Reigning NY state champ Orchard Park at last year’s NIT / Photo: Jackie Finlan
There’s more than one reason why the girls’ high school teams in the Buffalo region are tight knit – outside of the frigid temperatures. This weekend, Western New York, one of three leagues grouped under Rugby New York, puts four of its seven teams into motion, and they’ll remain invested in each other’s success throughout the spring.
“The isolated nature of Buffalo has created a very close community for the high school girls who play rugby in Western New York,” Orchard Park coach Lisa Henrich explained how Buffalo is closer to Cleveland and Pittsburgh than New York City. “While other teams who compete at Regional [Cup] Tournaments represent entire states or a combination of two states, the Western New York team draws from the five teams of Erie County.”
In addition to the five core teams, Syracuse and Corning represent two newer programs that will diversify the season and expand the player pool.
“Another shared obstacle the Buffalo-area teams face is the climate,” the coach added. “Buffalo averages nearly 100 inches of snow per winter. The teams must pool the limited indoor space available in Buffalo until the snow finally melts and the fields are deemed ‘playable.'”
Orchard Park has won the previous three New York State Championship titles and spent last year celebrating its first trip to the single-school National Invitational Tournament (NIT) with a third-place finish. Fourteen players graduated from that squad and a couple of key injuries sees Orchard Park with just nine players who experienced the 2017 NIT.
“With such turnover, there will be great pressure on the veterans to demonstrate their skill and experience and to lead the many rookies who will be joining them on the pitch,” Henrich looked to athletes like Emily Henrich (Dartmouth College commit), one of the most prevalent high schoolers in the game today, and fellow backs Mia Riccardi and Amanda Erie. In the forwards, coach Henrich singled out tight five powerhouse Laura LaVigne (Penn State) and No. 8 Sam Bautz (Youngstown State University), who will continue their rugby careers at Penn State and Youngstown State, respectively.
Orchard Park in the 2017 NIT 3rd place match. / Photo: Jackie Finlan
Orchard Park built an ambitious pre-season that took the team to Pennsylvania for the Frostbite tournament (3-0), St. Bonaventure for a friendly win against St. Joseph Academy (Ohio), the Pittsburgh area for a loss to Moon Area High School, and this weekend back to the Battle of the Border 7s in hopes of defending its title. Throughout all of these fixtures, players like wrestler-turned-flanker Anna Rothenberger and soccer-basketball crossover athlete Erin Terwilliger have emerged out of the newcomers.
Western New York receives two berths to the state championship, and third-place City Honors is looking for another shot at the title. The team is also traveling to its first single-school NIT this year, and will rely on the expert leadership of senior flyhalf Emma Daley and difference-maker Calah Turpin.
Hamburg, Kenmore and South Buffalo will also exert upward pressure, while newer teams Syracuse and Corning continue to build momentum. All of the teams play each other once before advancing to playoffs.
“Hamburg enters 2018 with the largest roster of any team in the league, while Kenmore has the most experienced coaching staff and athletes from some of Buffalo’s most talented and devoted rugby families,” Henrich summarized. “South Buffalo is the only high school girls team that is part of a much larger community club that also boasts senior men and women’s sides and will benefit from these resources.”
On Sunday, City Honors plays Corning, and South Buffalo plays Syracuse. On Wednesday, April 11, Orchard Park plays Hamburg in the teams’ season opener. Kenmore will play its first game against Hamburg on April 15.
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