GLENDALE, Col. – The Panthers competed in the USA Rugby D1 Elite Division for the first time in 7's and came away with the Shield Championship. Davenport opened the first day with three pool play games against some of the toughest competition in the country. The Panthers lost to Army 24-14, then fell to Life 29-14. Davenport recovered and defeated Harvard later in the night 24-19 to go 1-2 in pool play. On the next day the Panthers played Central Washington in the Bowl Semifinals, losing 36-7. For their final game of the 2018 season, Davenport took on Dartmouth College in the Shield finals. The Panthers came away with a decisive 27-10 victory and the Shield Championship!
 
"We were very excited to play in the Elite Division at Nationals" said Head Coach Greg Teliczan. "To have USA Rugby select us as one of the top eight teams in the country to participate in that level of competition shows just how far our girls and program has come. We were very competitive in every game and should have defeated Army on the first day of competition. However, mental mistakes and poor ball handling proved to be the difference. At this level one mistake can be the difference. We play well the rest of the tournament, finally winning the Shield Championship."
 
One of the three seniors who played her final game with the Panthers was Hannah Tennant, here is what she had to say following the tournament. "I can say that it has truly been an honor to be part of Davenport Women's Rugby. The three of us, Danielle Ordway, Hunter Moreland, and myself, being on the inaugural team have had the opportunity to watch the program and players grow year to year. Every year we get a stronger class of freshman coming in that have the opportunity to take the program to the next level. From winning D2 Championships to moving up to Division 1 and winning the Fall Championship our first year, to competing with the top eight teams in the nation, it has truly been a humbling experience and it shows that hard work and dedication to the program can increase the caliber of the program. The three of us are sad that our time has come to an end, but it's a new chapter for the program to grow beyond their current success! The new girls on the team have an incredible amount of talent and I have no doubt they will be able to lead the program into this new chapter."
 
In their first year of competing in D1, the Panthers won the USA Rugby D1 15's Fall National Championship and the USA Rugby D1 7's Shield Championship.

Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: USA Rugby