Sussex, WI–Head Coach Barry Holloway was named president of Wisconsin Girls’ Rugby after the sitting president Amanda (Pohle) Zinthefer stepped down to spend more time with her family.
Holloway will be tasked with leading the league into its 20th season. His focus will be to help the league create a strategic plan to develop an approach that leverages brand management to grow rugby within the state.
He is currently in his second year as head coach at the club he helped found, Hamilton RFC. During his tenure, the team has a 7-5 record, seven all-state players, and finished as high as 3rd at state (2018). He previously coached the women’s team at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (2007-2009). Under his leadership, the team had a 22-5 record, six all-Midwest players, and earned their first tournament win, playoff appearance, and state championship. He played high school rugby at Waukesha West High School.
In her resignation Zinthefer explained, “This league has blessed me since I was a sophomore in high school and has taught me so many things about what it means to be a player and a person.”
Zinthefer played high school rugby at Catholic Memorial High School. She was named captain of the team her sophomore year, her first year playing rugby, and remained in that position until her graduation. While at CMH, she led the team to a D-2 Midwest Championship and in 2014 was listed as an honorable mention for the Wisconsin Girls’ Rugby’s All-Decade team celebrating the league’s decennial anniversary. She would go on to play collegiate rugby at Grand Valley State and Marquette, and won the prestigious Kevin Higgins Scholarship in 2009. She spent some time helping coach CMH after college before taking over the head coaching duties at Fond du Lac in 2014. She also served as assistant coach for Wisconsin All-Star team and was elected president of Wisconsin Girls Rugby in 2017.
She added, “I wish both [Coach Holloway] and the league the best of luck as we celebrate and begin the year that holds within it the 20th anniversary of our state tournament. Thank you all for letting me lead you for a time and for the great gift that you give to each of your players.”
Hamilton RFC 