Catholic Memorial High School Girls’ Rugby Team Going to National Championship

The Catholic Memorial Varsity Girls Rugby team is one of only eight teams in the country invited to Stanford University to compete in the High School National Championships May 11-13, 2012.  Memorial first began competing in girls’ rugby in 2007 and now finds itself bound for its first trip to the National Championship.  The other seven teams invited to compete for the national title are: DSHA (Milwaukee), Sacramento (California), Fallbrook (California), Kent (Seattle), Lakewood (Ohio), West Carroll (Maryland), and Downingtown (Pennsylvania).

“It’s an honor and a challenge to compete for a championship at this level,” said CMH Girls’ Rugby coach, John ‘Wally’ Waliszewski. “There are 35 student-athletes involved in our team and we couldn’t do this without each and everyone one of them.  We are blessed with a special mix of belief in teamwork and strong leadership.”

The team is led by senior captain and fourth-year player, Hannah McCaffery;  back captain, senior Katie Dries; tight-five captain, senior Taylor Wolf; and third-row captain, senior Katie Mueller, who doubles as a captain of the basketball team.

After having won the Midwest Second Division Championship in May 2011, the Crusaders will also look to compete for a Midwest Championship this season, April 27-28 at the Moose Rugby Grounds in Elkhart, Indiana.

The final challenge for the Crusaders will be competing in an Olympic-style rugby event at the Collegiate Sevens Championships June 1-3 in Philadelphia.  The High School

Sevens Championships will be played during the Collegiate Tournament broadcast on NBC that weekend.

For more information about Catholic Memorial High School and the girls’ rugby team, go to www.catholicmemorial.net/current-students/student-life/athletics.asp or call (262) 542-7101.