About
- Chicago Lions Sevens CCS Las Vegas 2011
Las Vegas, NV- Lions storm to Challenge Cup Series Championship
The Chicago Lions Sevens program traveled to Las Vegas with redemption of a 31-7 final loss last year on their minds. Their on-field performance showed that they would not suffer 2 straight finals losses in Vegas.
Contributions came from every member of the squad, as stellar defense led them to a title. With an aggregate score of 162-21, the Lions team defense separated them from their opponents. In fact, it took till the semi finals for anybody to breakthrough the Lion’s wall and score a try. Led by team captain Eddie “Serious Cat” Bluemel, the Lions defense was organized, aggressive and virtually error free over 5 games.
Pool play started with a familiar opponent, 1823 of Columbus Ohio. The Lions offense started slow, but the defense prevented 1823 from leaving their half of the field for all of the first half and most of the 2nd. Stout defense would lead to a brace of tries apiece for Mark Roberts and Matthew DeGutes, and a try each to Scott Peterson and Lucas Thiem(playing in his first-ever sevens tournament). All the tries were converted save a lone miss from Peterson, Lions win 40-0.
Due to a last minute cancellation by the Dallas Harlequins RFC, the Lions would be without a 2nd pool game and awaited OMBAC, who played 1823 first. The theme against OMBAC would again be defense, as the Lions kept their score sheet clean and would again limit the amount of time their opponents would have the ball across the halfway line. Once again DeGutes and Roberts would cross the whitewash, followed by Jeremy Nash and Lucas Thiem. All the tries were converted to leave the tally at 28-0 in favor of the Lions.
The second day brought the knockout rounds, with the Lions opening their day with a quarterfinal matchup against the East Palo Alto Razorbacks. Despite a rocky offensive start, the Lions would prevent EPA from getting any real moment. The Lions definitely left a few tries on the field in the first half, but an early try by Mickey Franco and yet another try by Mark Roberts would see the Lions leading 14-0 in the second half. An excellent quick hands pass under pressure by Tommy Dolan put the ball at Nash’s feet who scooped the ball up and coasted to the try zone for the nail in the coffin. The Lions would advance to the Semis without having given up a try, defeating EPA 21-0.
In the semi-finals, the Lions would meet a familiar foe in the Denver Barbarians. During the qualification process, the Lions and Barbos met up in the final of the Heartland 7s tournament in Kansas City. That day in KC the lions ran away from the Barbos in the second half to win the qualifier and bring home a $1000.00 dollar check.
The game started poorly for the Lions. While the Lions were busy arguing a call with the referee(shocking since Patrick “Boomer” Twardak was not yet on the field), the Barbarians quick tapped a penalty and executed a simple kick and chase, leading to the first try the Lions gave up in the tournament.
However, the Lions response would be swift and severe. After a quick refocusing, Mark Roberts tallied another try, and another, then Nash. With a lead going into the second half, the Lions kept the pedal to the metal. Another try by Peterson, followed by Nash dotting down twice more to close out the game. Final score 40-7.
As in the semi final, the Lions would face a familiar opponent in the final in Belmont Shore. The history between the 2 teams up to this point had been one sided, with Shore winning recent matchups in a national quarter final as well as defeating the Lions last year in this same tournament.
In the early going, Nash opened up the Lions scoring account with an excellent run, slicing through a gap in the line, beating the sweeper and outpacing another Shore defender to the line. Shore would respond with a side to side movement that would lead them to dot down between the posts and equalize the score. Roberts soon found the corner of the try zone after a blistering run down the sideline by Degutes. Roberts followed his score with a tough conversion from the sideline. Halftime would see the Lions leading 14-7, hardly a comfortable margin given their history versus Belmont.
Not satisfied with his unfinished run in the first half, DeGutes would once again find space on the sideline and turn on the gas. This time there was no stopping him as he centered the ball between the posts.
- Goose & the Speed Bump
Soon after, a period of sustained defensive pressure led to a Belmont turnover. The Lions worked the ball up the field, side to side in a methodical fashion leading to an overload well executed by Dolan and Nash, with Nash scoring under the posts to extend the lead.
With victory at hand, the Lions perhaps let off the gas a bit allowing Belmont to close the gap with a long try. Determined to finish strong, the Lions took the ensuing kickoff and moved the ball upfield. A seam in the Shore defense was then exploited by Boomer, who with some smart dummying drew in his defenders and put Thiem away, raising the final score to 33-14. Also of note in the final, and throughout the weekend, was the consistent contribution of Jordan Highberger. He regularly broke the line on offense and kept opponents’ speedsters in check on both days.
