Colorado Mesa University Women's Rugby

the varsity weight room three times a week. Keep reading for more on the history of the team:

The Mesa Women's Rugby team went undefeated with one tie in their initial inaugural season. In the fall of 2010, the team decided to compete in league where their only loss came at the hands of Colorado College, they were however able to beat University of Wyoming. After earning the #1 spot in their league the team moved onto regionals where they beat Wayne State and the University of Texas in Norman, OK. This opened them up to a national playoff birth. The team fell at the hands of the University of Notre Dame, but then ended up getting a forfeit win against UC Santa Clara. In all of DII Mesa State finished the season ranked #8. Since their inaugural season, the team has made regionals every year. The 2012 season saw the team headed to Lindenwood College in Missouri to take on the University of Nebraska and the University of Wyoming. After handling Nebraska, Wyoming got the better of a team that was running low on numbers. Mesa exited this season #2 in the West. Only the top seed moved on to nationals. The team entered the 2012-2013 season in a new division. They were split into the Utah division as the Eastern slope teams would duke it out and there would be a playoff match before regionals to send the top 2 teams from the West onto Nationals. After finishing top of their division the team entered the playoff tournament in Colorado Springs ranked #1. They beat Colorado College then had a rematch with Utah Valley. Again, with numbers low the team lost. However, the top 2 teams would move on to Regionals. Due to a crazy ordeal, miscommunication, and lack of organization Regionals was cancelled. This left the team high and dry for Nationals. They wouldn't go out without a fight though, in a sort of wrestle back idea the team would be allowed to play to get back into the National bid. They headed to the University of Washington to take on the #1 team in the nation. Needless to say it ended rough. The 2013-2014 season saw a team bouncing back from the 2013 finish. The team ended up back a top the conference. Finishing regular season with a huge win over Colorado College boosting them with a bye into the Sweet 16s in Wayne, NE. Mankato State fell at the hands of the Mavs in the round of 16, but then the Lady Mavs faced #1 Winona State. Out sized and out educated the Mavs out everything they had into the match and much like Washington State there just was no competing with the top dogs. This season ended #5 in the Nation for NACRA Rugby. Now we come to the 2014-2015 season. The Lady Mavs played in two leagues this season so they could get as many matches possible. Last years schedule ended up being a bit weak with teams forfeiting and canceling matches. The lady Mavs finished #1 in the Eastern Colorado division and a tied #2 on the Western Utah division. Regionals were hosted at the Ladies brand new pitch on campus. On day one the ladies did work and earned the W. However, it came at the cost of 4 crucial starters to injury. Day II showed a half strength team taking on Utah Valley. The team loss but that still put them at #2 in the Region. They earned a spot into the round of 32. However looking at injuries, numbers, and cost of flying across country to the East Coast, the Lady Mavs gave up their spot in playoffs. That is 6 years as a program, 6 winning seasons, 5 opportunities to make it to playoffs, 4 times going to playoffs, two national tournaments, 2 First Team and One second team All-Americans and a team ranking of #8 and #5 in the Nation. Not bad for a small DII college. Coming off a short COVID season, the Lady Mavs were excited and preparing for a strong 2021 fall 15s showing. This dream was cut short as just mere minutes into the first match of the season, the starting roster started to get injured. What would turn out to be one of the most injury plagued seasons, still showed the ladies making a playoff run. The team traveled to New York and Vasser College where their season ended. Down 7-11 starters at a time over the season turned out to be a mountain too steep. The ladies turned their focus to recovery and the spring. The spring of 2022 brought on the Lady Mavs first official 7s season. Though the team had played in two other tournaments (and won them) over their tenure, they had never competed towards a Championship. After winning CSU, CU, their home tournament and the Air Force Academy 7s, the ladies were headed to Connecticut and the Coast Guard Academy to bring home some hardware. After 4 impressive wins, the ladies came up one match short and are your Spring 7s National Champ Runner Ups.