Coming up for OP RUGBY

The 2025 season is right around the corner. The OP Rugby board and coaches have been working hard all fall and it's time to get excited for the season.  Dates to know:

12/27 - 2nd annual White Elephant Christmas Party for current players, parents and alumni

12/31 & 1/2 -Teach rugby @ OP Rec Holiday Camp          

1/ 27 & 28- Rugby on OPHS Gym classes.

2/2- (then all Sundays thru March) practice 2-4pm OPP Rec Center

2/3- (Monday) practice 8:30- 10pm Buffalo Bills ADPRO Fieldhouse.  Then Mondays 2/3-3/31  and  Fridays 2/7, 2/12, 2/21.2/28/3/21,3/28 (8-10pm)

2/5-   7-9 pm Parents and Players meeting at OP rec Center week 

3/15- Tournament @ Mentor

4/27- hosting Moon Area PA & Highland OH

5/3 & 4 - Possible away Ruck & Rugby tournament Rockville MD.

5/18 at Corning 

5/31 Girls state Championship game

TBD @ City Honors

TBD Fairport, Hamburg & Kenmore (likely in April)

June TBD

USA Rugby is offering the following Level 1 Referee courses:

February 1,2025  

Niagara University

17 University Drive

Lewiston, NY 14109

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OPRUGBY GIRLS 2024 AWARDS BANQUET AND CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION.

With You!

OUR OPRUGBY FAMILY CELEBRATED OUR 2024 SEASON, AMAZING ATHLETES, COACH LISA AND OUR 20TH YEAR THIS PAST WEEK. THE MOTHER RUCKERS (TEAMS MOMS) MADE IT A MEMORABLE AND INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE. CHECK OUT ALL THE GREAT PICS ON OUR PHOTO GALLERY PAGE (COURTESY OF PAUL SAFFRIN). WE CELEBRATED IN STYLE!

OP RUGBY HALL OF FAME:  COACH LISA HENRICH

PLAYER OR THE YEAR: ANNIE HENRICH

FOWARD: HAILEY FANTRAZZO

BACK: PEYTON LANGWORTHY

LUNCH PAIL: RORY SENFT

HAMMER: TESSA REICHMUTH

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: MISSY WOJTOWICZ

MOST IMPROVED: SYDNEY GENEK

CAPTAINS AWARD: ANNA MARUSZA

COACHES AWARD: ANGIE OBRIEN DOLE

Orchard Park Rugby Girl's add  

 2024 RugbyNY 15s Championship.

One week after winning both the Varsity and JV State 7s titles, OP added the RugbyNY 15s State Championship to their trophy case.  Perennial Collegiate Power St. Bonaventure hosted the match on their beautiful pitch in Olean NY. The game would feature the best two teams in NY (and the past two State champions), OP and Corning. it started out tight as the teams came out hitting hard and neither could find any space. Both teams feature dynamic backlines with multiple scoring options, but the game remained scoreless through the first 20 minutes. The teams struggled to find any space wide, and the forwards met each other in big powerful collisions. Corning withstood a multi- phase attack deep in their own territory before a penalty finally allowed them to clear the ball. The Lions would strike first when another OP penalty set them up deep in OP territory. Quick off loads and hard running would see Corning jump out to a 7-0 lead.  Corning’s quick poach and breakdown defense would frustrate OP all day. Running their Offensive system eventually led OP's backline to  find a little space. Captain Annie Henrich would dive over after the OP forwards pounded the ball inside the 5m line. Just a couple minutes later the OP forwards were again threatening inside the Corning 5, and drew a penalty that Annie converted to take OP to an 8-7 lead. Then just before the end of the half, OP Fullback Peyton Langworthy finished off a backline attack under the sticks and OP led 15-7.  The first half of the game OP’s defense was humming. Big hits and smart play ended every Corning attack.  On the rare times Corning broke through the gain line the OP deep three were there with great covering tackles. Junior wings Madi Ward and Julia Tills played stellar games, limiting Corning’s wide attack which had hurt OP during the regular season meeting.  Flanker Sophia “Savage” Saffrin was a tackling machine and OP Backline (Henrich, Moeller and Natalia Phillips) held the talented Corning Backs in Check. Rory Senft in her first start at hooker stepped up and had her best game for OP.  Rookie Missy Wojtowicz was forced into duty to replace injured prop and Captain Gia Fanutti, halfway through the first half. Haltime score OP 15-7 Corning

