On Saturday, the Big Ten 7s series wrapped up in Ann Arbor. Michigan notched commanding victories over Purdue and Illinois to book its place in the semifinals before falling to Penn State 22-7. In a season where Michigan seemed to improve in every tournament, the result clinched a fourth place finish.
2022 Big Ten 7s Series – Final Standings
1. Indiana – 24 series points
2. Penn State – 20
3. Ohio State – 19
4. Michigan – 12
5. Michigan State – 10
6. Purdue – 9
7. Illinois – 7
7. Wisconsin – 7
Senior Nathan Feldman led the way for the Wolverines with 21 points on the day. In pool play, Michigan controlled the game against Purdue, winning 19-5 despite quashing a few additional scoring opportunities. Against Illinois, Head Coach Matt Trenary began pulling starters midway through the first half, because Michigan was already up 17-0. The Wolverines cruised to a 31-17 win.
The Maize and Blue showed encouraging signs against Indiana (the final pool play game) and Penn State (in the semifinal). Junior George Janke rumbled in for an early try against Indiana, and the game remained competitive throughout. Against Penn State, Michigan led at halftime but couldn’t hold on. A 41-0 thrashing by Ohio State in the third place game demonstrates that there is still work to be done, but the Wolverines played more comparably to the best teams in the conference than the worst.
In the developmental competition, Michigan’s second side finished 3-1 with a point differential of 71. They crushed Michigan State 50-0, and their only loss came in stoppage time versus Indiana. A number of players on Michigan’s second side will be difference makers for the first side in the fall.
Michigan’s third side was winless, but was still encouraging given that it is the only third side in the conference. The third side had to play up against other schools’ second sides.
Click here to view the full results from Michigan 7s on April 16.
Although school ends next week, 12 players will stick around in May to train for the Collegiate Rugby Championship tournament in New Orleans over Memorial Day. The rest of the team is done for the season, and will begin training for the fall season, which begins in August.
