Photo: Christine Varga
The May Madness CRC 7s tournament occurs May 29-31 in New Orleans, and the National Collegiate Rugby-produced event is fielding several competitions. The women’s 7s division has drawn 14 collegiate teams to the event, and they range from DI Elite, to small colleges, to conference rep sides.
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Teams are of every make and model. DI Elite’s Lindenwood University and Life University are the teams to beat. Not only have these programs played a bunch of top-notch rugby this spring, but they’ve set the standard for the CRCs. They offered a preview of what’s to come during last weekend’s Life University 7s, which featured an international field and USA pathway players.
The DI Elite aligns with the College Rugby Association of America (CRAA), and another two teams represent the organization in Davenport University and University of Iowa. Both are DI programs that compete in the Big Ten conference. The Panthers traveled to Georgia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Tennessee to play 7s and 15s this spring. Iowa wasn’t cleared for contact until mid-April.
The rest of the field belongs to NCR, which is producing the tournament. There are teams from both its Open and Small College divisions, as well as conference select sides. University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State and Bryant University are Open Division schools, and all three have played 7s this spring. The Panthers won the Great Plains 7s Championship, and they’re bringing five seniors, five freshmen and two sophomores to New Orleans. The Cyclones finished 5th at the same venue. The Bulldogs haven’t been as active as its Open Division compatriots but have played Endicott College and Providence senior women. Bryant is only one from the Northeast and brings three-straight Rugby Northeast conference titles with it.
There are three NCR Small College teams, and Wayne State College is the long-time powerhouse there. The Wildcats were last seen finishing second to UNI at the Great Plains 7s Championship and are more than capable of beating Open Division and DI teams in New Orleans. Baldwin Wallace and Grace College played in the spring 7s series that the Ohio Valley conference created for members, so they’ve had time to get their game together.
Allegheny, Northern Lights and South Atlantic are all NCR conferences and account for the four representative sides. Allegheny brings players from Alderson Broaddus, Fairmont State, Kent State, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Robert Morris and Youngstown State. Northern Lights involves players from College of St. Scholastica, MSU Moorhead and Winona State.
The unknown is South Atlantic (SARC), which is a new conference with teams from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Coincidentally, this all-star outing will be the first activity for the conference, which was created during the pandemic. Chris Martin (Lee Univ.) and Amy George (The Citadel) are coaching the two sides, and conference commissioner Alley Mitchell is also a coach/manager. Lee Univ., Emory & Henry, VMI, Lander Univ. and Eckerd College are among the schools represented.
Click here for the schedule. The following will be update as rosters are made available:
Allegheny Selects
NCR conference with members in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia
ROSTER: Briana Allen (Robert Morris Univ.), Talia Crawley (Kent State), Michelle Fretwell (Kent State), Anastasia Heinold (Robert Morris Univ.), Haleigh Ketler (Kent State), Skye Parker (Indiana Univ. of Pa.), Anna Pitliangas (Indiana Univ. of Pa.), Sarah Post (Fairmont State), Riley Saunders (Youngstown State), Joni Shirey (Indiana Univ. of Pa.), Brooke Stewart (Alderson Broaddus), Alina Withers (Indiana Univ. of Pa.).
Staff: Rebecca Trapp, Kiyomi Knox, Angela Smarto, Hannah Henry
Baldwin Wallace Univ
Berea, Ohio / NCR Small College / Ohio Valley conference
Head coach: Mark Montgomery
Bryant University
Smithfield, R.I. / NCR Open Division / Rugby Northeast conference
ROSTER: 1. Judy Duong, 3. Rylee Van Epps, 6. Nyatasha Jackowicz, 8. Erica Johansson, 10. Meghan McGurrin, 11. Erica Lovering , 13. Jennifer Rosinski, 14. Ali Weisheit, 16. Savannah Schreiber, 19. Eliza Nuestro, 21. Kiana Minaie, 23. Julia Cappellini, 24. Nikki Bingham.
Head coach: Rosie Harter
Davenport University
Grand Rapids, Mich. / CRAA DI / Big 10 conference
ROSTER: 1. Taylor Badal, 2. Vaughn Arnold, 3. Addy Ochoa, 5. Lily O’Connor, 7. Bethany Gable, 8. Mariah Pruitt, 9. Grace Goal, 10. Olivia Farkas, 12. Ashleigh DeWitt, 13. Sunny Groters, 14. Cole Schield, 15. Megan Bird, 21. Valencia Goldsmith, 22. Chloe Baumann, 24. Jasmine Hernandez, 25. Lauren Peterson.
