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While attention focused on spring 15s titles, teams like Air Force and other fall-based programs went to work on 7s. Air Force readied itself on the Rocky Mountain 7s Series, won the automatic qualifier in Colorado Springs, and timed its peak perfectly at the USA Rugby College 7s National Championship, winning the Open division with a 5-0 record.
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Since taking over as Air Force head coach in fall 2015, Amy Rusert has begun every 7s season the same: The team votes on whether there will even be a 7s season. That decision is influenced by class breakout: How many seniors are vying for coveted pilot slots and don’t want to jeopardize their chances with an injury? Or how many juniors will be unavailable for nationals weekend due to the mandatory-attendance Ring Dance?
“It’s a hungry, athletic group,” Rusert explained why she wasn’t surprised in the team’s vote for a serious 7s season. “They’re young and talented and have a high ceiling in the game – and they’re working under great leadership.”
And for the first-years, all they know is a season that culminates in high-stakes games. Air Force, the 2016 DI fall 15s champion, advanced to last fall’s semifinals, where it fell 15-5 to eventual champion Davenport. Senior leaders Noelle Heiser, Lauren Fortney and Funmi Akinlosotu know a collegiate career’s worth of post-season games, and were key in funneling the underclassmen’s raw intensity into learning a new game.
“It was all about fundamentals for us this spring. We didn’t have the option for some exotic brand of 7s,” Rusert explained the season’s focus. “Early in the spring, there were good individual efforts but by the time we got here [the national championship] we went in with a collective rhythm. It was good timing.”
The Rocky Mountain 7s Series provided meaningful competition in the build-up, and after winning the DI automatic qualifier, Air Force was placed into the Open division of the national 7s championship. Fellow DI Chico State joined Air Force in one pool along with DII’s Queens University of Charlotte and Sam Houston State. Fortuitously for Air Force, Chico State’s spring final four 15s games were live-streamed on FloRugby, and the team tuned in.
“We made it team and coach homework,” Rusert said of studying video. “We ID’ed who we thought would be part of a traveling Chico squad. We noted their assets, their liabilities and built an approach.
“We thought it’d be a fun match-up,” the coach added. “We had no hubris in what the outcome would be. We were excited and felt equipped.”
Air Force opened nationals with two shutouts – 37-0 against Queens and 50-0 against Sam Houston State – and Chico State awaited in round three. Both teams were heading into the Sunday semifinals regardless, but the outcome would determine seeding. In a preview of the final, leads were exchanged and the victor was in question until the final minute.
“All of the scores were attributed to all of the players, which was a nice realization,” Rusert compared the 19-14 win to the beginning of the season. “We do have excellent, experienced players but we don’t rely on a couple of assets. We build game plans, structure and shape around who’s been attending training, who’s committed this season, or to a certain weekend.”
Chico State defeated Princeton 28-7 in Sunday’s crossover semifinal, while Air Force topped Texas A&M 41-0.
“They came out swinging and were relentless the whole time,” Rusert said of its worthy opponent. “We conceded no points but it didn’t feel that way.”
And thus the stage was set for another Air Force vs. Chico State showdown, and Rusert indicated that her players were giddy for the rematch. One can imagine that the Wildcats felt similarly.
USA Women’s 7s coach Richie Walker
“All of the adjustments we made were on defense,” Rusert said after day one. “We made some modifications on attack, but that’s a little more organic for us. Around the breakdown, defense – that’s more of a religion and where we make our adjustments.”
Chico State countered with adjustments as well, and the teams traded scores and the lead four times. The final lead change occurred on the last play of the game, as freshman Jess Beyer, who scored the game’s try, crossed for the go-ahead points, 20-17 the final.
Beyer had put her hand up after standout sophomore Sarah Stinson, so influential, went down in the first Chico State game. Championship MVP Heiser played an extraordinary weekend, and spring. A stellar kicker, the senior was one of two players who took advantage of the collegiate/senior club waiver and played for DI Glendale’s spring 15s team (Kelsie O’Brien played for the WPL Merlins in the fall). In the USA Rugby CMS, Heiser is represented as “team score.”
“We loved that the team finished well for the seniors. What a parting gift as they go off to become 2nd Lieutenants,” Rusert pinpointed the best part of the championship. “The seniors have left a legacy, and they’ve given the younger players the confidence that they can do this. … Since we were going in lean in terms of experienced seniors and not that many juniors, you could see the passing of the torch [this weekend]. The young players are now taking ownership and excited and ready to go.”
The summer is a busy time for the academy athletes, but three of Air Force’s seniors – Akinlosotu, Heiser and O’Brien – will be attending the Women’s Collegiate All-American camp at Dartmouth next month. And then prep for the fall 15s season begins!