Kent Crusaders high school girls rugby team capped off a stellar season with an appearance in the national championship match, falling 55-10 to Fallbrook which won its third straight National Invitational Tournament final the weekend of May 18-19.
Rex Norris, the Crusaders girls coach, wrote in an email that the NIT experience “was an amazing weekend.”
No wonder given that the 2012 team finished fifth in the country. T
his season the Crusaders girls were the state champions and finished with a record of 17-4 with signature wins over Beaverton which was the No. 1 team in Oregon at the time and the 2012 state champions, Carson Graham which was the No. 1 Canadian team in 2012, Canby, Oregon state champions Grant, just to name a few.
During the NIT, the Crusaders beat the West Carroll Marauders, who were the Pennsylvania state champions then Divine Savior of the Holy Angels who were the Wisconsin state and midwest region champs as well as undefeated until they came up against Kent in the national semifinal.
Players from Kent Crusaders come from schools throughout King County.
Representing Kentwood is Emma Knapp, Cassidy Meyers, Ellen Morrison-Bala, Caley Polkinghorn, Ashley Rolsma, Vija-Marie Sharp, Tori Vallala, Katie Eschbach and Jessica Pearson.
Tahoma is represented by Carol Pedro, Sara Young, Anissa Carrell, Sarrah Berntsen, Jasmine Flores, Jessica Glassner and Jennifer Larson. And players from Kentlake are Danielle Brooks, Gaby Drllevich and Danielle Pilutik.
