Photos: Rebecca Keiser
Divine Savior Holy Angels (DSHA) returned from the first of two rugby tournaments in Elkhart, Ind., this spring with a trophy. On Sunday, the Dashers’ first and second sides won their respective divisions at the girls’ high school Midwest Championship. The stakes raise on the return trip to Moose Rugby Grounds later this month, as the Wisconsin team will be chasing the single-school national championship.
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One of the most striking aspects of DSHA’s title run last weekend was the point differential. Blowout wins happen, but the Wisconsin school produced three shutouts over two days: 59-0 vs. Grandville, 46-0 vs. Warsaw and 27-0 vs. Catholic Memorial in the final. The JV side nearly matched its senior counterpart, outscoring Brunswick, Penn and St. Joseph 135-5.
When reflecting on the weekend performance, Canterbury High School Player of the Week Janie Genske, who was also named Midwest Championship MVP, referenced the 2015 Wisconsin state championship as a turning point. In fall 2015, rival Catholic Memorial broke DSHA’s 12-year state championship streak.
“We felt like something that had been ours for so long had been taken away from us,” Genske said. “I’ve never wanted something so bad in my life, and I knew the team felt the same way. We brought that anger into the [2016] state final, and it really helped.”
DSHA beat the Crusaders 18-15 in the 2016 state championship last October.
“The coaches made it clear to us that we should be happy about states but not to be satisfied,” the senior lock said. “And it was great – it was something we got back – but there was so much more to look forward to in the future.”
By early January 2017, the team was training several times per week indoors. By March DSHA was practicing outdoors for two hours/day, five days/week in addition to lifting sessions. The senior captain quartet of Sarah Clarke, Tara Sweeney, Genevieve Ruesch and Danielle Macpherson led by example and kept the team motivated as it built toward the next agenda item.
“By the time Midwests arrived, we definitely felt prepared,” Genske said.
Grandville, a Midwest newcomer, was a good way for DSHA to open up the regional championship. The Bulldogs were an unknown entity and three-time reigning state champion, and the Dashers’ performed well. The second game against Warsaw was very physical.
“Physicality hasn’t always been something on our side, and there was some shock to see some of those big hits,” Genske noted DSHA’s traditionally smaller-sized squads. “But the team was able to rally around those big hits. There was one point where I took a very hard hit, and it was amazing the way my team responded. We didn’t do anything illegal or dirty plays, but our tackles got low and strong. We were playing a little angry and that helps sometimes.”
Genske jumping in the lineout in the final. /// Photo: Rebecca Keiser
On the other side of the bracket, Catholic Memorial defeated Penn 38-12 and St. Joseph 32-0 to advance to the final. But in the teams’ third game of the weekend, DSHA’s fitness showed through and helped propel a shutout victory and championship trophy.
Genske was singled out for her leave-it-all on the pitch performance, and she was an emblem of the determination that is driving DSHA toward single-school nationals.
“I can only imagine how much more intense practices are going to be now that nationals is next,” Genske said. “Nationals is just something that we haven’t won in a while but everyone on the team wants it so badly. And I don’t want this just for myself; I know how bad my teammates and coaches want it and how hard everyone’s been working.”
Single-school and club high school nationals will occur from May 19-21 in Elkhart, Ind. Stay tuned for previews.