Rugby headed to national tournament

Photo by Julia Baxter

The Wayne State College rugby teams go 6-0 this weekend between the two teams. The women outscored their teams 156-0 while the men outscored their opponents 83-0.

Shawn Henley, Staff Writer
April 12, 2017

Wayne State College Women’s Rugby is going back to Nationals after a dominant display at the regional tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D., this past weekend.

“The girls went 3-0 at regionals,” Head Coach Darrin Barner said. “We will now advance to Pittsburg State on April 28 for Nationals.”

The Wildcats racked up dominating victories over Northwestern College (50-0), Simpson College (52-0) and Augustana University (54-0).

WSC scored 156 points in the three games played and held each of its opponents scoreless throughout the tournament.

“Shelby Brown, Turner McPhee and Faith Sorenson dominated the scrum,” Barner said. “They kept us on offense for most the time. Kelsie Stutzman also did a great job with kicking.”

In December, the women won their sixth national championship and are now looking to win the seventh.

“When you’re on top of the mountain, you have everyone grabbing your feet to try and pull you off,” Barner said. “We need to focus on ourselves and nothing else.”

The women will compete again April 28 at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan., for the National Championship.

The men’s team found similar success this past weekend, going 3-0, and winning the University of South Dakota tournament.

“The guys are improving each week,” Barner said. “We came out injury free and had a very successful tournament.”

WSC won the tournament by defeating South Dakota State (31-0), University of South Dakota (24-0) and Western Iowa Tech (28-0).

The men outscored their opponents 83-0 throughout the tournament by displaying shutdown defense.

“Joe Edie and Eric Harvey both had standout performances,” Barner said “They both did really well and had a great tournament.”

Up next for the men will be the nine-team regional tournament with a spot at Nationals on the line.

The tournament will be held on April 22 at Winona State University in Winona, Minn.

“The tournament favorite will be Los Angeles-Occidental College,” Barner said. “They have a strong rugby program and we are looking forward to playing them for the third time over the last few years.”