Tech Rugby Teams Go 9-1 at Weekend Tournaments

New Mexico Tech’s men's and women's rugby teams traveled to Houston and Colorado Springs, respectively, in search of new competition. Both ended up playing teams a division higher. Both brought home trophies. 

Men’s team

On Feb. 28, the New Mexico Tech men’s team traveled to Houston, TX, to close out the month and kick off the next at the Yellow Rose 7’s Showcase, an automatic qualifier for the National Collegiate Rugby 7’s National Tournament. After an extensive 14-hour drive, the team laced up their boots and dominated day one. Having faced adversity before, they treated their first setback as fuel and used it to represent who they are as student-athletes on the pitch.Following the withdrawal of five DIII teams, the tournament shifted to a combined DII and DIII format while still serving as a national qualifier for both divisions. On day one, Tech faced two DIII teams and Tennessee Tech (DII). The Socorroans shut out Tarlenton University (57-0), handily beat St. Edwards University (33-5), and edged out Tennessee Tech (12-0). 

“The team’s commitment through early morning practices and late nights studying was reflected on the scoreboard,” NMT rugger Ty Caldwell said.

Day two marked the start of bracket play, and the team once again faced recent opponents. Tennessee Tech returned for a Top 8 rematch seeking redemption, but the result mirrored Saturday’s outcome. Advancing to the Final Four, the Techies battled Montana State (DII). The result showed the gap between the two divisions, with Montana shutting out NM 26-0. 

“With the sun beating down and tensions running high, time expired before they could execute the decisive break they needed,” Caldwell said.Undeterred, they regrouped and faced another day-one opponent, St. Edward’s (DIII). The Miners bounced back to take third place against St. Edward’s University (12-7). 

“After five long, grueling matches, the team emerged victorious and claimed the Plate Championship at the second annual Yellow Rose 7’s Showcase Tournament,” Caldwell said.

First place went to High Peaks rivals Denver University, who defeated Montana State 17-5. Given the high likelihood of facing off against the Hawks at the national tournament, the Techies have a clear benchmark for the next two months of training.

Women’s team

The New Mexico Tech Women’s Rugby team delivered a statement performance this past weekend, finishing the tournament undefeated against strong opposition from larger universities across the region. Competing with grit, composure, and growing confidence, the NMT Ladies showed that they belong in the conversation with some of the top programs in the division.

Leading the charge was tournament MVP Aleigha Romero, whose impact was felt in every match. Romero’s work rate, vision, and ability to break the line in key moments set the tone for the squad. Whether it was creating space for her teammates or finishing opportunities herself, she consistently rose to the occasion when the team needed momentum.

Up front, Jackelyn Hernandez was named Forward of the Tournament. Hernandez imposed her physical presence in contact, dominated carries, and provided relentless defensive pressure. Her ability to win collisions and secure ball at the breakdown laid the foundation for the team’s attacking platform.

In the backline, Abigail “Abby” Adams earned Back of the Tournament honors with her composure and decision-making. Adams orchestrated the attack, moving the ball efficiently from side to side and exploiting defensive mismatches. Her communication and control were instrumental in the team’s ability to stretch defenses and finish clinically.

The tournament was fiercely contested but played in excellent spirit throughout. The NMT side showed clear progression from game to game. Early matches tested their resilience, but as the day unfolded, the cohesion and trust within the group became increasingly evident. By the final match, everything clicked, crisp passing, intelligent spacing, and dynamic ball movement from touchline to touchline led to scores from multiple contributors across the roster. It was a true team performance.

The women faced stiff competition and proved they could stand toe-to-toe with deeper rosters and larger institutions. They narrowly edged the Air Force Academy “B” side in a thrilling 26-24 contest, showcased attacking dominance in a 26-5 victory over Utah, demonstrated defensive resolve in a hard-fought 17-12 win against Utah Tech, and finished the day in commanding fashion with a 42-14 performance over Colorado University’s “B” team.

Although the NMT rugby “Queens” did not get the opportunity to square off against Division II rivals Colorado School of Mines, the results from this weekend are highly encouraging. With continued growth and refinement, the team is positioning itself for what could be a historic first qualification to the national tournament at the end of April in Boyds, Maryland.

The momentum now shifts toward their next home appearance. Both Miners sides will return to action on March 14th when they host the Battle of the Rio Grande 7s tournament in Socorro. With confidence building and systems continuing to sharpen, the NMT Ladies will look to defend home turf and continue their push toward nationals.