Michigan went 2-3 at the 2022 Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) 7s tournament and finished 27th in the nation.
The team began the tournament with a 35-point loss to American International College (AIC) and a failed comeback bid against the University of Florida, but rebounded in a thrilling overtime win against Nazareth College. A close loss to West Chester University and a beatdown on James Madison University rounded out the tournament. Freshman scrumhalf Shea Loughnane led Michigan with six tries.
Against AIC, Michigan cruised for the first three minutes, weaving the ball back and forth across the field before Shea Loughnane scored in the corner. From there, everything unraveled. An untimely turnover and botched kick return gave AIC a 14-5 lead, and then Michigan couldn’t put anything together in the second half en route to a 40-5 loss.
The start of the Florida game was more of the same. The Gators scored two quick tries in the first half. Sophomore wing Max Rector almost had a breakaway try to dent Florida’s lead, but he was tackled in the try zone and knocked the ball forward. Michigan finally started to put it together in the second half. Senior prop Nathan Feldman scored two tries, but he dinked one of the conversion kicks off the post, and Michigan fell 14-12.
Nazareth is one of the country’s newest varsity teams, and they looked the part as they built their own 14-0 lead. But then the Maize and Blue came alive. A Feldman break turned into a try thanks to fantastic support from freshman center Jamie Willcox and Rector, and sophomore Tommy Hendricks found a hole for a fantastic line break and try. But Nazareth scored again, and they led 19-12 with just a few seconds left. On his birthday, sophomore wing Justin Ladd delivered a crucial offload to Shea Loughnane to tie the game, and it went into overtime. Facing another loss, Michigan won a defensive scrum at its own 22m line, and then junior flyhalf Braden Loughnane punted the ball down the field. A few seconds later, his brother Shea scored yet another try to cap off the 24-19 win.
Michigan had a chance to play on CBS Sports for the Challenge Bowl title, but squandered it by losing to West Chester 17-12. The Wolverines generally played a clean game, but a few errors proved to be the difference, despite a try from Grant Sasina and Shea Loughnane’s fourth try of the tournament.
In one final consolation game versus James Madison, the Wolverines finally put on a show. James Madison looked tired, and Michigan played a mistake free game. Shea Loughnane scored two more tries, and Willcox, Rector, and Braden Loughnane also scored to seal the 35-0 win.
The Wolverines leave New Orleans with only two wins, and while 27th place is honorable among hundreds of collegiate programs, the team certainly thinks it can do better. “I don’t think anyone is complacent,” said Head Coach Matt Trenary.
Eight of Michigan’s 11 CRC players are underclassmen, and all 11 are returning. This team has its work cut out for it, but it will bring a lot more experience into next school year.
