After years of mobilizing, the Armed Forces 7s Championship is close to officially adding a women’s division to the annual fixture. All five branches compete in the men’s event, which showcases military athletes with aspirations for the Olympic 7s team. As the women’s event approaches reality, branches are busy formalizing their programs, and the Coast Guard is making sure that it is Semper Paratus.
Coast Guard Rugby has fielded a men’s team since 1983, but during the previous 3-5 years, the organization delved into its potential membership.
“Ultimately we launched a project last year and collected information on anyone playing in the service, or who had played, or was interested in the sport,” said Coast Guard 7s Head Coach Sean Lindersmith. “We started identifying women in the Coast Guard who are committed and have a deep love of the sport.”
Building a women’s player pool was very much a word-of-mouth, grassroots project, but the effort produced 40 athletes, all of whom are being tracked.
“We knew there were women playing in the service, and with the project, we were hoping to get an accurate representation,” Lindersmith reflected on recruitment hopes. “Once we had initial details, it was clear that we had plenty of players. The response was so good, we are now at a point where we are identifying key people for team staff positions.”
With a veritable player pool assembled, Lindersmith sought to enter a Selects team in the LVI 7s Women’s Open. A diverse group of Coast Guard personnel was carefully selected, and then the arduous task of coordinating player logistics began in August. The LVI is not an officially sponsored event – hence the use of “Selects,” which denotes a military-affiliated team – and the need for well-in-advance planning.
“I’m especially excited about Sheila Bertrand out of Houston. She played DI and came from the academy. We have some great young players and we’re looking to her as a future star,” Lindersmith said.
“To be a part of a group of such dedicated women with a constant strive to better themselves as athletes and members of the U.S. military is rewarding,” Bertrand remarked. “The opportunity to put on a jersey that represents the United States Coast Guard on the first-ever women’s rugby team means more to me than words can describe.”
Lindersmith is also eager to see Courtney Gamache from Norfolk Storm unleash in the open field.
“The sense of community in rugby is unlike any other sport,” Gamache enthused. “I am incredibly proud to share the Coast Guard jersey with this devoted group of women for our inaugural team at the LVI and make our mark as a club.”
Coast Guard Selects staff Abigail Bishop and Vincent Nitopi are charged with leading the 35-player touring party. Together they’ll usher the men’s and women’s teams through two field sessions on Wednesday, Feb. 28, leading up to the historical kickoff the following morning.
“It’s exciting to expand Coast Guard Rugby to include a women’s team. We want the players to feel supported through the process of creating the program,” Lindersmith concluded.
In terms of support, Coast Guard Rugby athletes will receive a boost from the recently created Coast Guard Rugby Foundation, thanks to the Coast Guard Alumni. Its goal is to support Coast Guard athletes with Armed Forces rugby goals. You can read about the foundation and how you can support its mission by visiting cgrugbyfoundation.org
COAST GUARD SELECTS – LVI 7s
BM2 Malerie Bell
ENS Sheila Bertrand (Houston)
DC2 Marilyn Brammer
LT Danielle Brown
LTJG Christine Case
MK2 Courtney Gamache (Norfolk)
LT Amanda Hood (WPL DC Furies)
BM3 Megan Lewis
YN2 Dawna Moriarty
LT Alexandra Mostrom
ENS Jade Schroeder
MST2 Kelsey Wilson
Head Coach – Sean Lindersmith
Assistant Coach – LTJG Abigail Bishop
Manager – LTJG Vincent Nitopi