While nearly 200 varsity fall athletes cram the halls of Freeman Athletic Center every afternoon, one team takes a hike to upper Long Lane for practice. While nine fall coaching staffs prepare drills and lineups for their teams, one squad takes orders from fellow teammates. And while other athletic teams compete against their fellow NESCAC Division III opponents, one team plays in Division I. The Wesleyan Rugby team breaks the athletic mold, and it breaks records too.
After a 12-0 shutout of Smith College last Saturday, Wes Rugby stomped into the season with its first league victory in three seasons. And despite the relative inexperience of this 35-member squad, the season outlook is hopeful.
“[The Smith game] was our first Division I win in a long time, which is really exciting,” said co-captain Kate Piper ’05. “Our team is physically smaller than a lot of the teams we play, but I think we can capitalize on that if we try, because it means we are quicker and have a lower center of gravity. Also, we have a really young team, which means we are continuously improving.”
Since rugby is a club sport, there is no official coach, thus leaving Piper and fellow co-captains Meghan McCarron ’05 and Chai Bishop ’05 to do most of the advising, along with certified player-coach Caitlin Slattery ’06. Having a “team-taught team” has proven to be a success, although it is challenging at times.
“We don’t have the ugliness of a coach yelling at us, always telling us what to do. The only problem is that nobody on the team has more than four years of playing experience, so it’s hard to build on that,” McCarron said.
The situation makes players accountable for creating a team community.
“Each player has a lot more responsibility than just showing up to practice. Each player contributes to making the team function,” Piper said.
“It’s a hell of a lot more democratic than any other team I’ve played for. If players don’t like a drill, their voices get heard,” added Maggie Starr ’06, who was one of the two rugby stars to score a try (a five-point score) in Saturday’s game.
Tev Monin ’05 had a try and a two-point conversion to give Wesleyan a 12-point margin of victory over their foes. Despite 21 players lost to graduation, Starr and Monin help to comprise a core group of up-and-coming members, including promising rookie Julia Kazmar ’08, that helped lead the team to a 1-0 start.
“[The Smith win] was a huge deal because last year, that game got dirty,” said Jess Rhodes ’08, referring to the several stitches and two broken collar bones that resulted from the contest. “In rugby you have to be safe. Most of the time teams are respectful of the safety rules, but sometimes games can get so competitive that people’s health and safety are in danger, and that’s when it can get dirty.”
Despite the high injury rate, the appeal of rugby is strong among team members, who emphasized the team bonding that occurs on and off the field.
“We really are like a family. In fact, I don’t like my mom as much as I like my teammates. Maybe that’s because I don’t tackle her,” Rhodes said.
Ex-lacrosse player and current co-social chair Chelsea Landon ’05 commented on the community that is created, noting that her and co-social chair Kate Mitchell ’05 hold rugby office hours on Wednesday nights from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
“It’s just as demanding [as a varsity sport], but it has more of a family feel,” Landon said. “[Kate Mitchell and I] are like the TAs of the rugby team, helping the players along.”
The team hopes to continue its momentum in Saturday’s home game against Boston University. Kickoff is at 11:00 a.m. at Upper Long Lane Field.
“Fans shouldn’t be dissuaded by the distance,” Piper said. “There’s lots of parking and we even have bleachers.”
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