Tucson, AZ. -- The Thunder Chickens exited with a loss in the College 7s Men's D2 National Championships Plate semi-finals, ending the tournament tied for 7
th place with a record of 2-2-1. Despite the mediocre score line, this was one of the best rugby weekends ever for the Thunder Chickens.
To really grasp the meaning of the national tournament for the Thunder Chickens, let's rewind to the beginning. When the 7s season started in January, the coaches could hardly get fifteen men to practice, and the stars they had thought would be playing had dwindled down to precious few. The hopes of keeping their streak of Nationals appearances looked quite remote. No matter, the lads put their heads down and the team pressed on knowing that they would do their best no matter what. In the spring the Thunder Chickens traveled to a tournament in New Orleans but played poorly. Their second scheduled tournament (in Kentucky) was canceled due to floods. Both Principia alumni and Lindenwood helped out by giving the Thunder Chickens scrimmages. During the Gateway Conference championship the team stayed focused and committed to excellence, sweeping the competition aside and earning a ticket to nationals.
The team feels blessed to have many alums in the area come and train with them, preparing the team for nationals. Graduation passed and serious rugby started. The coaches felt confident that their expectations of excellence would be met in Tucson at the national competition.
Game one was against a superb rival against the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, and the game was just a nail biter with the lead changing often. The Thunder Chickens were able to come from behind and score a try in the last seconds of the game to tie the score 19-19. Alas, the conversion kick went astray, and the win slipped away. A tough moment in this game came when Principia's scrum captain took an intense tackle to the ribs, taking him out for at least the rest of the game and several more games as well.
After a rest and a mindset reboot the Thunder Chickens faced the top team in their pool; North Carolina State University. They opened up a 14 point lead in a blink, and Principia was in serious trouble right away.
Nick Johnson made a couple of substitutions and the team settled down to very hard defense and wonderful offensive play. The Thunder Chickens slowly fought back and then ahead, and won the match 19-14. This was a tremendous victory which could push the team into the quarter-finals if they beat the University of Hartford in the last game of pool play.
When the team took the field against Hartford, they knew what they had to do to win their pool, and get a good seed in the quarterfinals. The team played wonderful rugby scoring several more points than required to secure their pool victory; and the team went to dinner knowing they had won the pool. An amazing feat against fine opponents.
Principia fans and family hosted a wonderful feast filling the stomachs and the hearts to the brim.
Head Coach
Ward Patterson made note that he did not sleep well that night because their Saturday morning match was against Iowa Central Community College; a full varsity and scholarship program, which he had slated to win the whole tournament! The Thunder Chickens spent time watching game tape of ICCC after breakfast, with alumni Jaime Serna and
Trevor Marunde leading the scouting. The team left the hotel in high spirits. The match was so very exciting, and just into the second half, coach Patterson broke protocol and ran over to the opposition bench and hugged their head coach and dear friend of his, saying that this was truly a wonderful game to be part of. Their coach beamed back at Patterson as he scampered towards Principia's bench. As the battle wore on, the Thunder Chickens went ahead 19 - 17 with one minute to play. ICCC had just enough time to dash in one more score, but Principia ran out of time before they could return the favor; and thus ended their run for a medal with the final score 19 - 24. This was a very tough loss indeed, but a fight extremely well fought seeing a second captain had been injured early in the match, leaving the team without a key attack player and team leader.
Coach Patterson explains a touching moment for him, "After the game, I had a 'once in a lifetime' moment. The ICCC coach came up to me, put his head on my shoulder, and in tears apologized that he had taken us out of the running for the title. He had wanted one of us to get in the big game, and was very sorry that his team was the one to eliminate us. Such sportsmanship and comradery are rare on this planet."
The Thunder Chickens were now fighting for the fifth place trophy, the Plate. They faced last year's champion, University of North Carolina Charlotte, which had beaten Principia in pool and quarterfinal matches last year. This was another wonderful and well played match with them being ahead much of the contest. After two great tries by
Zeya Kyaw and
TreVaughn Goodman to get Principia within one score, they had great hope for an upset, but Charlotte turned on the power again and shut the team out until the final whistle blew with the final score at 21 - 28. This loss to Charlotte ended the tournament for the Thunder Chickens. As the team was clearing the field, Whitewater was taking the bench for their next match, the championship semi-final, but they took the time to applaud Principia off the field. Another amazing showing of character and such an honor for the team. It was a good moment for the memory bank.
After many tears, and so many happy photographs the lads opted to stick around and watch some more rugby. It was at this time that Wisconsin Whitewater, coach and team in tow, came to Principia's tent and presented coach Patterson with a team shirt and wanted him to know how grateful they were for his influence on the game of rugby. This was a tremendous honor coming from an opponent that Principia has gone to battle with for six years. Later, the team was off to a family pizza party celebration. As the scores and finals of the D2 championship rolled in the team had to take a moment to contemplate the reality that they were the only team to beat the champions, NC State, and that they had tied the second place team, Wisconsin Whitewater. It was a small consolation for sure; but it showed how well this tiny college had performed, how hard these men played and how very close they came to their dreams. 2-2-1, does not tell the story at all. There were just one or two moments in each game where things could have changed those loses into victories—and vice versa.
Coach Patterson comments on the national tournament and season, "As a retiring coach, there are very few better and more memorable ways to go out. I have now had three days to process this journey and I know that this is the second best day of my entire coaching career. I could not have been more proud of these men because of how well they played, deported themselves and overcame staggering challenges at every single stage of this championship. Yes, we will be written up as an also-ran team, but every opponent, every Principian in attendance, and so many different fans in the park knew that this mighty program gave everything it had on the pitch and during every moment off the pitch. I am truly honored to stand amongst these men and to count myself one of them. Respectfully and gratefully their retired coach."
Coach Patterson also wanted to give a few statements of gratitude at the end of his Principia College coaching career.
1) Principia Rugby owes enormous gratitude to the team's managers during my term as coach: Tori Raine, Cassie Steedman and for the last three years we have had Katie Penfield. She has, like her predecessors been there in heart and soul day after day, slogging away to help the men have the best possible experience. Much is owed to Katie.
2)
Nick Johnson, our assistant coach has been an asset every team has dreamed of having. He has supported the Thunder Chickens in so many ways I cannot count; but here are a few:
- His light hearted mindset keeps my dictatorship in check.
- Technology during events where rosters and details are in a technology this young man cannot understand. Phew.
- Substitutes are so easy for him to see and manage. Our team performs so well as he flips and flops players onto the field giving the right firepower as it is needed; with the honorable respect for every player's burning desire to be a part of our success.
3) Once again, Principia had the largest crowd in attendance at the national tournament. We also, as usual, garnered many fans from other teams who cheered just as loudly as our family could. (One set of ladies commented that watching us was the highlight of their day. This was despite having watched their own sons play ). Thank you to the AFR officers for gathering the crowds, feeding us so well, and supporting our valiant efforts.
Patterson continues, "I am walking away from a fine program trusting in the hands of Principle and knowing that its success lies not in my hands but in the Principled action which founded this club, kept it alive for 40 plus years and made it the most successful team on campus. I am so privileged and grateful for the journey this team and the men have taken me on. See you about the park."
All games are available to watch on
Florrugby.
