Rochester to Rep Midwest at Super Regionals

The Midwest Rugby Union receives two berths to the Women’s Division II Northern Super Regional Championship (SRC), which will be held May 3-4 in Springfield, Mo., this year. Midwest champ Grand Rapids and runner-up Rochester will be placed on opposite sides of the bracket, and there is a one-in-four chance that they’ll see each other in the SRC final, aka national quarterfinals. Rochester is certainly hoping for the rematch opportunity, as this is a hallmark season for the Upstate New York team. [lead photo c/o Rochester Renegades]

The Rochester Renegades formed in 1987, and before its alignment with the Midwest, it was a Division III member of the Empire GU. But competition was inconsistent, and in fall 2023 Rochester promoted itself into Division II so it could join several Upstate New York teams in the Midwest’s Eastern Conference. Fall 2023 also marked Kelley Bridenbaugh first season as the team’s head coach.

“Player numbers were low, and it was a steep learning curve as we introduced new systems and higher-level strategies,” Bridenbaugh reflected on fall 2023. “For many athletes, it was their first experience diving into this level of play. While our record didn’t reflect it, we saw tremendous growth in rugby IQ, and the players began to believe in themselves and the vision for the club.”

Rochester went 1-5 in its first season in DII, but a turning point was coming. During a January 2024 team meeting, staff and players defined their goals and expectations, what it meant to be competitive, and how accountability and hard work would move the team forward. Recruitment, retention and culture were the priorities, and when it was time to reassemble for summer 15s practices, 50 players showed up.

“The increased numbers brought new opportunities but also new challenges,” Bridenbaugh noted. “Recognizing the need for more coaching support, I advocated for additional staff, and the executive board was incredibly supportive.”

Josh Gilbert was added as an assistant coach and focused on the forwards, while Amanda Arnold joined as a developmental coach dedicated to the rookies.

“This full coaching team was a game-changer,” Bridenbaugh enthused. “Josh helped raise the intensity and quality for our competitive side, while Amanda focused on bringing newer players up to speed, which helped give us much-needed depth later in the season.”

Solid numbers at training also supported 15-on-15 intrasquad scrimmages, which greatly aided development.

“By laying a solid foundation in 2023 and building on it with strategic planning, player buy-in, and a robust coaching staff in 2024, we set the stage for the team’s growth and success,” Bridenbaugh set up the 2024 fall season.

There was also motivation to honor a former teammate, Meg Trutt, who passed away by suicide in February 2023. The No. 8, whose jersey has been retired, was a beloved Renegade, and she’s inspired a new era for the team, the “Rochester Rugby Revival.” In May 2024, the club hosted Meg’s Memorial Tournament and raised $10,000 for suicide awareness and prevention.

The DII Midwest Eastern Conference added two teams in fall 2024. The Pittsburgh Forge supplied a DII team to the competition, while its top side played in DI. And Buffalo dropped from DI to DII, making for a six-team league.

Rochester launched into league play on Sept. 7, guided by the superb leadership of team captains Michelle Vayner and Jelly Castillo. The former is typically an inside center but also a capable flyhalf, while Castillo does work in the front row as a prop. They set the tone on the pitch as the Renegades beat Pittsburgh Forge 79-3. In that match, second-year player Rai Parr scored eight tries. The former American football player does damage from the centers and went on to score 29 tries through the Midwest final.

The following week, Rochester took its lone loss of the fall—a 20-14 decision to Buffalo—and then went on to beat 2023 Midwest champion South Buffalo 54-19, North Buffalo 89-10 and Uticuse 57-15. The 4-1 record put the Renegades into the playoffs for the first time in five years.

There were three rounds of cross-conference playoffs, and during the Oct. 26 quarterfinals, Rochester beat Cleveland 51-0. Meanwhile, Buffalo eliminated Wild Card South Buffalo 45-24, and in the western half of the bracket, Palmer College took down the Twin Cities Amazons 20-12. Wisconsin forfeited to Grand Rapids, and so the Growlers advanced directly to the Nov. 2 semifinals, where it beat Palmer College 24-10.

For Rochester, the semifinals meant a highly prized rematch against Buffalo. The Renegades were eager for redemption, but it was Buffalo that ran out to a 19-0 lead early on. The team regrouped and rallied with 29-straight points. It was an incredible show of force, but then Buffalo surged. With five minutes remaining, Buffalo put down a converted try (29-26) and then worked to Rochester’s five meter threatening to score and overturn the lead.

With the game at stake, prop Jay Valdez forced a turnover, Vayner fed the ball to Parr, and the speedy center tore away for the length of the field, fending three defenders en route to the try zone: 36-26 the final. Parr scored two tries on the day, as did Erin Terwilliger. Kris Rohan and Zoe Romanowski dotted one try apiece while Lizzy Standera kicked three conversions. Standera kicked 19 conversions across the fall, splitting duties with Unsung Hero Award winner Anna Cummings, who accounted for 42 extra points.

“Beating such a talented opponent was a confidence booster, but more importantly, coming back from a 0-19 deficit showcased our mental and physical resilience,” Bridenbaugh praised the effort. “That performance solidified our belief that no matter the circumstances, we could fight our way back—a mindset that carried us confidently into the finals.”

The hard-fought win did have a price. Rochester lost Forwards MVP Castillo to injury as well as Becky Stoloski. The team was also down two scrumhalves, so for the Midwest championships (Nov. 9), Megan Trutt Legacy Award winner Hannah Emminger slid from 10 to 9, and regular inside center Vayner stepped into the 10 jersey. Rochester was also missing the influential Terwilliger, who is a nurse and couldn’t make the trip 20-hour roundtrip to Lemont, Ill.

“Once again, we found ourselves down early, and while we fought back admirably, time wasn’t on our side,” Bridenbaugh thought back on the final against Grand Rapids. “Injuries and players stepping into unfamiliar roles added to the challenge, but the fight and determination this team displayed were incredible.”

Grand Rapids prevailed in the 24-17 DII Midwest Championship, its first in club history.

“Our resilience remains a major success—this group never quits and fights for each other on and off the field,” the coach talked take-aways. “As for work-ons, starting stronger is a clear focus. While being a strong second-half team is valuable, it’s less stressful–for all of us!–to set the tone early and avoid playing catch-up. Rugby is an 80-minute game, and hitting the ground running will be key to future success.”

Both teams advance to the Northern SRCs, which are the equivalent of national Round of 16/8 games. That means, the team that wins two games in Springfield, Mo., on May 3-4 will advance to the national championship weekend (semifinals + finals) on May 16-18. That location is TBD.

“The team is buzzing with excitement after a historic fall season,” Bidenbaugh described the team vibe. “Preparations for Super Regionals in Missouri are underway, including fundraising efforts and indoor practices—essential for Rochester’s winter conditions. Our Match Secretary is finalizing a spring XVs schedule to prepare eligible players while maintaining a robust tournament schedule for our larger extended roster to ensure everyone gets game time and development opportunities.”

In addition to Super Regionals, the team is looking forward to reintegrating rehabbed teammates, hosting the 2nd Annual Meg’s Memorial Tournament in May, and also welcoming Baby Bridenbaugh to the Renegades fold. The head coach is expecting a baby girl in early March, and so Gilbert will be stepping in as head coach moving forward.

“His leadership has been instrumental in our success, and I’m excited to see him build on the momentum we’ve created,” Bridenbaugh bid farewell, for now. “While I’ll step back from the day-to-day, rugby is in my DNA, so I’ll still be around to support when I can.”