Head coach: Greg Teliczan
Grace College
Winona Lake, Ind. / NCR Small College / Ohio Valley conference
ROSTER: 1. Emily Jones, 7. Jensyn Walker, 8. Sara Gomez, 9. Brynne Wilson, 10. Kaylee Houghton, 11. Johanna Leichty, 12. Anna Armes, 14. Grace Schrader, 15. Madelene Martinez, 19. Halley Krochta, 21. Morgan Burkholder, 22. Michelle Aca-Zempoaltecatl, 23. Cameron Bergstrom.
Head coach: Tyler Scott
Univ. Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa / CRAA DI / Big 10 conference
Head coach: Jim Estes
ROSTER: Hayley Bassett, Camryn Carpenter (c), Erica Coulibay, Christine Clutter, Jaeden Debus, Klaire Harris, Molly Hooks, Keishanique Moton-Tyler, Squirrel Langlois, Greta Larget, Abbie Leichty, Marissa Rethman, Skye Sperry, Miranda Vermeer, Lucinda Williamson, Caroline Young.
Staff: Jim Estes, Kathleen O’Neill, Tessa Kuyper
Iowa State
Ames, Iowa / NCR Open Division / Big 10 conference
ROSTER: Taylor Blum, Isamar Caro Gonzalez, Nyamal Diew, Madison Dunn, Ana Elliott, Isabelle Erickson, Hannah Fultz, Payton Gartin, Michelle Jennings, Rebecca Johnson, Anna Larson, Taylor Loomans, Emma McDanel, Madison McVey, Courtney Smith-Hernandez.
Head coach: Kelsie McDowell
Life University
Marietta, Ga. / CRAA / DI Elite
ROSTER: 1. Kennedy Keith, 2. Sophi Pyrz, 3. Jess Keating, 4. Kate Buzby, 5. Queenette “Pepe” Toomalatai, 7. Morgan Crossfield, 8. Adrionna Duncan, 9. Autumn LoCicero, 10. Alex Wantlin, 11. Malery Billingy, 12. Emerson Allen, 13. Chyenne Samuels, 14. Jojo Skucek, 15. Su Adegoke, 16. Saher Hamdan.
Head coach: Ros Chou
Lindenwood University
St. Charles, Mo. / CRAA / DI Elite
Head coach: Billy Nicholas
Univ. Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa / NCR Open Division / Big 10 conference
ROSTER: 1. Alexis Dirksen, 2. Kayla Dustin, 3. Tatyana Reed, 4. Maggie “Lynn” Kleyer, 5. Maggie Burns, 6. Aubrey Buresh, 7. Payton Schutte, 8. Jessi Inman, 9. Annie Henderson, 10. Hailey Butterwegge, 11. Annahlee Huspen, 12. Tevka Lackmann
Staff: Meghan Flanigan, Eileen Lieb, Kacey Anderson
Northern Lights Selects
NCR conference with members in Minnesota and North Dakota
ROSTER: Abigail Andler (Winona State), Naomi Beske (MSU Moorhead), Cassidy Daniel (Winona State), Kayli Ginocchico (MSU Moorhead), Marilla Lahr (MSU Moorhead), Marissa Mikrot (St. Scholastica), Chantell Mindt (MSU Moorhead), Jasmyn Nash (MSU Moorhead), Emily Olson (MSU Moorhead), Scarlet Pantlin (St. Scholastica), Kennedy Pierre (Winona State), Annika Sannes (MSU Moorhead), Maabendu Sirleaf (MSU Moorhead), Kyleigh Smith (Winona State), Navah Swoverland (St. Scholastica).
Head coach: Athena Aitken (MSU Moorhead)
SARC Selects #1 & #2
New NCR conference with teams from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee & Virginia
SARC Selects #1: Coach Chris Martin (Lee)
SARC Selects #2: Amy George (The Citadel)
Manager/Coach: Alley Mitchell (Elon)
Wayne State College
Wayne, Neb. / NCR Small College / Prairie States conference
ROSTER: 1. Jasmin Johme, 3. Isabelle Robinson, 4. Taylor Ference, 5. Alexa Dougherty, 6. Bridget Sisco, 7. Ashton Hurley, 9. Selma Taylor, 10. Brook Hoesing, 11. Gabby Mercier, 12. Lauren Nelson, 13. Sophie Pascoe, 21. Jasmine Dao, 22. Elizabeth Lara-Arroyo, 28. Mary Kahny, 29. Kaylee Finlay, 32. Maisey Clausen.
Staff: Darrin Barner, Holly Schupbach, Sierra McClintok, Faith Roscoe