison rugby friends.

Thanks again to 7s Coach Nicole Helmer and team captain Kelly Mullen for their leadership this summer!

Tournament Team
Tonya Achter
Michelle “Mike” Blaser
Jessica Burda
Emi Frerichs
Mary Hanks
Nicole Helmer – Coach
Kelly Mullen – Captain
Meaghan Odling
Mollie Overby
Jenny Pederson
Nadia Riese
Corinna Senn
Maggie Smith
Rebecca “Reba” Stillman

Wisconsin Places 5th at Firehouse 7s

Wisconsin Women’s 7s team at 2012 Firehouse 7s. Front row sitting (l-r): Meaghan Odling, Rebecca Stillman, Mike Blaser, Lulu the Weiner Dog; 2nd Row kneeling: Lily Khadempour, Emi Frerichs, Jessica Burda. Back Row standing: Coach Nicole Helmer, Mollie Overby, Captain Kelly Mullen, Water Man and assistant coach for the day Tim Leslie.

In the team’s first organized attempt at a competitive 7s season, the Wisconsin Women have used the 2012 summer to hold true 7s practices and played in their first Midwest qualifier tournament this past weekend at the Firehouse 7s.

Under 7s coach Nicole Helmer (a Wisconsin center and former Midwest 7s All-Star), the team welcomed a mix of veterans and rookies to learn 7s and compete in this summer’s Midwest Qualifying series.

Held down in Lemont, Illinois, the Firehouse 7s saw both a social and qualifier bracket of talented women’s teams. Wisconsin started play against the Ann Arbor women and struggled to find their rhythm against an opponent that was playing 15s style. Down by two tries, Wisconsin rallied back to end the quick match with a tie.

Later in the afternoon, Wisconsin was defeated by the Detroit Women in a physical match and then earned their second loss against the very talented Youngbloodz from Minnesota featuring a number of USA Eagles. However, the team’s 7s skills improved each game and they found themselves slated to play Ann Arbor again in the final match of the day for 5th place honors.

Now feeling more comfortable in the 7s playing abilities and spacing across the field, Wisconsin dominated the Ann Arbor Women in all aspects of the game to win the match 5 tries to one.

Youngbloodz claimed the tournament title defeating the Chicago North Shore women. Detroit placed third after defeating a CARFU team.

Thank you to Coach Helmer and 7s Captain Kelly Mullen for their leadership. Thank you also to Tim Leslie for coaching and running water.

Wisconsin moves on to the Lakefront 7s next weekend.

Tournament Team:
Michelle “Mike” Blaser
Jessica Burda
Emi Frerichs
Nicole Helmer – Coach
Lily Khadempour
Tim Leslie – Water Man
Kelly Mullen – Captain
Meaghan Odling
Mollie Overby
Rebecca Stillman

Hanks, Midwest Wins 2012 NASC Championship

2012 Midwest Thunderbirds – National All-Star Tournament Champions. Wisconsin’s Laura Hanks (back row, 8th from left) scored a try in the national title game to help defeat the Mid-Atlantic.

Wisconsin’s own Laura Hanks helped the 2012 Midwest All-Stars to the national championship, May 25 -27, at the USA Rugby National All-Star Championships.

Held in Pittsburgh, Penn., the Midwest defeated Southern California 37-8 in the Tier 1 semifinal Friday. Sunday’s national championship match saw Hanks and her Midwest teammates dominate Mid-Atlantic 48-8. She scored the team’s opening try off a lineout and played lock for the Thunderbirds in her first All-Star nod.

Midwest captain Christy Ringgenberg credited the team’s unity for its outstanding wins.

 

2012 Whiskey 10s Champions!

2012 Whiskey 10s Champions
2012 Whiskey 10s Champions

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

Team Travels to Midwest Championships

Wisconsin Women Fall 2011 - Midwest Division 2 Western League Champions
Wisconsin Women Fall 2011 - Midwest Division 2 Central League Champions

The Wisconsin Women travel today by plane and car to Pittsburgh, Pa., and the 2011 Midwest Division 2 Women’s Championships.

