Championship Sunday: Valkyries Fight to the Finish
October 25, 2026 | Cincinnati, Ohio
The road to the State Championship led the Brunswick Valkyries south to St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati for one final Sunday of Fall 7s rugby. After weeks of hard-fought matches, muddy fields, breakthrough performances, and a season spent building chemistry between two squads, the Valkyries arrived ready to compete for the CUP and the SHIELD.
The drive was long, but the sun eventually broke through to deliver a beautiful day for rugby. With the regular season behind them and championship placement on the line, the A-side and B-side each faced three matches. There was one important difference from the weeks before: this was bracket rugby. Every result helped determine the next opponent, making each match another step toward the final standings.
Six matches remained. Two squads stood ready. One final chapter awaited.
A-Side Opens Against Hudson
The Varsity squad opened its championship campaign against Hudson, facing an early deficit that demanded a response. Down 5-21 at halftime, the Valkyries had ground to make up and a difficult second half ahead.
Ruby Mullen. Photo by Spencer Dockweiler.
The girls continued to battle, adding points and working to close the gap, but Hudson maintained its advantage. The final whistle came with the Valkyries falling 15-31.
It wasn't the opening result the A-side wanted, but championship rugby leaves little time to dwell on the previous match. With the bracket moving forward, the squad had to reset, regroup, and prepare for its next opportunity.
B-Side Starts Strong Against Perrysburg
The JV squad brought the energy in its opening match against Perrysburg. The Valkyries held a narrow 10-5 advantage at halftime, setting themselves up for a competitive second half.
Bailey Sandin. Photo by Spencer Dockweiler.
From there, the B-side kept its opponent at bay and added to its advantage. When the final whistle sounded, the Valkyries had secured a 15-5 victory to open their championship run.
It was a composed performance and an important start for a squad looking to make its mark in the JV bracket. The win put the Valkyries in a position to keep pushing, but another challenge was already waiting.
Overtime Heartbreak Against Shaker
The B-side's next matchup against Shaker delivered one of the day's most dramatic finishes. The Valkyries carried a halftime lead into the second half, but Shaker fought back to bring the score level at 15-15. With neither side able to settle the contest in regulation, the teams headed into overtime.
Dani Schenek. Photo by Spencer Dockweiler.
Suddenly, every possession carried even greater weight. One breakthrough could decide the match, and both squads had to dig deep with the game hanging in the balance. The Valkyries fought for the result, but Shaker found the edge in overtime, handing the B-side a heartbreaking 15-20 loss.
It was a tough ending to a hard-fought match. Still, the Valkyries had shown they could compete in a pressure-filled contest, and the day wasn't over yet.
A-Side Answers Back Against Cap City
The Varsity squad returned to the pitch against Cap City with another chance to make a statement. This time, the Valkyries established control early, building a 17-5 lead by halftime. With momentum on their side, the A-side continued to apply pressure after the break, adding points while working to keep Cap City from closing the gap.
Sophia Thomas. Photo by Spencer Dockweiler.
The result was a 27-17 victory for Brunswick.
After the opening loss, the response mattered. The Valkyries found their footing, put together a winning performance, and showed the resilience that had carried them through the season. In a bracket where every match shaped what came next, the victory gave the A-side something to build on.
B-Side Battles Perry
The B-side's final championship match came against Perry, with one more opportunity to finish the season on a high note. The Valkyries trailed 7-17 at halftime, leaving themselves with work to do in the second half. The girls continued to compete and found their way to more points, finishing with 19 on the board.
Olivia Bell. Photo by Spencer Dockweiler.
Perry, however, maintained its advantage and closed out a 27-19 win.
The loss brought the B-side's championship matches to a close. The final score wasn't the result the girls wanted, but their place in the bracket was still to be determined as the tournament's results came together.
A-Side Closes Against Medina
The Varsity squad's final match of the 2026 Fall 7s season was against Medina. After a challenging opener and a strong response against Cap City, the Valkyries had one last opportunity to finish their championship campaign with a win.
The contest was even at halftime, with neither side able to establish a lead. The second half became a battle of small margins, as both teams worked to find the points that would make the difference. Medina ultimately pulled ahead, and the Valkyries fell 10-17.
Sophia Pomeroy. Photo by Spencer Dockweiler.
It was a difficult final result for the A-side, but the girls had battled through three demanding matches and continued to compete until the final whistle. The season's final score line couldn't erase the work, growth, and determination that brought them to the State Championship.
Final Standings: Two Squads, One Valkyrie Family
With all six matches complete, the final championship placements were determined.
Varsity A-Side: 6th Place in the Cup Bracket
The A-side finished the championship with a 1-2 record. Their victory over Cap City showed their ability to respond under pressure, and their sixth-place finish in the Cup bracket marked the end of a season filled with challenges, lessons, and hard-fought rugby.
JV B-Side: Tied for 2nd Place in the Shield Bracket
The B-side also finished with a 1-2 record. Their win over Perrysburg, combined with a dramatic overtime battle against Shaker, made for a memorable championship day. The squad finished tied for second place in the Shield bracket, a result worth celebrating after a season of steady effort and team growth.
Kaylee Hurkman. Photo by Spencer Dockweiler.
The standings tell us where the teams finished. They don't tell the whole story of how they got there. They don't show the hours spent at practice, the encouragement shared after a difficult match, the players learning to trust one another, or the determination it takes to step onto the field again after a tough loss. Those moments are part of the season, too, and they are part of what makes this team a family.
A Team Full of Battle Maidens
At the end of each week, the Valkyries have recognized players through the Battle Maiden awards, celebrating the athletes who made an impact on the field. But after the final matches of the season, the coaching staff reached a different conclusion.
Every girl had earned that recognition.
Across the season, each player contributed in her own way. Some made game-changing plays. Others provided support, encouragement, and leadership when their teammates needed it most. Every athlete had a role in the team's progress, and every athlete had moments worth celebrating.
Rather than choosing a handful of players for one final set of Battle Maiden awards, the team chose to honor the seniors who are calling this their final 7s season. It felt fitting. The end of a season is about more than individual awards. It's about recognizing the people who gave their time, effort, and heart to the team, and celebrating the experiences they helped create along the way.
To Our Seniors: Thank You
To the seniors closing the book on their 7s careers, thank you.
Thank you for the commitment, the hard work, the leadership, and the memories. Thank you for showing up for your teammates and for being part of the story of Brunswick Valkyries Rugby. Every season leaves something behind, and the impact of a senior class goes well beyond the final standings. The lessons learned, the friendships built, and the example set for younger players become part of the team's foundation for the seasons ahead.
As you move into your next chapters, know that you will always be part of this Valkyrie family. We wish you the very best in everything that comes next, and we'll be cheering you on wherever life takes you. Once a Valkyrie, always a Valkyrie.
The 7s Season Ends. The Next Chapter Begins.
The final whistle at St. Xavier marked the end of the 2026 Rugby Ohio Fall 7s season. After a short winter break, the Valkyries will return to the pitch to begin preparing for Spring 15s.
The game will change. The field will open up. New challenges and new opportunities will arrive. But the heart of the team remains the same: work hard, trust one another, compete with character, and keep building something bigger than any individual player.
For now, the Valkyries can take a breath, celebrate the season, thank the seniors, and appreciate everything this group accomplished together.
Six championship matches. Two squads. A season's worth of lessons and memories. The 2026 Fall 7s campaign is complete, but the Valkyries' story is far from over.
Cover photo by Spencer Dockweiler.