Carmen Marie Photography
Processed in the right way, a loss can be the best thing for a team, and Grandville High School reiterated that notion with this fall’s state championship run. The Bulldogs had developed into Michigan’s most dominant program this decade, but then Sparta-Rock surged in 2018 to take the 15s title. Grandville channeled that defeat into motivation and funneled it into the 2019 season.
“The team coined this their ‘revenge tour,’ and practiced that way,” explained Grandville coach Kelli Vanover, who leads the Bulldogs alongside Magdalene Law and Jacob Woltjer. “They got creative and tried new things in the regular-season games, and were flexible and willing to push through new positions so we could put together the best lineup possible for the championship. Last year there was some disconnect and we had some of our best players on the bench. Those athletes recovered and came back with a score to settle and the determination to play a strong game of rugby, knowing that playing the right way will get them the outcome they desire.”
The returners embraced the “revenge tour” but were mindful of the many other objectives that sustain a team beyond one successful season. Nearly half of the 35 rostered players were new, and a solid group of seniors stepped up to set a standard that will guide the team going forward.
Carmen Marie Photography
“[I]t was key for us to develop relationships this year where they could help each other learn and grow,” Vanover explained. “All but two of our upperclassmen traveled with the team [to the National Invitational Tournament] this past spring, so that experience has been really helpful when developing our future talent.”
Captains Angelina Pollice (Long Island University commit) and Hannah Sarber served as the primary leaders, while players like Grace Dykla have helped “transform our newer players from timid to tough in rucks, and show our forwards how passing is essential for more than just backs positions,” Vanover lauded.
“We have quite a few younger players who are approaching potential, such as junior forwards Alaysia Beard and Gabriella Quinones, junior backs Hanna Koordyk and Sofia Vazquez, sophomore backs Carson Sanderson and Isabella Vanderwal, and a large handful of freshmen who are all showing so much promise,” the coach added.
Carmen Marie Photography
The team dedicated itself to defense, working toward an impenetrable and quickly resetting wall that advanced on ballcarriers uniformly, and stuck those first-up tackles to place the pressure on the offense to perform. On offense, forwards and backs worked on their catch-pass and built consistency in getting the ball down the line, trusting that a hole would open up for a striker. Everyone, not just the field leaders, were engaged in the goings-on and had to be ready for quick attacks off penalties and the like.
Grandville had the opportunity to test its progress early in the Michigan regular season and faced 2018 state champion Sparta-Rock in mid-September. The Bulldogs won 29-0.
“We expect a hard-fought match,” Vanover regarded Sparta-Rock. “We know they may have a wing with some speed, but for the most part they are a forwards club and we anticipate that in the way we match against them.”
Sparta-Rock made its adjustments, as well, and was a better team when the squads reunited in the 15s state championship in November.
Carmen Marie Photography
“The championship match is always full of nerves so we told the team to get it all out. They were pumped up before the game, dancing, singing, and bonding as a family, knowing it was going to take every single one of them working together to make a victory happen,” Vanover recalled the team’s pre-game mindset.
“Coming off a hard loss in the finals last year and wanting to take the title back, this was definitely special for the team,” the coach added. “Also with a significant number of seniors, they really wanted to leave a mark and show that four years of dedication paid off.”
Grandville got its redemption and beat Sparta-Rock 22-10 for the Michigan High School 15s State Championship.
Carmen Marie Photography
The Bulldogs will roll that momentum into the second half of the season, which sees high-achieving programs enter regional and national tournaments. Grandville is now a regular at the Midwest High School 15s Championship and has competed at the High School National Tournament for several years now. The 2020 national event will occur in Euclid, Ohio, at Notre Dame College, which is home to Grandville alumnae.
“We are definitely looking towards nationals and, as a coaching staff, have seen the immense benefits the players gain when they get exposure to that level of competition,” Vanover asserted. “Our team placed fourth overall in D1 nationals this past spring and that meant the world to everyone involved. That was a step up from third in D2 in 2018 and the players just want to keep pushing the program to the next level.
“Our goal as coaches is to teach them this amazing sport, help the players have fun and improve their skills while learning what it means to be part of a team, manage their time, and promote inclusion, and ultimately to get them exposure to recruiters so their skills can be rewarded with an amazing opportunity to play rugby at a higher level,” the coach added. “National level competition doesn’t scare us, it excites us and we are so grateful to have the opportunity to attend due to the hard work of our athletes, coaches, and rugby family.”