Estes with USA 7s coach Richie Walker (l) and GHSAA U16 teammate Eti Haungatau •
It had been a whirlwind of a summer for Grace Estes. The Iowa native crisscrossed the country while representing the Girls High School All-American (GHSAA) U16s in Maryland, trying out for the Midwest U19s in Ohio, attending Atavus camps in California and Minnesota, and helping the Hawkettes to a 7s trophy in Wisconsin. By the time the rising junior had time to sit and debrief, it was already early August, just in time for 7s’ debut at the Olympics.
“I’m recording it,” said Estes, who was catching up on home life. “I’m actually in the country right now at a barn-warming party, which is the most Iowa thing you could do.”
They’re the compromises that Estes has had to make in her short time with the sport. The multi-sport athlete grew up alongside rugby through her dad, Jim, who is currently coaching the renewed University of Iowa women’s program. There is no girls’ high school rugby anywhere near Central High School in Davenport (the fall 7s league is centralized in Des Moines and plays during the week), but Estes was able to join the Iowa Hawkettes last summer for the all-star team’s first-ever outing. The then-freshman caught some attention at the Midwest 7s championship.
She stayed sharp by practicing, save contract drills, with the Iowa women and got into the camp circuit.
“After the first Atavus camp in Milwaukee, I kinda realized how cool rugby really is,” Estes reflected. “I met all these coaches, like Greg McWilliams, who works with Yale and the Boys’ High School All-Americans. All these big, important people were there, and I realized I could get some connections.”
Estes was then invited to Atavus’ High School Performing Resident Camp in Carlsbad, Calif., and that assembly supplied several players to the U16 and U18 GHSAA teams that competed over the summer. There was just one issue: The All-American games were 15s matches.
“The first time I played 15s was at the Thunderbirds camp,” Estes said of the U19 tryout that occurred a week before the GHSAA tour. “The field feels so cramped with that many people on it. I play wing in 7s, so it was frustrating to find space, but it pushed me to be more creative.”
Maryland was a big event, with two full squads between the U16s and U18s. There was a lot of talent present, and Estes attempted to close the knowledge gap while learning position-specific intricacies from teammates like Alex Wantlin, Punipuao Skipps, Delaney Rakuita and Megan Reed. While she was drawn to the higher-level game strategies employed by head coach Farrah Douglas, she did have some issues adjusting to international 15s.
“Definitely still working on contact,” the wing confessed. “There are some big girls out there. It’s one of my growing areas for 15.”
But when she looked at the year ahead, Estes knew she wouldn’t be able to work on contact skills with the Iowa women. Fortunately, she met coaches from the Brookfield Bruisers while representing the Hawkettes during the Midwest 7s tournament. Once she explained her situation, the Wisconsin side offered to take her on for 15s friendlies in the fall and spring. The league cleared the addition, and Estes made her Brookfield debut last weekend, as the Bruisers played Warsaw at Davenport University.
“They were awesome – super warm and welcomed me immediately,” Estes said of her reception with the players. “By the end of the weekend, they considered me part of their family.”
In driving rain, Estes scored a try for Brookfield in its 20-15 win over Warsaw. She played wing and also got some time at fullback. All told, the junior will likely only play two more 15s games with Brookfield this fall, as the Bruisers are in-season, but the spring will bring more opportunities – and Estes is chasing them.
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