Stars Rugby XVs Women Traveling to Lindenwood

                     

FOR RELEASE

09 October 2016

Stars Rugby 7s inaugural tour  took place in 2014 at the Las Vegas Invitational featuring players from the USA, Canada and Australia. One of those first players hailed from the newest varsity women's collegiate program at Lindenwood University and Amanda Divich (nee Martin) will once again be sporting the Stars #10 jersey taking on her alma mater in the first Stars Rugby XVs vs LU clash. Since that first tour Divich has suited up & captained the Stars Rugby 7s side in Tobago (2014) and Las Vegas (2015) and led her LU Lions side in D1 & D1 Elite 15s as well as USA Rugby 7s Nationals and the Collegiate Rugby Championship. 

Divich was the first of many Lions to represent the program with Stars -- in 2015 in Las Vegas Georgia Page (Stars #66), Jolene Steibel (#67) and Anne Marie Reed (#71) and made their Stars debuts; of that trio Steibel competed again with the Stars in the 2015 Calgary Stampede 7s tournament, Page spent time with the team at the 2015 Byron Bay 7s & Central Coast 7s in Australia, and Reed matriculated at LU in the fall of 2016 and will suit up for the Lions against the Stars this weekend. Sierra (SiSi) Gribble (#82) came to the Stars on that same Stampede 7s tour in 2015, then hailing from Sacramento State and transferring to LU for fall 2015. LU alumnae Morgan Crowell and Annalise Evans are the newest Lions to join the Stars program playing prop and #8 against their former team.

The tradition and growth of the Stars and LU programs have been long intertwined with players, coaches and staff from both teams having spent time at the American Rugby Pro Training Center camps (players Cyndi Campbell and Abby Smith of this Stars roster, Nene Persinger, Hannah Gauthreaux and MacKenzie Hawkins of LU, Stars Coach Anna Kunkel, LU Coach Billy Nicholas, and Stars Director Liz Entwhistle) and with many of the Lions representing with Atlantis in Tobago and Las Vegas against the Stars. The teams also share lineage with the Old Blue Women's 7s program -- LU Coach Nicholas led Old Blue to the USA Rugby 7s National Championship in 2014 where they fell to the San Diego Surfers with Stars and Lions both on the squad. Stars players including Kaitlyn (KB) Broughton (#34), Tiana Granby (#56), Corinne Heavner (#48), Phaidra Knight (#3), Shamira Robles (#54), Amy Verdonik (#92) have come to/from the Old Blue ranks the past 3 summers.

This year's Stars 15s roster features several new names with many players coming to the team from Coach Anna Kunkel's Kansas City Jazz and MidAmerica Selects teams including Julie Bode, Anna Clouse, Alissa Lockard and Abby Smith. With week-of roster changes (the Minnesota Valkyries were set to send as many as 6 women this weekend but scheduled a last minute scrimmage) Stars also added a few players from the local Saint Louis Sabres courtesy of Director Liz Entwhistle's former Chicago Women's Rugby teammate Elizabeth (Lu) Morrison. Flyhalf Tori King returns to Stars after a strong showing on the Cape Fear 7s and Calgary Stampede 7s tours in July 2016 and introduces her Wichita Valkyries teammate Amanda Urbanek to the mix.  Scrumhalf/center Angela Cole of the DC Furies is one of two Stars that have represented on the Capital Selects team out of the Washington, DC area.

Despite being in the heart of the fall collegiate 15s season, the Stars welcome Simpson College veteran Katelyn (KB) Behounek was originally slated for this summer's Stampede tour but was unable to travel; her 2015 NSCRO 7s Championship pedigree will add strength a back three trio that also features Illinois U-23 All Star Jess Dombrowski of Illinois State University, scouted at the 2016 Midwest U-23 All Star Championships, and speedster Abby Smith. The W1823 sevens program also sends a few representatives -- flanker Chip Bell of Tiffin University was recognized for her strong play with a spot on the 2016 NSCRO All-Stars at this year's CRCs  while center Cyndi Campbell of Ohio State University is no stranger to USA Rugby Women's Collegiate All American camps earning invites for both 15s and 7s alike.  Hannah Graham plays her rugby with the Saint Louis Sabres while studying at Mizzou and former USA Rugby High School All American Sarah Niswander has been seeing time with the University of Iowa, the newest addition to Midwest Division 1.

The roster is rounded out with a strong 2nd row pairing in Emma Wedel of North Dakota State University and Rian Van Nordheim, a San Diego Surfer alum now captaining James River and seeing time with the Capital Selects. Van Nordheim played with the Stars at Cape Fear 7s and will continue a month high level rugby in traveling to Australia for Stars 7s tour October 11th-25th, back again with Stars 15s against Life University on November 12th. 

Coach Anna Kunkel is making her Stars debut as well and tackles an interesting challenge with the team having convened in St Charles just the night before the match. She inherits a  strong roster with years of cumulative rugby experience despite the majority of the squad being under the age of 23. As a veteran coach at many USA Rugby Age-Grade assemblies, Coach Kunkel is certainly qualified to lead the team and has prepared the players with advanced emails detailing attacking structures and support play. With a mantra of simple rugby executed well, of attacking behind the defense and going for the try, the team will make quick work of Sunday morning classroom session, a walkthrough to institute the game plan and create cohesive set pieces. Coach Nic Benson is coaching on his third Stars tour and will oversee defensive schemes with extra focus on backs play. The services of physio Kemba Noel-London, also on her third Stars tour, will prove invaluable as most of the team played league matches Saturday with their home clubs. 

