Lakefront 7s Facebook photo
The Iowa Hawkettes, the state all-star 7s team, made quick work of its summer season, repeating as champions at the Minnesota 7s and Lakefront 7s tournaments. Captain Sydney Julich did well to lead a squad that featured only four returners from 2017, and now another two trophies reside in Iowa.
The summer began in Minnesota, a tournament that the Hawkettes won in 2017. After topping the round robin phase, the Iowa squad defeated Eagan, the Minnesota Youth Rugby 10s runner-up, in the final for the repeat trophy.
Minnesota 7s-winning team
Two weeks later, the Hawkettes were crossing state lines again, this time to the Lakefront 7s in Wisconsin. The tournament renewed its dedication to the girls’ high school division, and eight teams from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin booted up. The Hawkettes’ Grace Estes also featured on the tournament program (see below).
“The first game against Chicago Selects started slowly, and then Nancy Odir, sister to former captain Christina Odir, exploded onto the scene,” Iowa Hawkettes coach Kelsie McDowell recalled. “Nancy, the Iowa state championship MVP, held up her reputation and was the leading try-scorer for the tournament.”
Odir kicked off a 35-0 win over the Chicago side and then lined up against the Bruisers, which had defeated Eagan 21-0 in the first round. Unfortunately Julich dislocated her elbow, ending her participation for the day.
“Her absence left the team in a bit of panic,” McDowell noted Julich’s importance, “but Grace Estes stepped into the position with amazing maturity and insight.”
Rising collegiate freshman Estes is the final founding member to graduate from the Hawkettes and the only player to compete in all four years of the all-star team’s existence.
The Hawkettes bested the Bruisers 24-5 and then followed with a 49-5 win over Eagan. On the other side of the bracket, the Waukesha Barbarians also went 3-0 through pool play, defeating the Oswego Chiefs 52-0, Hamilton Harriers 19-0 and South River Sentinels 47-0. That set up a Hawkettes vs. Barbarians final.
Iowa vs. Bruisers / Lakefront 7s Facebook photo
The Barbarians went up with a converted try, and then a high tackle on Estes resulted in a penalty try to tie it up (penalty tries get the automatic conversion). The teams traded scores again, and Iowa got its points after some stellar footwork from Jade Bitting and an Ava Dener conversion.
With it all tied up and no time left on the clock, the team set up an overload and Danielle Sheppard sprinted into the space for the game-winning try, 19-14, and third-straight Lakefront 7s championship. (full scores)
IOWA HAWKETTES
Becca Anseleme – Ankeny
Jade Bitting – Southeast Polk
Katie Brandt – Roosevelt
Lejla Cardenas – Dowling
Ava Denner – Roosevelt
Grace Estes – Davenport Emmersyn Forest – Southeast Polk
Sydney Julich – Ankeny Devina Moss – Roosevelt
Nancy Odie – Dowling
Zoe Olson – Ankeny
Chloe Pham – Valley
Kaylee Sartell – Southeast Polk
Danielle Sheppard – Lincoln Becca Yarges – Ankeny