Ohio Rugby Select’s Kelly Zagore / Photo: Kiyomi Knox
This weekend, the Midwest U24 LAU All-Star Championship will bring six select sides together for a weekend of all-star play. Minnesota is the reigning champion, and the team won’t have to travel too far – Cottage Grove, Wisc. – in an attempt to retain its title.
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Ohio won the 2016 title, and Jeff Horton, head coach of the new Youngstown State University program (more to come), still leads the Ohio Rugby Selects. The easternmost team (Allegheny has pooled resources into the Midwest senior all-star championship) held its selection camp in late summer and then scheduled challenging fixtures in the run-up to this weekend’s tournament.
The 23-player roster started familiarizing itself with each other during the Chris Smythe 10s in December, and then reconnected after the winter break with a scrimmage against the Allegheny all-stars. Ohio played DI Elite champion Penn State in February, DI Elite runner-up Lindenwood in March, and had plans to attend this weekend’s D.C. Ruggerfest until the Midwest Rugby Union moved the original May date to April 14-15.
The games against the DI Elite teams produced lopsided scores but the experiences themselves were useful.
“We just don’t have the continuity and rapport to go out and compete at that level against a team that practices 4-6 times per week and does everything together,” Horton said. “We have to bank on putting together a rudimentary game plan and executing it. The scores were heavily one-sided but the players had positive attitudes. They’re confident for when they play teams that operate under similar conditions – like the LAU teams.”
Photo: Janet Perl
Cyndi Campbell is the team captain and has been affiliated with Ohio Rugby Selects since she was in high school.
“She drives the ship,” Horton said.
Campbell and McKenna Cimperman are the lone veterans from the 2016 title run. Watch for flyhalf Justine Perl of the University of Cincinnati to be influential. The Ohio U24 returner was prevalent during her 15s team’s fourth-place finish at the DII Fall College Championship and brings Midwest Thunderbird-level experience to the pitch.
Ja’Kenya Clancey / Photo: Kiyomi Knox
“Every year, we select one high school player, someone who wants to get exposure at the next level,” Horton said. “Saher Hamdan [of Lakewood High School] has been phenomenal. She has a great attitude and work ethic, and is a ball of energy. She was originally going to Lindenwood but committed to Notre Dame College.”
Ohio is grouped with Iowa and Prairie States in Pool B, and Pool A contains Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin (Allegheny and Michigan are absent). Teams will play two games on Saturday and then a final game for place on Sunday.
Hannah Trommer / Photo: Kiyomi Knox
“Being selected to the Midwest Thunderbirds is a nice accolade to add to your resume, but at the end of the day, we’re competing at the Midwest championship to represent our state,” Horton said of motivations. “There’s a lot to be said for the pride these players have in making sure Ohio is well represented, regardless of whether we win the championship. It’s why we chose the LAU tournament over D.C. Ruggerfest [when the date changed]; this is why we’ve assembled.”
Additionally, with the return of the Midwest Senior All-Star Championship, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin will contest a round robin on Saturday. These games account for the western portion of playoffs for the senior all-stars.
OHIO RUGBY SELECTS
Bell, Kayla – Cleveland Iron Maidens
Campbell, Cyndi – Columbus WRFC
Carsten, Leah – Steel Valley WRFC
Christian, Mikayla – Akron WRFC
Cimperman, McKenna – Ohio State
Clancey, Ja’Kenya – Youngstown State
Day, Taylor – Ohio State
Forner, Katie – University of Findlay
Garman, Haylie – Bowling Green State
Graham, Morgan – Steel Valley WRFC
Hamdan, Saher – Lakewood High School
Hamrick, Ashley – Kent State
Hoy, Ashley – University of Findlay
Keller, Lucia – Toledo Celtics
Manuszak, Casandra – Cleveland Iron Maidens
Perl, Justine – University of Cincinnati
Polverine, Cheyenne – Kent State University
Riedel, Veronica – Bowling Green State
Chesnick, Holly – Cleveland Iron Maidens
Tent, Becky – Cleveland Iron Maidens
Trommer, Hannah – Kent State
Weiss, Bailey – Bowling Green State
Zagore, Kelly – Ohio State University
COTTAGE GROVE SCHEDULE
(all times Central)
9 a.m. U24: Wisconsin v Illinois
10 a.m. U24: Prairie States v Iowa
11 a.m. Senior: Wisconsin v Illinois
12 p.m. U24: Illinois v Minnesota
1 p.m. U24: Ohio v Prairie States
2 p.m. Senior: Illinois v Minnesota
3 p.m. U24: Minnesota v Wisconsin
4 p.m. U24: Iowa v Ohio
5 p.m. Senior: Minnesota v Wisconsin