National Collegiate Rugby has announced the first-ever roster for the women’s Griffins, the organization’s high performance program for both 7s and 15s. Women’s head coach Deven O’Crump (Georgetown) is taking 11 players to the Algarve 7s in Portugal from June 4-9.
RELATED: NCR Griffins Coaching Staff
Brown University Women’s Rugby Head Coach Ros Chou was heavily involved in scouting talent for the Griffins and noted that nearly everyone was identified at the NCR all-star tournament in Atlanta this past January. MVPs from both of the all-star divisions were named to tour — Lonestar conference’s Leah Lockerman (DII Texas Tech) and Mid-Atlantic conference’s Kelly Greenleaf (DII Towson).
Purdue’s Bailey Barton / Photo: Jackie Finlan
The Lonestar conference is well represented, accounting four of 11 spots. DI Southern Nazarene grad student Lo Anderson, DII Univ. North Texas’ Kaylee Goodwin, and recent Sam Houston State graduate Ari Gieseck all represent the region. Gieseck was most recently seen aiding sHARC en route to the USA Club Rugby DI 15s National Championship semis.
The Midwest region also has four players heading across the Atlantic. The state of Iowa has top-notch reps in standout Morgan Linck (DI Northern Iowa Univ.) and sophomore Grace Papson (DI Univ. Iowa). The state of Indiana has DI Purdue senior Bailey Barton and DI Notre Dame first-year Mia Blocher, who led the CRC 7s with eight tries across four games.
Algarve-bound Kourtney Bichotte-Dunner also made the most of the all-star and CRC 7s experience. The Northeastern University senior was a key piece to the Maddogs’ DI club championship run and earned the MVP award. Laryssa Barbosa (lead photo) enjoyed that CRC 7s high with Brown University, which won the Premier 7s title. Barbosa was actually a walk-on at DI NCAA varsity Brown, and that rugby-newcomer element is part of a legacy (read more).
GRIFFIN 7s ROSTER
Lauren Anderson, Southern Nazarene Univ., Grad
Laryssa Barbosa, Brown Univ, Jr.
Bailey Barton, Purdue Univ, Sr.
Kourtney Bichotte-Dunner, Northeastern Univ., Sr.
Mia Blocher, Univ. Notre Dame, FY.
Ari Gieseck, Sam Houston State Univ., Sr.
Kaylee Goodwin, Univ. North Texas, Sr.
Kelly Greenleaf, Towson Univ., Jr.
Morgan Linck, Northern Iowa Univ., Jr.
Leah Lockerman, Texas Tech Univ., Sr.
Grace Papson, Univ. Iowa, So.