A big thanks goes out from the Lions squad to their management team, Coach Aaron Manheimer, Team Manager Patrick O’Reilly, Team Trainer Jeff Farnsworth, whose time was generously donated by Athletico, one of the Lions premier sponsors, and most importantly the Lions supporters on the side line in Vegas!
Lions Squad: Tommy Dolan, Jeremy Nash, Scott Peterson, Eddie Bluemel(c), Mark Roberts, Matthew Degutes, Mickey Franco, Lucas Thiem, Jordan Highberger, Patrick “Boomer” Twardak, Austin Britts, Alistair Miller
Lions Use Team-Approach, Experience to Claw into 3rd Place Finish at Club 7’s Championships
Few coaches in the United States – no matter what sport they coach, what age group they are leading, or how many teams they compete against throughout a season – are able to stake claim at having the kind of résumé that compares to the one Aaron Manheimer has quietly amassed since taking over the Chicago Lions 7’s program in early 2007.
Consider this: since Manheimer took the helm as Head Coach, the Lions have captured the highly contested Midwest Championship in each of his three seasons, and have finished in the top ten of the Club 7’s National Championship final standings every year as well – including in 2007, where his team won the tournament, bringing the first ever National Championship into the Chicago Lions’ storied history.
The team has managed to keep its core group of players in tact over these three years, despite marriages, births, relocations, and injuries to deal with along the way. The 2009 7’s team consisted of Eddie Bluemel, Mat DeGutes, Josh Cocking, Jeremy Nash, David Selimos, Scott Peterson, Austin Britts – all members of the 2007 National Championship side. Newcomers and huge contributors to the 2009 squad included Mickey Franco, Brian Rooney, Ed Cassidy, Jeff Nogaj, Flavian Prince, Matt Kelly, Mark Roberts, Scott “Beaver” Jones, and Patrick “Boomer” Twardak.
Chicago once again stood tall amongst the ardent competition found in the Midwest, and once again showed the entire country that the Lions more than just belong in the discussion of being one of the best programs on the national scene; they showed that they are a viable threat to win each and every match they play on their way to the finals.
Behind an unwavering commitment to smart, team-first, fundamental 7’s rugby, and fielding one of the most athletic and dedicated teams in recent history (not to mention having a bus filled to the brim with loud, fired up teammates and supporters) the Lions made their presence known at the Midwest Championships by crushing Scioto Valley in the semi final 50-0, followed by a thrashing of Milwaukee 48-21 to claim the championship once again. Few teams have ever dominated the tournament in the style that the Lions did, which sent the Lions home with momentum they would carry all the way to the Men’s Club 7’s National Championships in San Francisco, California later that summer.
The Lions went 2-1 in Club 7’s National Championship pool play, humbling the hometown favorite San Francisco Golden Gate squad 21-0 and shutting down a very physical Glendale team 26-0, before getting edged by a tough NOVA side 21-19 in their third match of the day.
Going into quarterfinal action, the Lions were forced overcome the loss of arguably their best playmaker in Jeremy Nash due to injury. But with huge games from their veteran corps, including what some called the most impressive try of the tournament from Mat “Goose” DeGutes, the Lions were able to rise to the occasion and convincingly defeat an Atlanta Old White team despite fatigue, putting down the #1 seed from the Southern Region 26-7.
In the semifinals, however, eventual champions Belmont Shore were able to sustain pressure on the Lions for long periods of time, and jumped out to an early lead in what was a very physical encounter. The end result saw the Lions go down 14-0, ending their hopes for a second national title.
After taking in the initial disappointment of coming up short, the Lions refocused their energy and stormed back in the consolation match to win the Club Cup by beating Old Blue 14-7, securing a 4-2 record on the weekend, and their 2nd Top 3 finish in 3 years.
A pack of Lions were chosen to the Midwest Thunderbirds All-Star 7’s Team, including Manheimer, who was selected to coach for the first time. Mark Roberts, Eddie Bluemel, Mat DeGutes, Scott Peterson, Patrick Twardak, Brian Rooney, and Micky Franco led the way for the Thunderbirds, with Roberts finishing the competition held in New York City as the tournament’s overall leading point scorer.
Special thanks to all of the Chicago Lions 7’s program sponsors: Oakmark International Funds, Half Acre Beer Company, CPH and Associates, Chicagoland Auctions, Palmer-Tech, Tony Rio, Bobby Bloomfield, Regan Rohde and Phil Friedman (who actually played Flyhalf for the Lions over 30 years ago).
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