The Colorado Mesa University Mavericks capped a dominant spring campaign in style on Sunday, capturing their second 7s national championship at the Collegiate Rugby Championship. Built on a mantra of "confidence, not cockiness," the Mavericks showcased elite rugby IQ, blistering speed, and clinical execution throughout the weekend.

Entering the tournament as the No. 4 seed in the West, CMU wasted no time setting the tone in their opener against South Florida. After a brief defensive stand, Chloe Coop ignited the offense with a breakaway try to open scoring. The floodgates opened from there, as Coop struck again, and Bentley Steyaert added two tries of her own in a commanding 20–0 shutout.

The quarterfinals brought a tougher test against top-seeded Roger Williams University, but the Mavericks remained unfazed. Navaya Steele got CMU on the board early, with Steyaert converting, before co-captain Sage Davis powered through the middle to extend the lead. Holding a 12–5 edge at halftime, CMU pulled away in the second half behind another Steyaert try and a physical finish from Gena Karpiel, sealing a 24–15 win to advance to the semifinals.

Sunday's semifinal clash against Wisconsin–Eau Claire tested the Mavericks' resilience. CMU fell behind 12–0 early, but a heads-up play from Kaylee Burns just before halftime cut the deficit to 12–7. From there, the Mavericks' conditioning took over. Coop delivered the equalizer, Steyaert added the go-ahead conversion, and later broke through for the try, completing the comeback and sending CMU to its first championship match since 2023.

Awaiting them in the final was defending champion Coast Guard Bears, the same squad that ended CMU's title hopes a year ago. This time, the Mavericks flipped the script. Burns opened the scoring with a quick tap try, capitalizing on a penalty, before Karpiel powered down the sideline to extend the lead. With full control late, Burns added another score and Steyaert converted, while a late yellow card against Coast Guard allowed CMU to close things out. The Mavericks delivered a statement performance, blanking the defending champions 17–0 to secure the title.

Burns was named Division II tournament MVP, finishing with three tries and a series of pivotal plays across the weekend. She and Coop earned All-Tournament honors, recognized among the top seven players in the field.

With just one senior departing and the rest of the roster loaded with freshmen and sophomores, the Mavericks appear poised to remain a national force. They close the spring with just one loss across five tournaments—and more importantly, another championship trophy.

Trys on the Weekend:
Kaylee Burns (3)
Chloe Coop (3)
Sage Davis (1)
Gena Karpiel (2)
Navaya Steele (1)
Bentley Steyaert (4)
 
Conversions on the Day:
Bentley Steyaert (4)
Reese Williams (1)