Captain Yasmin Valerio and head coach Ashley Crossway recently made it to Texas for a second time representing the SUNY Cortland Women’s Club Rugby team, also known as the Peace Frogs.
The Peace Frogs appeared in the National Collegiate Rugby Championship games December 2nd-3rd and finished fourth in the nation as they participated in the Small College Division.
However, coaching the Peace Frogs at the National Championship games was not a big enough accomplishment for head coach, Ashley Crossway.
Following post season play for the Cortland Peace Frogs, Crossway was selected to become head coach for the Small College 7s All-Star team, named the Upstate New York Snow Leopards. No head coach from SUNY Cortland has ever been selected to coach this team in the past and it is Crossway’s first appearance.
The Snow Leopards featured two teams this year, a gold team (Division I) and a blue team (Small College). Twenty-four of the best athletes in New York State were selected via tryouts and participated in the tournament on January 20-21 in Austin, Texas.
“It was a really unique experience and opportunity,” said Crossway. Collaborating with players and coaches across the Upstate New York Collegiate Rugby Conference was something that Crossway valued.
“To be able to see small college athletes in a different realm and coach them was rewarding,” said Crossway.
This is also the first time in Cortland history that a player from the Peace Frogs has not only tried out and made the All-Star team, but made the gold squad as well.
“I was hoping to make the Division I squad when I was trying out for the All-Stars team. I just wanted to compete at a higher level before graduating,” said Valerio.
She sent in game film and highlights to the All-Stars coaches because she was unable to attend the in-person tryouts. Two eager weeks later, she was pleasantly surprised to learn she was going to be competing on the gold team.
“It meant a lot for her to recognize that she is a very talented rugby player and that she can play with the best people in the state and against the best people in the country,” said Crossway.
Aside from Crossway’s coaching experience for the All-Stars team, she was able to see one of her own players from SUNY Cortland excel on a grand scale. After captain Yasmin Valerio had a traumatic injury in the 15s National Championship games this past December, she was able to fight adversity and gain the confidence to come back and end her rugby career on a high note.
“I didn’t know if what I learned or how I practiced in the past was going to be good enough to compete Division I,” Valerio said, “But when you go out there and you’re competing, you just play your game to the best of your ability.”
The chemistry and bond Valerio and Crossway have had over the past few years is something that they are both grateful for.
“Crossway is the one who taught me rugby and I am here because of her,” said Valerio. “It was comforting having her there because anytime I had a question or felt uncomfortable, I was able to talk to my buddy.”
Crossway helped mold Valerio into the athlete she is today, and her coaching style is one of the factors that impacted her the most.
“At times we have coaches that educate you, but don’t know how to push you. Crossway has the perfect balance of education on the sport and pushing you to do your best; I got the perfect balance of a coach,” said Valerio.
Going to Texas as the only rugby player from SUNY Cortland allowed Valerio to branch out of her comfort zone and meet the other athletes on her team.
“I think we clicked right away because we were all there for the same reasons, it wasn’t awkward at all,” said Valerio.
Team chemistry is something that came naturally to both teams. “There are people who have been on the team for several years and people who just started playing rugby which was a big transition,” said Crossway.
Despite these factors, both Snow Leopards teams showed success in Texas with the gold team placing third overall and the blue team placing fourth overall.
Crossway mentioned that the evolution of Rugby has changed drastically since she played on the SUNY Cortland squad herself and an All-Stars team was never an option in the past.
“Who was in charge and how it was structured, was very different,” said Crossway. “No All-Star tournaments or organized recognition. It is a really great opportunity for athletes today.”
With Yasmin being the first Cortland rugby player to attend, it will hopefully inspire more athletes to follow her lead. She stressed that anyone who plays and loves rugby should consider doing All-Stars, as she had a great experience with Ashley Crossway, her coach and mentor.
Picture credit: @rugbysnapshots – Olly and @alyssa_dengerrr – Ashley Denger
@shot.by.brianna – Brianna Schermerhorn @taylor.decastro – Taylor Decastro
