The 2012 Rocky Mountain Challenge, a premier Under-19/17 all-star tournament, was held June 16-17 at the Aurora Sports Park just outside of Denver. 14 teams competed in two age brackets showing outstanding talent.

In the U19 bracket, Minnesota defeated Heart of America (a side from Kansas and Missouri) 17-12 on a last-minute try in a hard fought and extremely close championship match. Both teams had completed pool play 3-0. Minnesota defeated Texas, Southern California and Colorado en route to the title match. Heart of America advanced with wins over Louisiana, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

The Under-17 championship was won by a strong and consistent Southern California side over Colorado, 40-5. Colorado beat Wisconsin 19-5 in one U-17 semifinal, while Southern California topped Heart of America 38-5 to set up the championship match.

On Saturday evening, over 600 players, coaches, trainers, volunteers and family members from the Rocky Mountain Challenge attended the international test match between the USA Eagles and the Republic of Georgia. Dressed in their various team colors, the RMC participants showed vocal support for the Eagles. Seven of the players on the USA starting side had played in the Rocky Mountain Challenge on their way to becoming Eagles.

On championship Sunday, eight of the current Eagles players came to the Rocky Mountain Challenge to watch the championship matches, present Man-of-the-Match medals, award first- and second-place trophies, and hand out t-shirts to the players selected to the all-tournament teams. The Eagles also met with many players, signed autographs, posed for pictures and cheered for their home teams.

Final standings in the 12th Annual Rocky Mountain Challenge
Under 19       
1.    Minnesota
2.    Heart of America
3.    Wisconsin
4.    Colorado
5.    Southern California
6.    Louisiana
7.    Texas
8.    Nebraska

Under 17
1.    Southern California
2.    Colorado
3.    Wisconsin
4.    Minnesota
5.    Heart of America
6.    Texas

Match Results
Under-19
Championship            Minnesota 17            Heart of America (HOA) 12
3rd Place                    Wisconsin 36             Colorado 33
5th place                     Southern Cal             Louisiana
7th Place                    Texas 31                    Nebraska 14

Pool A:                       HOA 26                      Louisiana 0
Wisconsin 33             Nebraska 17
HOA 28                      Wisconsin 26
Louisiana 24             Nebraska 20
Wisconsin 31            Louisiana 5
HOA 26                      Nebraska 17

Pool B:                       Minnesota 27            Texas 5
Colorado 21              Southern Cal 19
Colorado 22              Texas 10
Minnesota 13            Southern Cal 7
Southern Cal 20       Texas 12
Minnesota 19            Colorado 10

Under-17
Championship          Southern Cal 40      Colorado 5
Semifinal 1                Colorado 19            Wisconsin 5
Semifinal 2                Southern Cal 38      HOA 5

Pool 1: (Saturday)    Wisconsin 15           Heart of America (HOA) 3
HOA 17                    Texas 13
Texas 19                  Wisconsin 15

Pool 2: (Saturday)    Southern Cal 22       Colorado 0
Southern Cal 13      Minnesota 6
Colorado 17             Minnesota 7

Consolation Matches:
(Sunday)                    Minnesota 12            Texas 12 (Minnesota wins on kicks)
Wisconsin 56           Texas 17
Minnesota 8              HOA 5