The team of Saints play during their 7’s season – Photo by Aquinas Athletics
By Grace Malec, Sports Editor
After a 15’s season full of ups and down, the Saints of the Aquinas Women’s Rugby team are wrapping up their tough 7’s season. With the sport not being an NAIA regulated sport, the team found their fair share of competition in opponents such as the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Indiana University Hoosiers and the Loyola University Ramblers
With a team full of both experienced and first time rugby players as well as the new addition of new head coach Dani Harris this season, the challenges of finding team chemistry while simultaneously learning the sport and taking on tough competition set the team up for a challenging season.
“So far with the rugby season it has been so fun and I’ve enjoyed learning how to play,” said first time rugby athlete Kennedy Stilson. “Since this is my first season 7’s came as a shock because of how much different it is compared to 15’s.”
Of their ten games during their 7’s season, the team found footing to win five games played; winning against Grand Valley State University 70-0, Ferris State University 42-14, Loyola University 20-12, 22-5 and 25-10.
A season of uncertainty brought challenges in itself. Matches against Calvin University and Michigan State University were both postponed and the team lost their chance to play against these two teams and learn from these opportunities. The challenging season came with tough losses. With one game left in the season against the University of Michigan Wolverines, the team is looking to end on the high note and use their experiences from this season to help them grow in the sport.
The team started off their 7’s season at the Great Lakes 7’s Tournament, scheduled to play Grand Valley State University, Ferris State University and Calvin University. As a program, the Saints showed off and proved their resilience, taking the win against the Lakers and the Bulldogs.
Coming off a high from their performance at the Great Lakes 7’s Tournament, the team found themselves in more uncertainty at the Dawg Town 7’s Tournament hosted by Loyola University in Chicago, Ill. The team started off strong, taking the win against Loyola 20-12, but later fell in their second match against the Ramblers 22–10. For their third match, both Aquinaa and Loyala were down players due to injuries which led them to a “motley” contest – where the teams would mesh together and play as one.
After a season of ups and downs for the athletes on Aquinas Women’s Rugby, and as they look to wrap up their 2024-2025 campaign with their 7’s season, the team’s resilience and perseverance continues to shine.
The Saint 