Category: Alumni

Alumni Weekend Celebrates Four Decades of Women’s Rugby

Four decades of women’s rugby players came together this August 28-29, 2015 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of women’s rugby in Madison, Wisconsin. More than 100 current players, alumni, family, friends, and fans enjoyed a weekend of rugby fun and camaraderie.

The original club team, Wisconsin Women’s Rugby Football Club, was founded in 1975 and over the past forty years grew into the current senior women’s team and also the University of Wisconsin-Madison Women’s Rugby team.

Alumni Weekend Banner
A banner welcomes Alumni to the Friday night kickoff social

On Friday night, current players and alumni kicked off Alumni Weekend at State Street Brats Tavern in downtown Madison. Alumni were happy to share their stories of rugby revelry to impress and entertain the current players.

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11914098_10207612152801079_5139110602806305416_nUW Alumni Heather Schmitt charging through the current UW's defense.

UW Alum Heather Schmitt, who currently plays for Detroit, charging downfield

Saturday morning saw a full side of alumni from both teams – the Wisconsin Women and the UW Women – spanning all four decades dig out shorts and boots to take on the current UW Women’s side at the Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex in Cottage Grove, Wis. A particularly dangerous combination of Diane Milligan and Jill Cohan sharing time at scrumhalf with Meghan White at flyhalf and Heather Schmitt at Inside Center saw the alumni slice through the current UW team’s defense for a number of tries. In the scrum, several alumni forwards kept switching positions until they remembered how to actually scrum.

UW's backline on the attack against the Alumni (white jerseys)
UW’s backline (red jerseys) on the attack against the Alumni (white jerseys)

Meanwhile, the UW players were excited to learn in the middle of the alumni match that they had picked up a ringer with former World Cup hooker Cynthia (Gehrke) Orvis. “She played in the World Cup?! Shut up!”

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Women’s Rugby players representing four decades!

On the sidelines, the alumni weekend celebration grew more special with an appearance by one of the team’s founders, Cindy Stabler. Cindy helped establish the club’s storied history of excellent socials in the 1970s, a tradition the current team is proud to carry on still after every match. Special thanks to Nancy “Red” Thorne Cahill and Lisa Riehl for helping us reach more alumni and all of our local alumni (Jill C., Diane, Elina Cillier, Amy Prevost, Cynthia O., etc.) for helping share the word.

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The sideline tents provided a place to share photos, and show off trophies, including the team’s newest addition of the 2015 USA Rugby D2 National Championship trophy

Following the alumni match, the current Wisconsin Women’s team earned its first victory of the new fall season with a 48-10 win in a friendly match against the Division 1 Chicago Women.

Alumni capped the weekend in traditional form by continuing the celebration at Wisconsin’s sponsor bar, Wilson’s Bar & Grill, and singing and dancing into the wee hours of the morning thanks to a dance floor and karaoke.

Please save the date for the 2016 Alumni Weekend – our 41st Anniversary – on Friday, August 26 and Saturday, August 27, 2016. Alumni weekend will always be the weekend *before* Labor Day Weekend. See you there!

Here are some more photos from the weekend:

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Celebrate 40 Years of Women’s Rugby in Madison at Alumni Weekend, Aug. 28-29

Wisconsin Women’s Rugby and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Women’s Rugby Club invite you to celebrate 40 years of women’s rugby with us in Madison, August 28-29, for Alumni Weekend 2015!

UPDATE – Please visit the Our Alumni page for complete details, to register, and complete your alumni questionnaire.

Join us Friday night, August 28 in downtown Madison and Saturday, August 29 at the Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex for a fun weekend celebrating women’s rugby in our city.

Founded as one women’s rugby team in 1975, the two teams have continued to grow and thrive on the competitive rugby pitch since the beginning.

On Friday night, current members and alumni of both teams will meet up at 6 p.m. in the outdoor patio and beer garden of State Street Brats on State Street in the heart of the UW-Madison campus and downtown Madison.

On Saturday, the UW Women’s active team will play a short, fun, and friendly match against any willing alumni at 11:30 a.m. Alumni and fans can stick around for the 1 p.m. kickoff of the Wisconsin Women vs. the Division 1 Chicago Women (an opponent from the beginning!). A picnic social will follow the games.

