After first- and third-place finishes in Salem last weekend, ORSU is building nicely to the first Pacific Northwest 7s qualifier this weekend in Bellingham, Wash. The Jesters have quality numbers, dedicated staff and a slightly altered outlook after a team-wide gut check last year.
RELATED: Pacific North Club 7s Info • USA Rugby Club Rankings • Support TRB: Become a Patron!
“Missing out on [club 7s] nationals last year caused our team and me as a coach to do a lot of soul searching and have really hard uncomfortable conversations,” explained Charles Sanderson, who coaches alongside Talo Fetuuahu and Anthony Kolanko, the new WPL head coach. “Players were upset, and many of them, rightfully so, let me have it. Player leadership gathered and had lots of conversations trying to sort out who we really are and who we aspire to be.”
Meanwhile, Sanderson looked to adjust his role and found inspiration in a Level 300 coaching course led by Martha Daines, who promoted a coaching philosophy that focused on principle and process. (Daines was just named Director of the Girls High School All-Americans and Talent ID.) That paired nicely with the new player leadership group that formed and that now meets regularly with the coaching staff.
“As a result, the bulk of player management is coming from our players,” Sanderson explained. “I share concerns, and our player group sorts out the best way to handle it with their peers.”
The team then got to work. Skills training began in January and began in earnest in May. A group of players continued its work in a strength and conditioning group, working on the physical and mental sides of the game. And many players also aligned with the Portland Hunters, the reigning national touch champions under USA head coach Adrian Witte, and that extra attention has made a big difference on the pitch.
Training draws 28 players consistently, and notable veterans like Rachel Johnson, San Juanita Fetuuaho, Claire Lundy and Anna Symonds remain at the core. Sanderson pointed to the influx of new players from Reed College and University of Oregon who are really pushing the level of play, as well as: Impact player Johanna Stafford, who commutes 700 miles roundtrip for a training session once per week; Glendale’s JT Wypych, who is trying to make the USA Touch World Cup squad and adds a nice finishing element to ORSU; Princess Corlew, who hails from the Portland Pigs and has been outstanding; and Adriana Mendoza, who is in the Mexico 7s player pool and attempting to make the Rugby World Cup Sevens squad.
ORSU traveled south to the Bay Area for a runout against Berkeley, San Francisco Golden Gate and San Jose, and then entered two sides into a Salem tournament last weekend. There’s no “Seattle Atavus” team this year but those players and that entity are sponsored by the Washington Athletic Club (WAC) this summer. ORSU and WAC are the two big teams to watch in the Pacific Northwest and took the top-three places in Salem.
“WAC is missing pieces right now due to injuries. The games were all super close and competitive,” Sanderson reviewed Saturday’s games. “The format of the tournament had WAC playing an extra game before the final against our Power Side – the name we use for what others call their B Side – and they only played with 11.”
WAC wasn’t missing 7s and 15s Eagle Kristine Sommer, and Sanderson was quick to point out that both ORSU sides struggled to contain her. ORSU’s Power Side lost to WAC and finished third overall, and got stellar performances from Paris Hart, Gabi Dixon, Te Awhina Ho Chee and Erika Farias. The coach also recognized new player Emma Eikermann, who played exceptional defense. ORSU’s A side then beat WAC for the tournament win.
“Our impact player from our A Side was Anna Symonds, who has really reinvented herself as a player physically and mentally. She is one of the athletes who is working hard [at her strength and conditioning],” Sanderson reflected on the day.
“In the past, we played a pretty in-your-face, smash-mouth style of 7s. While that is still the case, we are working at creating and attacking space, and that is starting to pay dividends,” the coach added. “The biggest difference for us was our growth on defense. The backline of Fetuuaho, Johnson and Wypych was particularly hard to penetrate.”
The first Pacific Northwest qualifier is this weekend in Bellingham, Wash., and then there’s only one more tournament before the Pacific North championship, where the PNW and NorCal send their top three teams. The Pacific North will receive three seeds to nationals.
“We only have nine sessions and two tournaments before our national qualifier, so we’re ready to keep working for each other in hopes of making it to NYC in August,” Sanderson concluded. “If we get there, it will be because of the efforts of 30+ players, coaches and support staff.”
ORSU #2018Club7s