Led by an impressive playmaking effort from flyhalf Alex Chura and an overall strong effort from flanker Charlie Green, Celtic Elite Rugby improved to 29-1 over the last six years and won the Boys Varsity bracket at the Midwest Regional Cup Tournament.

Tennessee continued its strong work, beating Celtic to win the Girls Varsity bracket by going 3-0, while Celtic took the Girls JV bracket. Wisconsin took the Boys JV title with a back-and-forth win over Michigan 26-19.

Celtic Rules

Celtic took the Girls JV and the Boys Varsity. 

“It’s been a privilege to be a part of the Celtic program,” said Chura, who helped spark the Celtic boys’ effort. In that final, a Green poach led to Race Lewis going in at the corner. 

Green cut through the nonsense for a try and strong work from No. 8 John Stuhldreher, Josh Leidich at center, and Mark Steinmetz, also in the backs, benefitted from an overall strong effort in the forwards. 

The Wolfhounds, who had edged Indiana 19-17 and could have won it all in that game, were just a game too far. After a strong effort all weekend, they seemed to hit a wall in the fourth game, and Celtic was too structured to let them break the game open.

Tennessee Brilliance, Indy Keeps Pace

No team was like Tennessee in the girls Varsity program. They pummeled teams up front and burned them on the outside - usually with Adrionna Duncan. Serena White, Cindy Baugh, and Selena Jones also set the tone, and they did it constantly. 

Only Indy Speed could really keep close, and Indy showed well, losing to Tennessee 24-19 but beating Celtic and Michigan handily. Flanker Libby Moser, center Katiana Rodriguez, and center Anna Hensel were luminous, all putting in a variety of efforts as tacklers, runners, passers, scorers, and in the rucks.

Wisconsin Strong

Wisconsin competed well in the Boys Tier 1, but won it all in Tier 2. Hooker JT Szymanski stood out on a weekend where a number of hookers played well. Tyler and Austin Hastings provides two massive bodies at lock in a tier where it’s difficult to find big guys who can run. Zavier Ellis was a force in the semifinal, scoring four tries with a superb turn of speed and sidestep.  

Middle School

A robust Middle School bracket ended with EIRA Indiana defeating Illinois 31-0. Captain Tanner Quackensbush said it all came down to the camaraderie of the team.

“It’s great to see all of these teams come out in Indiana - it’s good for the league, good for the future,” said Quackenbush. “The EIRA program is great mostly because you meet new friends and new buddies you have for a lifetime.”

Fishers Winners

The Cyntheanne Park fields in Fishers, IN were some of the stars. The venue provided excellent playing surfaces and the event itself was well organized by Heather Harley, who helps run the Fishers HS and youth programs. With a strong group of officials, trainers from Athletic, and good playing surfaces, the injuries were held to a minimum. 

And with solid officiating, the game was played in the right spirit, for the most part. On several occasions, coaches were called on to be touch judges, and made crucial calls that went against their own team’s best interest. This happened in the Boys JV semi twice, when the Fort Hunt coach had to make the call on a possible Wisconsin try, and recommended the try be allowed each time.