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County rugby went after championship
  
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Courtney Johnson
After a 7-1 regular season in the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union, the Douglas County girls rugby team had its eyes set on a state championship.
Only three years ago, the team was practicing on a weed field above the high school and finished 1-8.
This season was a dream campaign, with at least half the team being new to rugby. With a small team of players and needing 15 on the field at a time, they didn’t get much time to rest or nurse their injuries. Combining that with a lack of experience and size, Douglas County fell a bit short of its goal and ended up fourth overall in the state.
“Our team was one of the smallest in the league,” coach Ed McKenna said. “Rugby fields 15 players in a game and with virtually no bench for relief, keeping the players fresh for multiple games in one day put us at a disadvantage against some of the teams in the league.”
Things were looking good for the team in the first round of union championship playoffs in late October when they rolled over Highlands Ranch Rugby in their first match. With only an hour to rest and recover, they met Chaparral, a stronger and more experienced team. With the small squad, County couldn't quite overcome the powerful forwards of Chaparral, McKenna said.
With a week’s rest, their last match up was against the team from Las Alamos, NM. County did a great job of covering and dominating the field, but the lack of experience and knowing the rules caught up to them, and the Huskies lost 21-19.
“Las Alamos was a tough fought match, but we lost after a TRY [touchdown for five points] was held up, because we didn’t touch the ball down in the end zone so it didn’t count,” McKenna said.
Despite the lack of a championship, the parents and coaches couldn’t be more proud of this team for the way they held their heads high and played with their hearts.
“I could not be more proud of the girls this year,” McKenna, who is also a parent of a veteran team member, said. “The veterans put the team and its goals above all else welcoming in the rookies and teaching them the sport they love.”
It took all 15 players on the field to get Douglas County to their 7-1 record and fourth place overall finish.
“Every player on our team was vital to our success this year. That being said the whole team would agree that our leading scorer Mikaela Welch and the leadership from our Captains Katie Wightman and Kelli McKenna were outstanding,” McKenna said. “The outstanding play by our rookies Maria Jamison and Kelley Furia also contributed greatly to our success.”
Several of the more experienced players have been invited to play on the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union (ERRFU) U-19 all state team as well as the National Select Team. Four seniors are leaving, and they have been approached by and talking with the coaches at Colorado State University, University of Colorado-Boulder and University of Northern Colorado.
Kelli McKenna, Mikaela Welch and Katherine Sutton were selected to the all-state team last year and are expected to be invited again in 2009. McKenna and Welch have also been selected to the Western Region all-star team, which is traveling to Fort Lauderdale at the end of November to participate in the 2008 Under-19 Invitational National All-Star Championships, a tournament which is the primary tool for the USA National team coaches to select players for their team to compete internationally.
For the team to win a state championship, they are relying on recruiting more members from Douglas County and Castle View High Schools. Part of that is breaking down the stereotypes of the sport.
“I didn’t want to play at first,” Kelli McKenna said. “My dad played in high school and convinced me to try it ,and I am glad I did. I have met so many friends and had so much fun. The friends on your team are your friends in high school.”
It has been a struggle to recruit girls to play but the players and coaches are optimistic, especially with a chance that CHSAA will sanction the sport.
“Many high school sports today have so much pressure and demands on the athletes for intense year-round participation that they pass by or exclude a lot of great athletes who miss out on the values gained by being part of a team,” Ed McKenna said. “Rugby greets everyone interested with open arms and a perfect position for every shape size, experience level and ability. The heart of the athlete both on and off the field is what this club deems most important.”
All female athletes from eighth grade on up are encouraged to visit the Huskies’ Web site and contact the team with any questions. The program plays hosts to an intro to rugby camp this spring.
“If any girls show interest they can attend the camp and see if they are a fit for ‘the game they play in heaven,’” coach McKenna said.
The Douglas County girl’s rugby Web site is www.dcgirlsrugby.com
After a 7-1 regular season in the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union, the Douglas County girls rugby team had its eyes set on a state championship.
Only three years ago, the team was practicing on a weed field above the high school and finished 1-8.
This season was a dream campaign, with at least half the team being new to rugby. With a small team of players and needing 15 on the field at a time, they didn’t get much time to rest or nurse their injuries. Combining that with a lack of experience and size, Douglas County fell a bit short of its goal and ended up fourth overall in the state.
“Our team was one of the smallest in the league,” coach Ed McKenna said. “Rugby fields 15 players in a game and with virtually no bench for relief, keeping the players fresh for multiple games in one day put us at a disadvantage against some of the teams in the league.”
Things were looking good for the team in the first round of union championship playoffs in late October when they rolled over Highlands Ranch Rugby in their first match. With only an hour to rest and recover, they met Chaparral, a stronger and more experienced team. With the small squad, County couldn't quite overcome the powerful forwards of Chaparral, McKenna said.
With a week’s rest, their last match up was against the team from Las Alamos, NM. County did a great job of covering and dominating the field, but the lack of experience and knowing the rules caught up to them, and the Huskies lost 21-19.
“Las Alamos was a tough fought match, but we lost after a TRY [touchdown for five points] was held up, because we didn’t touch the ball down in the end zone so it didn’t count,” McKenna said.
Despite the lack of a championship, the parents and coaches couldn’t be more proud of this team for the way they held their heads high and played with their hearts.
“I could not be more proud of the girls this year,” McKenna, who is also a parent of a veteran team member, said. “The veterans put the team and its goals above all else welcoming in the rookies and teaching them the sport they love.”
It took all 15 players on the field to get Douglas County to their 7-1 record and fourth place overall finish.
“Every player on our team was vital to our success this year. That being said the whole team would agree that our leading scorer Mikaela Welch and the leadership from our Captains Katie Wightman and Kelli McKenna were outstanding,” McKenna said. “The outstanding play by our rookies Maria Jamison and Kelley Furia also contributed greatly to our success.”
Several of the more experienced players have been invited to play on the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union (ERRFU) U-19 all state team as well as the National Select Team. Four seniors are leaving, and they have been approached by and talking with the coaches at Colorado State University, University of Colorado-Boulder and University of Northern Colorado.
Kelli McKenna, Mikaela Welch and Katherine Sutton were selected to the all-state team last year and are expected to be invited again in 2009. McKenna and Welch have also been selected to the Western Region all-star team, which is traveling to Fort Lauderdale at the end of November to participate in the 2008 Under-19 Invitational National All-Star Championships, a tournament which is the primary tool for the USA National team coaches to select players for their team to compete internationally.
For the team to win a state championship, they are relying on recruiting more members from Douglas County and Castle View High Schools. Part of that is breaking down the stereotypes of the sport.
“I didn’t want to play at first,” Kelli McKenna said. “My dad played in high school and convinced me to try it ,and I am glad I did. I have met so many friends and had so much fun. The friends on your team are your friends in high school.”
It has been a struggle to recruit girls to play but the players and coaches are optimistic, especially with a chance that CHSAA will sanction the sport.
“Many high school sports today have so much pressure and demands on the athletes for intense year-round participation that they pass by or exclude a lot of great athletes who miss out on the values gained by being part of a team,” Ed McKenna said. “Rugby greets everyone interested with open arms and a perfect position for every shape size, experience level and ability. The heart of the athlete both on and off the field is what this club deems most important.”
All female athletes from eighth grade on up are encouraged to visit the Huskies’ Web site and contact the team with any questions. The program plays hosts to an intro to rugby camp this spring.
“If any girls show interest they can attend the camp and see if they are a fit for ‘the game they play in heaven,’” coach McKenna said.
The Douglas County girl’s rugby Web site is www.dcgirlsrugby.com
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