And REMEMBER – Our alumni events will always be the Saturday before Labor Day weekend moving forward. Hope to see you soon!

Women’s Rugby Alumni Day 2014 – August 23

The first-ever team photo of the Wisconsin Women's Rugby Football Club at a tournament in Indiana in the spring of 1976. Thank you to alumni Nancy "Red" Thorne Cahill for sharing this with our team.
The first-ever team photo of the Wisconsin Women’s Rugby Football Club at a tournament in Indiana in the spring of 1976. Thank you to alumni Nancy “Red” Thorne Cahill for sharing this with our team.

Wisconsin Women’s Rugby and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Women’s Rugby Club invite you to celebrate 39 years of rugby in Madison at the Alumni Day 2014 on Saturday, August 23 at the Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex.

Founded as one women’s rugby team in 1975, the two teams have continued to grow and thrive on the competitive rugby pitch since their founding.

On Saturday, the UW Women’s active team will play a short, fun, and friendly match against any willing alumni at 11 a.m. Alumni and fans can stick around for the 12 p.m. kickoff of the Wisconsin Women vs. the Division 1 Chicago Women (an opponent from the beginning!). A picnic social will follow the games.

Please email the team at ww_rfc@yahoo.com to let us know you’re coming/playing or RSVP via the facebook event page.

And SAVE THE DATE for Saturday, August 29, 2015 when we’ll celebrate FORTY YEARS of Women’s Rugby for our teams! Our alumni events will always be the Saturday before Labor Day weekend moving forward. Hope to see you soon!

Wisconsin Routs Palmer 57-0, Celebrates Alumni Weekend

Wisconsin Women's Rugbypalmer_college_dragons_3The Wisconsin Women couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick off their league season than earning a 57-0 shutout against the Palmer Women for the home team’s alumni weekend.

The victory capped a great day of reconnecting with alumni and collecting an estimated 1,000 food items for the local Cottage Grove food pantry too.

Wisconsin alumni Jean O'Leary, Ruth Bernick, and Lisa Riehl with current players during the 2013 Alumni Game.
Wisconsin alums Jean O’Leary, Ruth Bernick, and Lisa Riehl with current players during the UW and WWRFC Alumni Game.

The day began with a friendly match of UW players and alumni mixing with Wisconsin developmental players and alumni. Notably, Wisconsin alums Jean O’Leary and Ruth Bernick jumped in the match with the younger players after letting everyone know they had “retired from rugby before most of you were even born.” Those two schooled the kids on the field and the sidelines were excited to see them play.

Welcoming alumni and fans from both the University of Wisconsin-Madison Women’s Rugby Club and Wisconsin Women’s Rugby Club, the women in red were ready for a nailbiter based on previous games against Palmer. Two of the last three games had ended with Wisconsin narrowly edging Palmer by just one-point victories.

Wisconsin's Inside Center Nicole Helmer breaks away from the Palmer defense to run in a try.
Wisconsin Captain and Inside Center Nicole Helmer breaks away from the Palmer defense to run in a try.

However, Wisconsin came out of the gates to dominate Palmer in all aspects of play and opened scoring within just minutes of the first whistle. Playing at the Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex, Wisconsin ran up a 42-0 lead at the half and then maintained the shutout against Palmer despite a second half battling the high heat and some fatigue. Wisconsin’s reserves brought in fresh legs to seal the defensive wall and earn the final 57-0 mark on the scoreboard.

Wisconsin begins the season at 1-0 in league play and overall. Next up, Wisconsin will host Chicago North Shore, a D-1 women’s team, in a friendly at home on Saturday, September 7. Kickoff is at 11 a.m.

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Wisconsin Women – 57
Palmer Women – 0

Wisconsin Tries – Kelly Clerkin (2), Mary Hanks, Nicole Helmer (2), Kelly Mullen, Katie Odens (2), Kris Peterson (2).

