I have been writing articles about high school girl's rugby and talking about the wonderful community and overall great experience playing rugby is. It only seems appropriate that I highlight some of the girls and exemplify their rugby stories. Yes, rugby... It's a girl thing! Certainly right now it is, as Colorado Youth Rugby (CYR) is currently in season for high school girls.
To get started, a quick overview of Colorado girl's rugby. As with many sports, the girls are often in the shadows of the boys or even forgotten or unnoticed by some. CYR has hosted youth rugby for 25 years and girls have been playing this whole time. Opportunities to play begin with Tackle/Touch Rugby Youth (TRY) at age 5 and go on from there. The elite West team, college sides, and women's sides are all alive and well here in Colorado.
There is an abundance of opportunity for girls to grow up in the Colorado rugby community. From local events and teams to scholarships, travel, and lifetime bonds, there are some wonderful things happening in girl's rugby. I will admit, I am slightly biased towards Ranch Rugby. As a director, coach and parent of Ranch Rugby, I have chosen to highlight 3 of our alumni. I do hope to connect with players from across the state and share their stories as well. So, disclaimer or dangling carrot, take it as you may, I am starting with Ranch Rugby.
Going back to 2001 and 2002 we pick up Kathryn's story beginning at Highlands Ranch High School. Kathryn went from Ranch to Littleton Rugby and then toured the UK as a member of the U.S.A. U-19 team. She went on to play and then coach at UNC. Since the age of 15 she has played on a variety of select side teams. Currently Kathryn plays for the Glendale Lady Raptors and, after attending the U.S.A. 7's camp, has a new passion for Rugby 7's.
Kathryn is a fine example to our young ladies who want to compete and take rugby to the next level. As she pursues her love of 7's, I wonder if we might be talking about a future Olympian. Certainly a U.S.A. Champion! Not only does she push herself to play competitively, she shares and gives back to the game. Kathryn says she loves working with the Glendale youth and sharing Rugby with them. She says that rugby is her life and that "the most important thing is teaching the youth about rugby because it was something that gave me an escape more than any other sport when I was young".
Covering some of the same territory, we go back to Highlands Ranch High School and catch Vanessa's story. Vanessa played for Highland's Ranch from 2001 - 2004. After graduation, she attended CSU where she played rugby and became a certified referee. Also, she coached the Ft. Collins High School Girls Team for 2 years. Vanessa says that she has traveled across the United States (mostly for free) and that rugby is her family. Currently, Vanessa is happily married to Timothy, who she met through rugby. She continues to referee, and plays for the Black Ice Women's Team. When asked for a positive rugby statement, Vanessa said: "I wouldn't be who I am today without this sport".
Moving on to my final alumni for this article, we come to Sarah. Sarah also played for Highlands Ranch High School from 2006 -2008 and was part of the first Ranch Rugby Girl's High School Team (Ranch Rugby is a combination team of all high schools in Highlands Ranch, previously there were two teams; a combination of ThunderRidge and Mountain Vista High Schools and a Highlands Ranch High School team). At the end of the season last year, Sarah was a key player in the CYR All-Star match and is currently playing at CSU. Sarah says "Rugby is a way for me to be unique and show people what I am made of".
All three of these girls as well as many, many more have rugby in common. They all give back to the community through coaching, refereeing, and working with youth. They all appreciate what rugby has given them and value their place in the rugby community as well as welcome new girls to join them. Some girls are stellar athletes, some enjoy a good recreational match, and others coach and referee. Many stories and memories are created and shared on and off the pitch. Beyond the athletic competition, there is pride, camaraderie, teamwork, and the ups and downs that we call life. The one thing rugby girls share and can always have is rugby.... It's a girl thing!