Allison Mueller/Winonan
Winona State University women’s rugby team had a “spectacular” season according to head coach Josh Krzewinski.
The Black Katts scored a total of 1,022 points this year while giving up 108. In addition, the team won their seventh consecutive All Minnesota Tournament, were 15-1 overall and secured a spot as runner up in the USA Rugby Division II Fall National Championship for the third time.
Winona State battled their way through playoffs, defeating Utah Valley in the Elite 8 with a score of 20-7. This win propelled the Black Katts into their fourth consecutive national Final Four in Palm Coast, Fla.
As soon as the team landed in the sunshine state they immediately started training to acclimate to the warm weather. Notre Dame College, Bowdoin College and Kutztown University accompanied Winona State.
The Black Katts followed a Notre Dame victory over Kutztown in the semifinals Saturday, Dec. 6 with a match up against Bowdoin, an undefeated team from Maine.
Although Bowdoin took the lead late in the first half, Winona State was able to come back before halftime and pull ahead 22-15.
Krzewinski said at half time the team knew they were in for another tough 40 minutes of play.
“We wanted to use our size and make them commit more players to tackling us while we controlled the ball in the rucks,” Krzewinski said.
The Black Katts never gave up the lead as they allowed Bowdoin five points in the second half. Winona State secured the win 39-20 and advanced to the national championship against the Notre Dame Falcons, a scholarship school moving to D1 next fall that Krzewinski said has spent money on athletes from all over the country and oversees.
Krzewinski said going into the final game the Black Katts needed to focus on executing their patterns and taking care of the ball while making tackles. He said the Black Katts were just as talented and needed, “to play our game.”
“[The Black Katts] had been preparing since the end of August, there was nothing else we needed to do or say,” Krzewinski said. “They were ready and just needed to play.”
Sunday’s final match saw its first two scores from Notre Dame. The two teams battled back and forth in the first half that resulted in a 26-10 lead for Notre Dame heading into halftime.
In the second half the Falcons held the Black Katts scoreless and claimed their title as national champions with a 45-10 victory.
“We lost to a better team, plain and simple. Regardless of the final score, I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this wonderful group of student athletes,” Krzewinski said. “We may have lost that game, but I know we fought and gave our all.”
Winona State senior and co-captain Kourtney Kavajecz saw her fourth year of play on the championship field, which she said was a “surreal feeling.” Kavajecz said a few other seniors have also played in the championship game for four consecutive years.
“It was exciting and nerves were running high,” Kavajecz said. “But there was also that bitter sweet reminder in my head that this would be my last opportunity as a senior to play side by side with my teammates.”
Tori Langhans, Brittney Knight, Madison Taylor, Kathryn Zahn, Ashley Pomeroy, Nadia Nassif, Sydney Norman, Georgia Porter and Kavajecz are senior Black Katts who have concluded their careers as rugby players.
Kavajecz said, “Rugby creates unbreakable friendships, and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to meet and play with so many incredible women.”
Krzewinski said he is confident that the remaining players on the team will “become the next generation of leaders and continue the great tradition we have going.” He said the coaching staff are always looking to recruit players on campus and interested students should visit the Winona State women’s rugby website and contact them via email or stop by Roger Riley’s office in Memorial Hall for more information.
The Black Katts have accomplished huge feats as a club sport and have made themselves prominent on a national level. Regardless, Krzewinski is still looking for ways to improve the team and continue to make an impact.
“I wonder how we can take it up another level next season, as we always try to do,” Krzewinski said.
