NMT Women Go Three for Three in El Paso Tournament

The Women’s Rugby roster at New Mexico Tech now numbers fifteen. Not only that, but they’re winning matches! Under the guidance of NMT standout-turned-coach Milaan Van Wyk, the young women of Socorro went 3-0 at the Conchas 7’s tournament in El Paso. They dispatched both El Paso’s A and B sides (26-7 and 26-0, respectively), as well as a ladies’ team from Ciudad Juarez (17-5). On the scoresheet, I have four tries for Serena Richardson, five for Aleigha Romero, and two for Jackelyn Hernandez. Romero slotted one drop goal conversion, with Hernandez landing seven of her own.

2025 NMT Women’s Rugby Roster

1. Tanya Navrotsky
2. Shay Vanlandingham
3. Desiree Richmond
4. Aleigha Romero (5 tries & 1 conversion)
5. Karen Navrotsky
6. Jackelyn Hernandez (2 tries & 7 conversions)
7. Serena Richardson (4 tries)
8. Sophia Nocura Moreno
9. Cassandra Ibarra
10. Valentina Robledo
11. Kaleena Essomba
12. Evangeline Miranda
13. Sophia Moores
14. Zora Tolino-Minefee

NMT Men Secure At-Large Bid for National Tournament in Maryland

The other good news: The men are going to Nationals! As soon as the team arrived back from the qualifying tournament in Greeley a few weeks ago, head coach Jason Oliphant submitted an application for an “at large bid.” The fact that the side has only lost two matches out of twenty-nine this year was sufficient evidence for National Collegiate Rugby. No doubt that Oliphant’s characteristic persuasiveness played a role as well.

The Socorroans have been back at their preparations in earnest. They have held full-day practices, simulating the alternation of bursts of activity with downtime experienced during an actual sevens tournament. They have been placed in the East bracket of the National Collegiate Rugby Division III Cup, facing off against the Virginia Military Institute in their first match.