Photo courtesy Rugby Ohio
The Celtic Elite doubled up on titles last weekend, winning the girls’ varsity and JV divisions at the Midwest Regional Cup Tournament (RCT).
“We were able to bring together girls to form two elite teams that played with heart and became friends,” Celtic Elite girls’ head coach Jaime Cleary explained. “The victory was on the field as well as coming back to make Rugby Ohio stronger. I am very proud to be a part of this winning coaching staff along with Casi Manusczak and Mark Montgomery. In three short years, the girls side of Celtic Rugby has won it all in 2015, taken second in 2016 and again claimed their winning title in 2017. The team and its camaraderie has made this very rewarding.”
In advance of the RCT, the Celtic Elite sent two teams to the Midwest All-Star Challenge in Elkhart, Ind., and went 3-1 overall. Last weekend, the Celtic Elite varsity team went 4-0 defeating Minnesota twice (110-0) and Indy Speed twice (50-20).
Maia Breedan was named varsity MVP “because on a team full of MVPs it is hard for the great but not always the celebrated player to stand out, and she did absolutely that this weekend,” Cleary explained. “Maia made game-changing tackles and ran hard to earn well deserved tries.”
Clara Brown had a monstrous weekend, dotting down 10 tries, and tied Regina Baldado, who kicked 15 conversions and dotted down four tries, on points scored. Saher Hamdan scored four tries, while Annie Rolf (2), Elina Burgos, Cailey Leahy, Miranda Basta and Brooke Barnes also scored tries.
The Celtic Elite JV team played Indy Speed twice and had two very different outcomes: 52-5 in game one, and then 32-29 in game two. Aubrey Boing was named MVP for playing hard all weekend and whose fourth try was the game-winner in game two. Allexus Zielinski (3) and Maci Bowman (2) also had a multi-try weekend. Jayla Twitty, Caitlin Patton (try and conversion), Reece Regan, Molly Cancian, Grace Hoch and Regina Ginley also scored tries.
CELTIC ELITE – VARSITY
Regina Baldado – St. Joseph Academy
Brooke Barnes – Brunswick Valkyries
Miranda Basta – Hudson High School
Mahina Beates – Brunswick Valkyries
Maia Breeden – Hudson High School
Jordan Brenot – Lakewood High School
Clara Lemal-Brown – Hudson High School
Elina Burgos – Brunswick Valkyries
Kelsie Contreras – Parma High School
Gillian DeRoche – Hudson High School
Olivia Gargarita – Brunswick Valkyries
Isabell Gibbon – Cincinnati Walnut Hills
Maggie Haight – Brunswick Valkyries
Saher Hamdan – Lakewood High School
Eva Johnson – Hudson High School
Cailey Leahy – St. Joseph Academy
Kennedy Miller – Medina HS
Samantha Ponczoch – Highland Lady Buzzards
Bailey Regan – Hudson High School
Anne Rolf – St. Joseph Academy
Faith Thrasher – Brunswick Valkyries
Savannah Walbolt – Toledo Penguins HS
Jenna Wright – Medina HS
CELTIC ELITE – JUNIOR VARSITY
Samantha Burke – St. Joseph Academy
Aubrey Boing – Brunswick Valkyries
Maci Bowman – Brunswick Valkyries
Francezka Burns – St. Joseph Academy
Molly Cancian – Brunswick Valkyries
Shyla Curley – Lakewood High School
Cassidy Edwards – Medina HS
Elizabeth Fox – St. Joseph Academy
Regina Ginley – Lakewood High School
Allison Hess – Hudson High School
Grace Hoch – St. Joseph Academy
Emma Janotka – Hudson High School
Olivia Janotka – Hudson High School
Nichole Reece – Medina HS
Abigail Kessler – Lakewood High School
Jenna McCloskey – Amherst High School
Caitlin Patton – St. Joseph Academy
Kayla Perciak – Brunswick Valkyries
Madison Pyle – Brunswick Valkyries
Jourdan Readence – Brunswick Valkyries
Reece Regan – Hudson High School
Sia Schraff – St. Joseph Academy
Josi Thomas – St. Joseph Academy
Katie Titimas – Hudson High School
Jayla Twitty – Walnut Hills
Kara Whalen – St. Joseph Academy
Allexus Zielinski – St. Joseph Academy
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