Rugby teams run forward through spring games
By Aleta Cox
As the weather gets warm, several club sports, including rugby, have taken to the open spaces of grass fields for practices and matches, as they look to continue building a strong rugby program here at Earlham.
Senior Will Vincent affirms the three basic rules of rugby, as he learned them from alumnus Mac Lehmann.
“Number one: You can only ever pass backwards. Number two: You always run forward. Number three: Always run in support of your teammates, which means don’t be in front of them, since they can only pass backwards,” said Vincent.
Men’s rugby has been putting those rules, and other more intricate ones, into action lately, as they have been practicing twice a week near the entrance of campus, as well as playing in a few matches against other schools.
On April 3, the team traveled to Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) and played against Oberlin College last weekend.
In order to prepare for their matches, the team tries to incorporate more than just physical practice. For instance, they also have video sessions, where they study and look at how they are performing, and ways to improve their game.
“One thing that EC rugby has going that I think a lot of programs miss out on is that almost all of our boys are dedicated to rugby from the time they join to graduation, and beyond most times,” said Vincent. “It’s a great community of guys and that is a lot of what rugby is about. Rugby is a sport that cannot be won by individuals.”
Another member of the rugby team, senior Andres Guzman, knows all about this passion to the program that Vincent quotes his teammates as having. Guzman found and fell in love with rugby while studying abroad in France, and has since increased his participation here at Earlham and back home in Mexico.
“For the season here at Earlham, of course I want to beat Oberlin and Hanover and I want to leave a good and well rounded team for when I leave, to make sure rugby keeps going at Earlham,” said Guzman. “But I plan on returning to Mexico and getting in prime rugby shape, ideally make the national team there.”
Clearly, the passion is there for the men’s players, as they look forward to improving on their organization and teamwork skills this season.
“Rugby has a social aspect too, it’s not just hard-hitting. We party, hang out, talk and rely on one another for support,” said junior Will Alderfer.
Women’s Rugby: Come One, Come All!
Women’s rugby knows all about the dedication and passion it takes to build a successful rugby program, as Earlham women have recently formed their own team.
Last weekend marked their first matches of the season, in which they played several high school teams in order to gain experience. The first game of the day proved to be relatively unsuccessful, due to a stalwart Catholic school they faced, but also due to inexperience on Earlham’s part.
“I think the game helped us work together as a team and have some valuable playing time,” said freshman Kara Russell. “Our second match was against a team more our level so we had a chance to really push ourselves. Playing is so fast-paced, fun, and exhausting.”
Head coach junior Sara Mitchell-Olds and some veteran women rugby players were able to step up and provide support for the younger players, allowing for the women’s team to play a much more solid second game.
“I took over the main coaching gig this school year from Leah Pope, who served as my ever loyal and helpful co-captain,” Mitchell-Olds said. “I have only played rugby at Earlham, so along with that knowledge and a well-read copy of ‘Rugby For Dummies,’ I did my best to put together drills that would serve to teach as much about basic rugby skills as I could manage within the time frame.”
She added, “Rugby is a sport for any tough woman; there is a position for any and every shape and size and skill level! It’s great fun!”
“I’d never played rugby and I’d never really seen it being played before, so I was completely oblivious to everything I experienced as a new player,” said freshman Anna Marie Taylor. “But the elders on the team were really good at teaching us the rules and the technique of the game and helping us improve in practice so that we could perform well in the games.”
The women’s rugby team will play their last game tomorrow at Kenyon College. This match will be the last for the three graduating seniors: Anna Deering, Nadia Robinson and Leah Pope.
Next year, freshman Karina Rodriguez and sophomore Yusra Saleh will be taking over as coach and convenor.
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