The University of South Dakota is the 2020 National Collegiate Rugby virtual champion, and claimed the first-ever title by nearly maxing out the final week’s points available. Last week, Yotes head coach Bryn Chivers talked about his two years with the program and how it’s grown, as well as the importance of and the players’ dedication to the virtual season: Read more.
Univ. South Dakota, University of Chicago, University of Northern Iowa and Winona State University advanced to the final four and had all of last week to complete five tasks for points:
- Complete a 10-question law quiz provided by the Mid-America Rugby Referee Society
- Fitness (curated by the NCR committee): different plyometric, isometric and running items that were scored based on regular-season data collection
- Coaching video: Lineout video, followed by a 40-minute team meeting discussing the topic and any additional information relating to the strategy
- Team bonding: Last week was virtual homecoming so teams had to host a Zoom reunion with alumnae, since there were no in-person celebrations allowed.
- Social media: Write a new, family friendly pre-game chant. Bonus points if the team teaches it to its alumnae and they sing it during the homecoming Zoom chat
Winona State (425) and Univ. Northern Iowa (430) finished within five points of each other, with the Black Katts ending the season in fourth and the Panthers in third. The totally player-led UChicago banked 518 points to finish second, and Univ. South Dakota took first with 564 points. Yotes sophomore Trixie Jo Schlechter was named championship MVP.
NCR Women’s Director Angela Smarto thanked the dedicated work of fellow NCR committee members Chivers, Stephanie Desens and Jessie Blitz. The team created a competition where none existed and worked in service of the membership’s well being.