The Championships are held at the Trafford Bridge Sports Complex and hosted by the Pittsburgh Angels.

Two games will be held Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s Game 1 sees hosts Pittsburgh play the Minneapolis Menagerie at 10:30 a.m. EST. Game 2 will see Wisconsin play Buffalo (NY) at noon. The teams are seeded as follows: 1. Wisconsin, 2. Minneapolis, 3. Pittsburgh, 4. Buffalo.

The winners of Saturday’s games will meet for the Championship match at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday with the consolation match held earlier at 10 a.m.

Wisconsin will need to win both games to qualify for the USA Rugby D-2 National Championships held in Virginia Beach, Va., November 11-13.

Updates will be posted as they are available. Check the team’s facebook page for the most timely updates.

Wisconsin Pummels Palmer 38-5 in Playoffs to Earn #1 Seed at Midwest Final Four

Wisconsin scrumhalf Jenn Johnson takes on Palmer's No. 8.
Wisconsin scrumhalf Jenn Johnson takes on Palmer's No. 8.

In the team’s final home match of the 2011 fall season, Wisconsin welcomed a familiar foe to the pitch for a qualifying battle to the Midwest Final Four. Despite a close game earlier this season that saw the Wisconsin Women nip the Palmer Women on the road by just one point, this Saturday’s match was nearly all Wisconsin with a 38-5 victory for the women in red.

Wisconsin used patience and much-improved continuity across the field to run in five tries as they picked apart Palmer’s defense. Flanker Meg Dickoff scored two tries and her hard running earned her Woman of the Match honors (the much-coveted Wonder Woman silk robe!). Hooker Elisa Becker was perfect on the day scoring five for five on conversions and adding a penalty kick for 13 of the team’s 38 points.

The red scrum was dominant throughout the match and saw Palmer choosing lineouts in very windy conditions when presented with the option of scrum versus lineout.

Wisconsin improved to a 5-0 overall record in Midwest Division II play and this playoff victory clinched a trip to Pittsburgh, Penn., for the Midwest Championships, October 29-30. Wisconsin earned the top seed in the Championship bracket and will play the fourth-seeded Buffalo Women in the second game on that Saturday. The first game will see #2 Minneapolis Menagerie play home team and the #3 seed Pittsburgh Angels. The winners of these two matches will meet on Sunday to play for the Midwest berth to the USA Rugby D-II National Championships in Virginia, November 12-13. More details will be available as the team is notified.

Photos from Mary Hanks camera and shot by the stupendous Dana Gordon. Big thanks also to the UW-Whitewater Women, UW-Stout Women and UW-Madison Women’s teams for joining in a mixed b-side match following our playoff game.

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Wisconsin Women – 38
Palmer Women – 5

Click Here for Midwest D-II Women’s Conference Results.

Wisconsin Tries – Meaghan White, Nadia Riese, Laura Hanks, Meg Dickoff (2)

Wisconsin Conversions – Elisa Becker (5)

Wisconsin Penalty Kick – Elisa Becker

Palmer Try – 1

Palmer Conversion – none

Wisconsin Woman of the Match – Meg Dickoff

Wisconsin Woman Bear Mauler of the Match – ?

Team Lineup:

1. Amanda Evenstone
2. Elisa Becker
3. Jackie Neubert
4. Justine Stewart
5. Liz Robinson
6. Sarah Whaley
7. Meg Dickoff
8. Mary Hanks
9. Jenn Johnson
10. Meaghan White
11. Rebecca “Reba” Stillman
12. Jane Sachs
13. Laura Hanks
14. Kelly Mullen
15. Shoshana Griffith
16. Melissa “Helga” Polheber
17. Nicole Helmer
18. Nadia Riese
19. Terri Russell
20. Sammy Clevenger
21. Brittany Martin
22. Michelle “Mike” Blaser
23. Jenny Pederson
Additional Awesome Teammates: Dana Gordon, JP Prigge, Emma Zoch, Sydney Nick, Kelly Clerkin (Coaching), Jessica Burda (B-side Coaching)

