2008 Woodie Awards
Women's rugby preps for success
The women's team, a year removed from a third-place finish at nationals, gears up for another successful season
Cary Still
It's that time of year again: The women's rugby team of Western is on the field rucking and practicing their lineouts. With several new faces on this year's squad and several returnees, the girls can look forward to another successful year.
Last year, the first that the squad participated in competition, the team won the Pacific Coast territory to advance all the way to the national tournament. At nationals last April, these women placed third in the college Division II classification.
This past weekend, the girls were able to test their skills against Reed in Portland on Saturday, Oct. 1. Unfortunately, Reed was able to capture the win by only one kick. Regardless of this outcome, the girls look at this as an overall learning experience.
"Playing in the game helped me understand how rugby works," junior team member Sarah Speelman explained. "It really helped me understand what we are doing out there in practice."
One of the unique features of this team is their dynamic; as they continue to practice and improve they are always welcoming new players. No matter what skill level a rookie is at, the team will help improve skill and love of the game.
For more information on the Western women's rugby team, be sure to visit the rugby forum at http://s8.invisionfree.com/Western_Oregon_Rugby.