Wisconsin Conversions – Elisa Becker (2)

Wisconsin Penalty Kick – Elisa Becker

Wisconsin Lineup:
1. Mollie Overby
2. Elisa Becker
3. Melissa Polheber
4. Sammy Clevenger
5. Jessica Burda
6. Amanda Stoltz
7. Kris Peterson
8. Kelly Clerkin (Captain)
9. Mary Hanks
10. Meaghan White
11. Emi Frerichs
12. Nicole Helmer (Captain)
13. Kelly Mullen
14. Jenny Messer
15. Lily Khadempour
Reserves: Meghan Blodgett, Emily Mastandrea, Loralee Bilke, Greta Slack, Kim Distin, Marissa Kraynak, Katie Odens, Anne-Sophie Daloz

The following awesome players also played in the first friendly alumni game and/or helped with sidelines duties: Michelle Blaser, Lisa Burley, Kestrel Felton, Dana Gordon, Maddie Hettinger, Christine Hettinger, Kristin Sargent, Mack Stout, and Sophia Weerth.

The first-ever team photo of the Wisconsin Women's Rugby Football Club at a tournament in Indiana in the spring of 1976. Thank you to alumni Nancy "Red" Thorne Cahill for sharing this with our team.
The first-ever team photo of the Wisconsin Women’s Rugby Football Club at a tournament in Indiana in the spring of 1976. Thank you to Nancy “Red” Thorne Cahill for sharing this with our team at alumni weekend.
Lock Sammy Clevenger fends off the opposition.
Lock Sammy Clevenger fends off the opposition.
Scrumhalf Mary Hanks prepares to pass the ball from the base of a ruck won by Wisconsin.
Scrumhalf Mary Hanks prepares to pass the ball from the base of a ruck won by Wisconsin.
Flanker Kris Peterson battles for the high ball in a lineout vs. Palmer.
Flanker Kris Peterson battles for the high ball in a lineout vs. Palmer.
Wing Jenny Messer is tackled by the Palmer defense with support on the way from her teammates.
Wing Jenny Messer is tackled by the Palmer defense with support on the way from her teammates.
Wisconsin captain and No. 8 Kelly Clerkin on the run after a scrum against Palmer.
Wisconsin captain and No. 8 Kelly Clerkin on the run after a scrum against Palmer.
Members of the UW Women's club at Alumni Weekend.
Members of the UW Women’s club at Alumni Weekend.
Alumni mixed in with UW and Wisconsin current players to enjoy a brief match during Alumni Weekend 2013.
Alumni mixed in with UW and Wisconsin current players to enjoy a match during Alumni Weekend 2013.
The Alumni Weekend food drive for the Cottage Grove food pantry was an overwhelming success!!
The Alumni Weekend food drive for the Cottage Grove food pantry was an overwhelming success!!
The Wisconsin Women and UW Women, along with original team alum Nancy "Red" Thorne Cahill, August 24, 2013.
The Wisconsin Women and UW Women, along with one of the original team alums Nancy “Red” Thorne Cahill celebrate together for our annual alumni weekend, August 24, 2013.

Wisconsin Alum Phaidra Knight Featured in RWC Q & A

Phaidra Knight - 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup. Photo: rugbymatters.net
Phaidra Knight (left) at the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup. Photo: rugbymatters.net

A Wisconsin alum player and globally-noted rugby player, USA Eagle flanker Phaidra Knight recently answered questions from fans on the Women’s Rugby World Cup website. Read Phaidra’s answers here, including mention of how she got started playing for Wisconsin.

Phaidra Knight Answers Your Questions

(IRB.COM) Friday 10 September 2010

Following Australia lock Chris Ross answering the questions you posed on the official Women’s Rugby World Cup Facebook page, here are the answers from USA flanker Phaidra Knight who helped her side beat rivals Canada 23-20 in the fifth place play-off at WRWC 2010.

Julainne Cochrane: How did you get into rugby and what made you stick at it?

Phaidra Knight: I initially got started with rugby at law school, first year of law school. I missed team sports because I played team sports in high school and college and wanted to get reacquainted with it, so I went out to a rugby trial and fell in love with it. I started playing in Wisconsin, so yes it was very cold at times and wet and snowy, but it was having good people around me that kept me doing it. But once I had a taste of it, I was hooked. Read more …