Mercurial winger Gia Ditto came in the start the second half as an impact sub and the first 15 min of the second half were a continuation of the first. OP maintained the majority of the possession and set up their backline with strong forward running. Hailey Fantrazzo, Anna Murusza and Aero Geise led the attack.  The relentless pounding drew in defenders and created space for the backline who would Score 3 tries in the next 20 min for a 32-7 OP lead. (Madison Moeller, Langworthy, Ditto scored).  With about 20 min remaining that would change. Corning brought in a couple of forward finishers and fatigue would start to creep into the OP players. (no doubt magnified by Prom the night before). The penalty count grew and missed tackles started to mount up. After  Corning scored the next try the momentum swung to their way. Penalties and slow reactions would allow Corning to score twice more. Brining the score to OP 32-24 Corning.  Angie Dole and Tessa Reichmuth replaced a couple of exhausted OP forwards. Finding their lead down to 8 points, it was going to be that kind of day. ....Heart and effort would win the day. Whichever team could dig deep and find the strength to finish … the trophy was within their grasp. Captain Annie Henrich took control and rallied her side, leading from the front. Her dominating tackles got them team’s energy back up.  Kayliann Tefft and Taylor Skorupski had big runs and Sophomore Tessa Reichmuth was so close to scoring, only to have it called “held up” by the ref.  Off the ensuing drop kick, OP moved the ball and rucked quick leading to Peyton scoring her second of the day. After Annie converted, the score board would read OP 39-24 Corning. The game would end on that score, much closer than the final score might suggest. Sydney Genek earned her first varsity start at scrumhalf and played great matched up with the Corning #9, arguably their best player and player of the game. Arianna Hardt also played her first varsity game as a forward replacement. Scoring: Annie 2T 3C 1PK Peyton 2t, Ditto 1T Moeller 1T

Games like this are why we love rugby and sport. Neither team gave an inch. Everything was earned. The tackles could be heard in the stands. The effort and heart obvious. Both teams deserved to be there. I’m proud of the OP girls. Of the effort and support they gave each other. I hope the parents and fans saw what I did. A team…. A family… each and everyone of them giving everything they had. Willing to bleed for each other, to find something deep inside to keep them going.  Win or lose they left it all out there on the pitch.  I’m sure the same can be said of the Corning players. That’s what makes it even sweeter. We were thoroughly tested, tested by a great team and our will, our commitment and energy carried us.  I am so happy for the seniors. You all deserved this. You will be missed. You are OP rugby and OP rugby will always be here for you.  With YOU!

   111 Village Dr., State College, PA, 16803, U

 OP Girl's win RugbyNY 7's Championship

The OP girls traveled to LeMoyne College this past Sunday for inaugural NYS girls 7s’ Championship.  We entered a varsity and JV side. And the OP rugby family traveled strong. The support was loud and uplifting for the girls and coaches. Thank you to the best High School Rugby crew and all the parents.   A big thank you to Rob Sliwinski (RugbyNY Director), the Referees Union and Lemoyne College for the great event.

The players, their effort, energy and unselfishness, the parents support, and the OP rugby culture displayed were everything the coaches could have asked for. More on that below.

 JV.

