Independence seniors McMillian, Wiley, Key, Tali
JC McMillian and Taua Key are the only remaining players who helped the first Independence Lady Warriors team to a Missouri High School 7s Championship. As seniors, the duo carried those two years of experience to another 7s title this fall, traveled to California for the LAI 7s, and planned for another big spring with a substantial senior class – that is, before Covid-19 stepped in.
The Warriors enjoyed a storybook season in fall 2017, going undefeated en route to the state title, and that run was led by a mostly senior squad. Read more. The team didn’t have enough players for a stand-alone 15s squad at the time and would join KC United for springtime play. When McMillian and Key returned for their junior years in fall 2018, the roster needed rebuilding after the exodus of seniors, and the Warriors finished fourth at state. However, that spring, the team made its first trip to the High School Club National Invitational Tournament in Salt Lake City and competed in Division II.
“We played a team from California [Rancho Bernardo] and beat them [during pool play],” McMillian recalled. “We played them again for the championship, but we thought, ‘We got this. We beat them already.’ But this time they knew all of our plays and we didn’t think to talk about their plays until halftime. We had to make up new plays on the spot, so it was frustrating.”
Rancho Bernardo won the final, but the trip overall stoked new interest in the broader rugby world. See photos.
“Last year in Utah really pushed us for this year because we finally got the chance to experience how strong and fast these other girls were from different places,” McMillian added.
The returners recruited during the summer and had solid numbers heading into the fall. Annie Nauer, Olivia Tali, Meraid Jorgensen, Destiny Wiley and Victoria Stone joined the co-captains in the senior class and led the way.
“There was a lot of drama at first,” McMillian noted. “We have girls coming in from all different places and schools. There was some frustration with players not coming to practice but wanting to play. But the coaches made it clear that even if you’re the best player, the people who come to practice will play. We just had to sit the team down and figure out how to handle this, and now we play for each other.”
Once the team came out of its adjustment period, the on-field product came together. McMillian praised her fellow seniors, calling Key “the most driven player that makes sure the team plays as a team,” and Wiley for her speed, ability to return kickoffs for tries, “and in all honesty, she has the best leadership.” She described Stone as “a powerhouse chick,” and lauded Nauer’s dedication. McMillian called Jorgensen the team’s most energetic player, who laughs when she plays, even when she gets hurt, and never wants to come off the pitch.
“Me and my sister are two of the bigger girls,” McMillian said of sister Marymae. “We’re the two forwards, the props, and we would not let anyone beat us in the rucks. We’d look at each other, ‘We got this.’ It’s sad not to play my last year with her.”
McMillian indicated that Marymae and fellow sophomore Ana Fonua “are the backbone of the team and always willing to step up.” Juniors Iemima Te’o, who “will not let anyone get in her way, even with three people on her,” and Laie Tausoa are two players who “leave a mark on the games so that they make sure they’re known.” They are well supported by fellow junior Lilah Crum-Barnhill, who is great in support and there to clean up any errors.
McMillian also highlighted Keili Key, who is unable to physically take the pitch due to a blood-clot disorder but is always on the sideline in support, running water and always there to inject some levity.
“[Toetu Tali] Junior, Brett [Su’a], Maika [Sika] and Afa [Tapusoa] have been the best coaches I have ever had,” the prop added. “They support us on and off the field. I have never seen any of my coaches upset or mad even if we lose!
“These coaches don’t get paid, so it just brings a good feeling that they want to be there and coach us, and want this bond with us,” McMillian said. “It’s incredible how they have time to do this stuff, because they have their own families.”
The coaching staff didn’t have the opportunity to experience a loss in the fall 2019 season, and the Lady Warriors won their second state 7s title in three years. Read more.
That momentum fed into the spring 2020 season, as the players recruited more players for the 15s season. Prior to the team’s first fixture, the Lady Warriors returned to the West Coast, this time to the first rendition of the Los Angeles Invitational (LAI) 7s in conjunction with the LA 7s. In the High School Open division, the team went 1-3 on day one, but then rallied by winning its two Saturday games to finish on a high.
“We picked up the slack and got our mindsets right,” McMillian said of the day two turn-around. “It was a different level of play. They had more strength but our endurance was beating them.
“We got a chance to watch the pros, too,” McMillian said of LA 7s tournament. “We started picking up some of their plays and were talking about how we could do more than the basics.”
Independence was readying for its first 15s match of the season against KC United when Covid-19 started delaying and then eventually canceling the spring season.
“Me and the other captain, we started crying together,” McMillian said of the official notice that senior-year rugby was over. “We were the only two who were part of the first team, and we’re just sad that we’re not allowed to play with each other. Some of the other seniors, they quit playing other sports to play this sport, so they were sad, too.”
Although rugby is over for the time being, expect to see Independence alumnae involved with the sport. McMillian intends to attend community college and play with the KC Jazz before ideally transferring to a school in Arizona. Others, like Nauer, have committed to Lindenwood University in St. Charles.
“They all are my sisters. I love them so much and I’m proud of each and every one of us,” McMillian closed. “It breaks my heart that we didn’t get the chance to finish this year right, but I know the future holds something better for us!”