Wisconsin Scrum versus Palmer
Wisconsin Scrum versus Palmer

Wisconsin flyhalf and captain Meaghan White leads into a switch with Inside Center Jane Sachs.
Wisconsin flyhalf and captain Meaghan White leads into a switch with Inside Center Jane Sachs.
Wisconsin prop Jackie Neubert attacks down field against Palmer's defense.
Wisconsin prop Jackie Neubert attacks down field against Palmer's defense.
Wisconsin captain Meaghan White stiff arms a Palmer player en route to her try.
Wisconsin captain Meaghan White stiff arms a Palmer player en route to her try.
Oh hey girl! Way to take those quality stats Emma!
Oh hey girl! Way to take those quality stats Emma!
Now that's a pretty Wisconsin lineout! No. 8 and captain Mary Hanks flies up for the ball.
Now that's a pretty Wisconsin lineout! No. 8 and captain Mary Hanks flies up for the ball.
Wisconsin fullback Shoshana Griffith takes crash ball off of a ruck.
Wisconsin fullback Shoshana Griffith gets the ball in support after a tackle.
Amazing! Wings do get the ball! Wisconsin wing Kelly Mullen races down the sideline with support from her teammates.
Amazing! Wings do get the ball! Wisconsin wing Kelly Mullen races down the sideline with support from her teammates.
FIERCE! Wisconsin prop Amanda Evenstone earns the team's fave photo from the match honors. Go Amanda!
FIERCE! Wisconsin prop Amanda Evenstone earns the team's fave photo from the match honors. Go Amanda!
So many good things are happening in this photo! Mary and Jenn's pick play about to happen, Flanker Sarah Whaley waiting to spring into action and all that luscious hip Lock Liz Robinson is sharing with us.
So many good things are happening in this photo! Mary and Jenn's pick play about to happen, Flanker Sarah Whaley waiting to spring into action and all that luscious hip Lock Liz Robinson is sharing with us.
Speaking of Liz ... Lock Liz Robinson gets the ball in support.
Speaking of Liz ... Lock Liz Robinson gets the ball in support.

Wisconsin Stomps St. Cloud 62-5 On The Road to Improve to 4-0

team photo
Wisconsin's road warriors claimed the season's 4th victory!

The Wisconsin Women earned their fourth Midwest Division II league win of the season Saturday with a 62-5 road victory against the St. Cloud Sirens.

Traveling without their full roster, Wisconsin’s win clinches the Central Division Western League top spot and home-field advantage for Midwest Playoffs on October 15.

The traveling team lead 29-0 at halftime and only let the Sirens squeak in one lone try in the second half against the Wisconsin attack.

Outside Center Laura Hanks scored a hat trick to lead the team while eight teammates notched points against the Sirens.

Muchos Gracias to the lovely Emma Zoch for her statistics and photos. High Five to the fabulous Nicole Helmer for her sideline coaching.

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Wisconsin Women – 62
St. Cloud Sirens – 5

Click Here for Midwest D-II Conference Results and Standings.

Wisconsin Tries – Laura Hanks (3), Kelly Mullen, Rebecca Stillman, Meaghan White, Amanda Evenstone, Meg Dickoff, Michelle “Mike” Blaser, Brittany Martin

Wisconsin Conversions – Sydney Nick (3), Amanda Evenstone (3)

St. Cloud Try – #9

St. Cloud Conversion – none

Team Lineup:

1. Amanda Evenston
2. Michelle “Mike” Blaser
3. Meg Dickoff
4. Melissa “Helga” Polheber
5. Jenny Pederson
6. Sarah Whaley
7. Jenn Johnson
8. Sammy Clevenger
9. Rebecca “Reba” Stillman
10. Meaghan White (C)
11. Brittany Martin
12. Sydney Nick
13. Laura Hanks
14. Kelly Mullen
15. Terri Russell
16. Emi Frerichs
17. JP Prigge