Stars Rugby 7s is honored to play this match versus Lindenwood University and thrilled for the future development of both programs. A high school girls match serves as the curtain raiser for Sunday's clash which is being billed as a Breast Cancer Awareness match. The teams will be selling RUGBY headbands at the gate with profits donated to the American Cancer Society. LU will sport pink socks for the game while Stars have pink headbands/armbands.

Roster

Katelyn (KB) Behounek - wing - Simpson College

Chip Bell - flanker/8/center - Tiffin University
Julie Bode - prop - KC Jazz

Cyndi Campbell - center - The Ohio State University
Anna "Dozer" Clouse - prop - KC Jazz

Angela Cole - center - DC Furies
/Morgan Crowell - prop - at large
/*Amanda Divich - scrumhalf/flyhalf/wing - at large
Jess Dombrowski - fullback/hooker - Illinois State University

*Liz Entwhistle - 2nd row/prop - at large

/Annalise Evans - 8/flanker/prop - Little Rock Stormers
*T Fletcher - 8/flanker - Raleigh Venom

Hannah Groom - flanker - University of Missouri/Saint Louis Stormers 

/*Sierra Gribble - wing - at large
*Tori King - flyhalf/center - Wichita Valkyries
Allissa Lockard - wing/lock - KC Jazz

Elizabeth (Lu) Morrison - hooker/prop - St Louis Sabres

Sarah Niswander  - hooker - University of Iowa
Abby Smith - wing - KC Jazz
/*Jolene Steibel - fullback/wing - Little Rock Stormers

Amanda Urbanek - scrumhalf - Wichita Valkyries
*Rian Van Nordheim - 2nd row - James River
Emma Wedel - flanker/8 - North Dakota State University

Head Coach: Anna Kunkel, Kansas City
Assistant Coach: Nic Benson, San Diego

Physio: Kemba Noel-London

Director: Liz Entwhistle, Chicago

*indicates veteran of previous Stars tours

/ indicates veteran of Lindenwood University

Stars in Action this Weekend

While Chicago looks to below freezing temperatures and 6" more of snow this week, plenty of our other Stars will be in action around the US and around the World. Best of luck to Cheyenne as she enters Team Australia camp upon her return home!

Domestically our South Buffalo Sinners Cara, Rhiannon, & Mercedez have Winterfest 7s  on tap. Here's hoping Vegas served as a good 'warm up' for their winter club action.

To the South Coach Eyal leads FAU Owls Codi, Swift and Kristin against their biggest rivals FIU which includes Stars Kim and Gracie. Should be a thrilling matchup under Friday Night Lights in Florida. Seems a special "Dirty Little Hamster" MVP Award should be created for this match-up!

Tiara will also see 15s game action in Texas with a D1 matrix match with her Dallas Harlequins Women against the Denton Women's Sirens.

Finally, Amanda and her Lindenwood University side take on Midnight 7s in Kansas City - one of many different Midnight 7s tournaments that take place around the country. Atlanta hosts one in late May/early June, and New York and Las Vegas later in the year. The Kansas City tournament is uniquely positioned as the only indoor tournament that breaks up the monotony of Midwest winters which affects/hinders our rugby seasons. They feature a college bracket on Friday and men's bracket Saturday.

Best of luck to all the Stars in action - and to everyone else, keep up the off-season training! Only 50 more weeks until Vegas 2015.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Meet our newest Star, Amanda!

In my prior post I mentioned that quite a few roster changes have been made as players have rescinded their commitments to the team. We did unfortunately lose our Elite side scrumhalf, Ireland and Leinster women's Tania Rosser, due to a family emergency. We wish her father in New Zealand a speedy recovery and for safe travels home for Tania.

 

With a such a large spot to fill, the Stars are pleased to bring collegiate scrumhalf Amanda Martin on board. The rugby community quickly got us in touch with each other as her team was initially entering its own side in the Las Vegas Invitational but is no longer travelling. Amanda comes from a pretty stellar rugby background in Florida and now finds herself playing D1 collegiate rugby in Missouri - she plays in the same conference as the college women I coach so I'm familiar with her talents!

Here's her story:

 

 

Hey there! I'm Amanda Martin & here's a little bit about myself. I'm currently 20 years old and I'm from Sebastian River, Florida. I've been playing sports my whole life.

 

Growing up I wanted to be just like my brothers so I followed in their foot steps and played town rec. baseball for a few years. When I finally reached high school I thought I'd try out softball but soon learned I did not share the same love for the sport as my teammates and though I should give another sport a try. 

 

 

 

 

Throughout high school I ran track, pole vaulted and weight lifted competitively. In 2008 my high school (Sebastian River High) decided to start up a girls rugby program this being the first ever girls varsity high school program in the nation and also beginning my rugby career! The title sounded cool but we struggled the first two years getting our butts whooped by everyone we played. Finally my senior year we won the state championship, regionals, and traveled to Salt Lake City for nationals.

 

Which leads me to the next chapter in my life... Before Nationals I had no plans on furthering my education because I knew my family could not afford it. But by the grace of God on the last day of nationals a woman by the name of Jeanine Scrogum approached me. She was so impressed with me that she offered me the first ever women's Rugby scholarship from Lindenwood University in St.Charles, MO. My only promise to her was that I'd help her start the women's program (yet again being apart of a first ever team). I still currently play for LU as the half back and I'm also the captain. Our program is still growing but I have faith that by the time I graduate our team will have a National title just like the men's team! :)

 

 

 

Apart from SRHS & LU I have also played for USA South U19, Florida Thunder All-Stars, Illinois Select Side (IRFU) and Midwest U-23 Thunderbirds including their tour to Wales last summer.

 

 Rugby is my passion! Although just playing the sport is a reward itself, one day making it to the highest level of Rugby would be the greatest reward of all. Being able to represent my country by playing the sport I love is my #1 goal! :)