 Rory Senft and Tessa Reichmuth Captained out younger side.  While we missed our usual JV captain Sydney Genek (wisdom teeth) both Rory and Tessa stepped up and led from the front. The JV offense was sparked by the running, passing and unselfish play of Madi Ward.  (Highlighted by her 4 try assists). While she and halfback partner Ella Riccardi provided the teams offensive spark, it was the defense that really shined. I always say that offense is fun, everyone loves to run with the ball, but defense is work, heart and effort. And the team worked all day, only allowing 10 points. Tessa led the defensive with a monster day filled with big dominating tackles and creating turnovers. Ella Drew and Izzy Sanchez added a couple of try saving tackles. The team fed off the strong defense smart play to go 3-0 on the day. Kayliann Teftt and Rory made big runs and made smart passes putting team mates into space and 9 different players scored a try. I was super impressed by how smart and how willing the girls were to do whatever the team needed. After the first game I said to Nat Ling “ you are so good with the ball in hand, everyone loves it when you take off and go, but I need more energy on defense more effort there...  if you can give me that I can play you more. "Her answer, simply “ yes sir” and she went out there and hustled and tackled and rucked like she was born to do it. Arianna Hardt contributed big runs and Lillee Funnell and Gray Forrest played their best games of rugby.  Maggie Mueller’s high rugby IQ and motor were on display as she was always in support and in the right place, as evidenced by her 50 m try from a beautiful Madi off load.

Players of the day: Madi ward, Tessa Reichmuth                                                                                                     Scoring: Madi 3T, Ella 3T 2C, Izzy 2T, Rory 1T, Maggie 1T, Tessa 1T, Arianna 1T, Kayliann 1T, Nat 1T,

Varsity 

The Varsity Girls put on a display of energetic powerful defense and clinical team offense.  Annie Henrich and Sophia “Savage” Saffrin captained the senior side and their effort on defense and willingness to move the ball from touchline to touchline led to pool scores of 38- 5 and 46-0. OP then bested City Honors 41-0 in the semi and Corning 29-7 in the final to claim the RugbyNY title.  The OP trio of Annie Henrich, Peyton Langworthy and Gia Ditto led the offense with multiple tries and highlight reel scores. Annie’s chip and chase kick, using all her soccer skills to “dribble the ball 50m being the best of them. Again though, it was the defense and unselfish team play that separated OP from their opponents.  Annie and Savage led the defensive effort, but the big hits from Anna Marusza, Hailey “Trashy” Fantrazzo, Aero Geise and Taylor “Big Money” Skorupski made it a tough day for opponents. Covering tackles from Peyton and Julia Tills preserved the shutouts. Madison “Mo” Moeller made big runs and Angie Dole and Rookie Sofia Laduca provided energy off the bench. Gia Fanutti added big hits in spot duty (held out by coaches -ankle). What was most impressive was how the team played as a whole. They set up on defense and re-aligned quickly. They moved the ball and were patient on offense. Everyone was unselfish and thinking of the team first. From a coach’s perspective it was nearly perfect. I am so proud of everyone. They clearly earned this.  All the work, the gym time, the fitness drills, training in the snow and things they missed to be at rugby…. It was all worth it Sunday.  So very worth it!!!

Players of the Tournament: Peyton Langworthy                                                                                                    Players of the day: Peyton Langworthy, Annie Henrich                                                                                          Scoring: Peyton 7T, Annie 6T 12C, Ditto 5T, Tills 3T, Mo 2T, Laduca 1T, Fanutti 1T

Overall, OP was dominate on the day. A combined 7-0 and 233 points for and 22 against.  

THANK YOU ALL OUR MEAT RAFFLE SPONSORS!!

FIRST ANNUAL OPRUGBY MEAT RAFFLE

 OP RUGBY'S 1ST MEAT RAFFLE WAS AN ABSOLUTE SUCCESS! 350 PEOPLE ATTENDED AND WERE TREATED TO A GREAT TIME AND AMAZING PRIZES. THE EVENT WAS THE RESULT OF THE DEDICATION AND WORK OF THE OP BOARD, PARENTS AND EVENT CHAIR MELISSA SAFFRIN. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS AND SPONSORS