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Chicago Lions Debut, and Win, in DI

  • 22 Aug 2019
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After years of fielding a successful 7s program, fall 2018 saw the Chicago Lions break into the 15s game through the DII Midwest. The Lions are back for a sophomore season and another debut, this time in the Midwest’s Division I. Now at five teams, the home-and-away league kicked off a week earlier than last year and saw the Lions bank their first DI win at home.

During spring 2019, Lions Old Boy Bruce Snyder met Director of Rugby Dave Clancy at a fundraiser and was looking for a way to get involved with the club again. Clancy, who recently coached the Women’s Collegiate All-American 7s at the NDIT in Little Rock, connected Snyder with the women’s team, which was looking for a head coach. It was a good fit.

“Most matches against DII teams were fairly large victories,” Snyder recapped fall 2018 in the Midwest’s West Green division. “The team wasn’t able to play in playoffs that first year, but rather than stay in DII [this season] and play those same teams with plans to make playoffs, they decided to challenge themselves in DI.”

Snyder pointed to approximately 10 returners who form the core of the squad and team captain Kelley Hirt for overall guidance. Trainings begin with a captain-led huddle and Hirt uses that time to get everyone focused and synced. That leadership flows right into game day and the flyhalf is instrumental to the team’s success.

There are several leaders in the forwards and although no one is officially appointed the pack captain, “I lean on Jennifer Kelliher,” Snyder said of the experienced, smart front row. “She’s been somebody I’ve relied on and that relationship started when she became team manager and really showed her responsibility and ability to be a leader in that role.”

That leadership is especially crucial early in the season, when the 7s and 15s worlds overlap in August. The Midwest only had one seed to the Club 7s National Championship (Aug. 10-11) and the Lions took that berth to Kansas City, where the team finished 7th overall.

“We had six starters coming off the 7s national tournament the previous weekend,” Snyder said of the momentum heading into 15s opening day. “[Lions 7s coach] Jeremy Nash did an outstanding job with them all summer, sharpening their skills, fitness, strength and communication. Players that didn’t participate in 7s worked with me at various points and three pre-season trainings while 7s was in season. Everyone was gung-ho and ready.”

On Aug. 17, the Lions hosted Wisconsin to inaugurate its first Midwest DI 15s season.

“There were definitely nerves. We didn’t know what to expect,” Snyder said of pre-game jitters that didn’t last long into the match.

“We kicked off the ball, and after Wisconsin played a couple of phases against us, we poached the ball off the ruck and quick ball out to the backs, who scored underneath the posts,” the coach explained. “After that we just worked basic phase play down the field, drew the defense away from space and attacked.”

Outside center Rachel Grecky scored that first try in the first minute and finished another three scoring opportunities in the try zone before game’s end. Fullback Devon Gold, wing Susan Riggs, No. 8 Aurora Macek and Hirt also had multi-try games, while inside center Jillian Stariha and scrumhalf Aleia Bellcross, who earned Athletico Lion of the Match, dotted down their first tries of the 2019-20 season. The Lions won 112-0.

“Wisconsin did not travel with a full contingent of players,” Snyder said. “Obviously, the score was quite lopsided, but Wisconsin had solid, skilled players and remained positive throughout the game. But they were outmatched.”

Snyder credited the win to all of the players excelling in their individual roles and was pleased to get that first win on the books, but looks forward to more opposition in the future.

“We’re not going to progress as a team unless we’re challenged,” Snyder said. “Through that adversity we’re going to grow individually and as a team.”

Crosstown Chicago also kicked off its DI Midwest season last weekend with a 49-0 win over Detroit, and heads to Wisconsin this Saturday. The Lions and Chicago will meet on Sept. 14, and Snyder anticipates that that match will provide a good amount of resistance. The Midwest playoffs begin Nov. 2 and the season culminates with the Midwest DI Club Championship on Nov. 9. The victor will secure a spot in the USA Rugby DI Club Eastern Regional Championship on May 16-17, 2020.

“Our goal is to play the highest level rugby possible,” Snyder looked ahead, “whether that means DI for several years or that means up in the WPL in several years – it’s up in the air. We’re a new team so we’re feeling around, getting to know one another and learning higher-level rugby.”

MIDWEST DI CLUB SCHEDULE

Aug 17

Chicago 49-0 Detroit

Chicago Lions 112-0 Wisconsin

Aug 24

Chicago @ Wisconsin

Aug 31

Wisconsin @ Detroit

Sept 7

Wisconsin @ Chicago

Metropolis @ Detroit

Sept 14

Chicago @ Chicago Lions

Wisconsin @ Metropolis

Sept 21

Detroit @ Wisconsin

Metropolis @ Chicago Lions

Sept 28

Chicago @ Metropolis

Detroit @ Chicago Lions

Oct 5

Detroit @ Chicago

Chicago Lions @ Metropolis

Oct 12

Detroit @ Metropolis

Chicago Lions @ Wisconsin

Oct 19

Chicago Lions @ Chicago

Metropolis @ Wisconsin

Oct 26

Metropolis @ Chicago

Chicago Lions @ Detroit

Nov. 2

Midwest semifinals

Nov. 9

Midwest championship

#ChicagoLions Midwest

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