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Ladies of Aspen make historic Ruggerfest debut, including a win over Boulder

Aspen's Gents were stunned by the Serpientes in Saturday's quarters

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Austin Colbert

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The Ladies of Aspen play the Boulder Babes at Ruggerfest on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at Wagner Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times

The win meant absolutely nothing in terms of the tournament, but for the Ladies of Aspen Rugby Football Club, it was something akin to winning Olympic gold.

“It feels so good. I am so happy right now. Even the other games, we lost them, but we put up a fight. And I’m so proud of us for that,” player and board member Karsyn Stryffeler said on Saturday afternoon. “I had no idea how today was going to look. The fact we fought as hard as we did through the first three games and then we were actually able to pull out a dub on the last one, I’m elated right now.”

The Ladies of Aspen, officially founded in 2024, were making their Ruggerfest debut. While the annual rugby tournament, which dates back to 1968, has long been hosted by the Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Club, this marked the first time Aspen had fielded its own women’s team at its home tournament.

Simply competing was a milestone moment for the Ladies. But winning a game at Ruggerfest was further proof they might be building something that has staying power.

“The fact we were able to do so much today, I’m so proud, and I’m so proud of where the club will be going in the future,” Stryffeler said. “Just feeling the support of the crowd and hearing the cheers when we were able to score a try, it’s such an amazing feeling. That we get to be a part of the first group that got to play Ruggerfest is so cool and so meaningful for me.”


With a tournament roster of more than 30 players, the Ladies played in the five-team women’s open division. In Game 1 of round-robin play on Saturday morning, the Lads (as the Ladies like to be called) lost 17-7 to the Sister Wives, one of the more formidable and established women’s sides in the region. Next came a 20-5 loss to Gypsy Rugby, followed by a 20-0 loss to the Gray Wolves in Game 3.

With a spot in Sunday’s championship game no longer in the cards, the Ladies’ final game against the Boulder Babes wasn’t going to lead to anything, regardless of the outcome. But, with the home crowd behind them and a chance to make club history, Aspen pushed beyond the tired legs to beat Boulder, 14-10, claiming the side’s first-ever Ruggerfest win.

The Ladies of Aspen are coached by Gents’ icon Fred Waititi and former Valley Valkyries 7s rugby club coach Ike Fitzgerald.

The Ladies of Aspen take a group photo after beating the Boulder Babes at Ruggerfest.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
The Ladies of Aspen’s Kirsten Fisk leads the celebration after their win over the Boulder Babes at Ruggerfest on Saturday at Wagner Park.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
The Ladies of Aspen play the Boulder Babes at Ruggerfest on Saturday at Wagner Park.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times

“We were all gassed by the end, and we still managed to put up another score after they took the lead. I think that’s so exciting,” said player and board member Natalie Simecek. “We (now) know what we need to do. We can learn from the mental mistakes we made today and also celebrate the accomplishments today.”

In a lesson on perspective, while the Ladies’ 1-3 mark at Ruggerfest was seen as a soaring success, their counterparts, the Gents, had a disappointing 2-1 showing. Seeking a fifth-straight Ruggerfest title in the men’s open division, the Gents won both of their pool-play games, beating Denver University (38-5) and New Mexico (41-12) to reach the elimination rounds.

But, in the win-or-out quarterfinals, Aspen saw a 19-0 lead against the Serpientes evaporate, the Mexican side rallying in the final minutes to stun the Gents, who were forced to watch Sunday’s final from the sideline.

The Gents will take a week off before returning to Division II play with a home game on Oct. 4 against the Denver Barbarians. Outside of some possible friendlies, the Ladies of Aspen’s competition season is over, but training — and recruiting — will continue as they hope to build momentum after their Ruggerfest showing.

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“It’s everything we’ve been working toward for over a year,” Simecek said. “I feel like there is really something growing here and this is just the start. It feels good to represent the club in the first Ruggerfest, in our first kits. It’s so exciting. It feels so electric. I feel so optimistic about the future, whether it’s us or the next group of girls. We are trying to build something, and we set the foundation this weekend.”

Anyone wanting to get involved with the Ladies of Aspen can reach them via email at ladiesofaspenrugbyclub@gmail.com or find them on Instagram at @ladiesofaspenrugby.

acolbert@aspentimes.com

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