Final Four!
UPDATE: Thanks for all your support, everyone! Because of you, North Shore traveled to Mesa, Arizona and secured third place in the nation! Couldn't have done it without you! :)
(After the win against Philly. Front row: Precious Midgets; Middle row: Awkward Normies; Back row: Freaky Giants)
11 months ago, when twenty women and a Kiwi man crammed into a tiny elementary school gym for rugby drills and talks of grandeur, few could truly imagine that that night would propel us on a yearlong journey to Mesa, Arizona.
Especially since the goal we had set for ourselves – make it to the Division 1 Women’s Rugby Final Four – had long eluded us, despite being a relatively successful team.
But bit by bit, we started to believe. We started to believe in our new head coach, John Tisdall. In our new team motto, “It takes teamwork to make the dream work.” And in each other.
Now, almost one year later, we are proud to say that we have made North Shore history – by making it to the Final Four for the first time ever!
Last weekend in the unseasonably warm Austin heat, North Shore duked it out amongst the 12 best teams in the nation and came out victorious, despite the disadvantage of not receiving a first round bye.
On Saturday, we beat a scrappy Tempe side 48-8. Then on Sunday, we faced a fresh-legged Philadelphia team, who received a bye and rested all day Saturday. We proved our worth by handily defeating the #3 seed, 24-6.
On November 11th, the team will travel to Final Four in Mesa to take on #2 seed, Atlanta. This accomplishment is a first not only for our club, but also for our region, which is composed of the West and the Midwest.
Like all women’s rugby players in the U.S., the ladies of North Shore are not paid professional or even semi-professional ruggers. They play simply because they love the game.
So, this hard-earned success has put us in a tough position financially. With less than two weeks notice, we’re being asked to scrap together the funds to travel to Mesa to compete, which is anywhere from $400 to $600 per player. Not to mention hotels and car rentals. It’s all adding up fast. That’s why we need support from rugby enthusiasts like you.
A little help from old girls, fans, friends, and family could make all the difference!
Representing well at Final Four will ensure this team’s growth and continued success. Which will also help support our club’s mission to continue to expand and improve youth rugby in the greater Chicago area.
If you’d like join us on our journey to the Final Four, click on the following link to make a donation. Your help is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks for being part of the teamwork that makes the dream work! :)
