Augusta v Charlotte /// Photo: Fred Swindell (see more)
As Augusta prepared for the 2016-17 DII club season, the team readied itself for a transition year. There was player and coach turnover, but still a good core of veterans, and lots of recruiting. It wasn’t until the Furies defeated Southern Conference champion Charlotte that the team adjusted its expectations for the season, and now Augusta is leading the Carolinas-Georgia league at 5-0.
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Augusta has dealt with transience since the team’s inception, a function of its ties to Fort Gordon and its military athletes. But this year saw a big change-over, with players like Eagle prop Jamila Reinhardt relocating to Chula Vista, Calif., for 15s residency (and fellow World Cup pool player Nicole Burr soon joining her), and longtime captain Owen Davis moving into a coaching role this year. The local university isn’t an established feeder yet, so Augusta focuses on maintaining players that in turn fosters recruitment.
“What we strive to do is to keep people coming back,” Davis. “We have teammates who move out of town but continue to play with us because they love the club and what we stand for. … And when they leave, they pitch people to come out to the team – sometimes filling spots before they even leave. We work hard and make it a fun and supportive place so people come back.”
But with a lot of new blood in the fall, the Furies weren’t entirely sure how the season would shape up competitively. Core veterans like Burr, Katrina Steiner, Kristine Devine, Krystle Haskin, Colleen Markyna, Robin Herndon, Tara Keilholtz, Elina Jarvi and Lindsay Dalton worked with the rookies and expedited their education. Newcomers like wing Kim Koeller distinguished herself in the fall, and prop Margie Moli, Zori Drew and Cencera Manatanona later developed into important contributors.
Augusta’s turning point occurred in November, when it lined up against reigning Southern Conference champion Charlotte. The Furies trailed 19-0 after the first quarter.
“That was a comeback game,” Davis said of the November win over Charlotte. “We had some subs in the second half who were pretty impactful and pushed us over the edge.”
Davis recalled the inspirational performance of another veteran, Kayla Williams, for picking up the team. The coach also noted the contributions of new player and president Anna Orlowski, who has been a boon to the back line and off-field traditions.
Augusta entered the winter break with a 27-19 win over Charlotte.
“It showed that we still had that drive and push to be the best we can be,” Davis said. “It was a confidence boost to grind it out and win, and it changed our outlook for the rest of the season. Any questions or doubts or worries that we had, we realized we can still do it even with the transition of players.”
Augusta kicked off the spring season with a 78-5 win over Columbia, and then followed with a typically heated match against Atlanta’s DII team. The Harlequins and Charlotte are the Furies’ main rivals in the league, which reconsolidated into one competition this year.
“Atlanta was a big win for us,” Davis said of the 36-7 victory. “We finished our regular season with a loss to them last year. A lot of the girls from last year were nervous going into it because Atlanta is always a good team and competition. So, definitely a good win for us.”
The Furies have one more league game – Eno River on Saturday – a friendly against Savannah on April 1, and then the Carolinas-Georgia final four championship on April 22-23 in Southern Pines, N.C. The Southern Conference championship is May 6-7 in Ormond Beach, Fla., where four teams from Carolinas-Georgia, Florida and True South will compete for the berth to the DII national quarterfinals.
“We have the numbers but will have to be strategic on the placement of players with our depth,” Davis looked ahead to playoff weekends. “We have the tools. It’s a matter of how we show up. If we peak at the right time, then I think we can go far.”