2008 Woodie Awards
Women's rugby excels under the radar
Nikki Palladino '10
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: Sports
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It is hard to believe that only four years ago, St. Joe's had one of the highest ranked teams in the nation.
No, not the famed basketball team, but rather the Saint Joseph's women's rugby team. A perennially close-knit squad led by the motto "All for one, one for all, together we stand, together we fall," the Hawks are one of the most successful club sports teams on campus.
Since then, the squad has been making strides to be the so-called "comeback kids," returning to the heights of past glory. Led by captains Sarah Wolk, '09, and Ashley Whittemore, '08, as well as new coach and alumnus Kasey Dougherty, this season is proving to be the most promising yet.
"Saint Joseph's rugby is a team rooted in tradition, that always passionately exceeds expectations empowered by a potential to redefine athletic prowess," said Dougherty. "It's a privilege to again be associated with this team."
The first installment of the hopeful season came in an exhausting seven-hour pilgrimage to the Beantown Women's Collegiate Tournament in Epping, N.H. on Sept. 15 and 16.
Whittemore said, "The team woke up far from refreshed, but they were ready to go out there and play like a bunch of crazed dogs."
After a few brilliant tries and a lot of scrumming, St. Joe's clutched second place out of 10 teams present.
The Hawks began the tournament with a narrow 5-0 loss to the United States Military Academy at West Point. They rebounded, however, defeating Brown University and Cornell University, both by scores of 15-10. They eventually lost in the championship game once again to Army by a 32-0 margin.
It is hard to believe that only four years ago, this team, with its "little engine that could" mentality, made it all the way to the esteemed Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union's championship tournament. The performance put forth by the Hawks was good enough to place them third in the nation.
To return to that prestige, training is key. This year, the team trains heavily, including endurance training on the track every Tuesday in preparation for upcoming games.
Upcoming for the rugby squad is a local game at Pennypack Park against the University of Scranton on Oct. 6. As the team motto goes, the Hawks hope to "ruck them, maul them, and make them scrum!"
The game is a great opportunity to support a successful and underappreciated club full of players who aren't afraid of a little mud in the quest to have a successful year and finish what their predecessors started.
No, not the famed basketball team, but rather the Saint Joseph's women's rugby team. A perennially close-knit squad led by the motto "All for one, one for all, together we stand, together we fall," the Hawks are one of the most successful club sports teams on campus.
Since then, the squad has been making strides to be the so-called "comeback kids," returning to the heights of past glory. Led by captains Sarah Wolk, '09, and Ashley Whittemore, '08, as well as new coach and alumnus Kasey Dougherty, this season is proving to be the most promising yet.
"Saint Joseph's rugby is a team rooted in tradition, that always passionately exceeds expectations empowered by a potential to redefine athletic prowess," said Dougherty. "It's a privilege to again be associated with this team."
The first installment of the hopeful season came in an exhausting seven-hour pilgrimage to the Beantown Women's Collegiate Tournament in Epping, N.H. on Sept. 15 and 16.
Whittemore said, "The team woke up far from refreshed, but they were ready to go out there and play like a bunch of crazed dogs."
After a few brilliant tries and a lot of scrumming, St. Joe's clutched second place out of 10 teams present.
The Hawks began the tournament with a narrow 5-0 loss to the United States Military Academy at West Point. They rebounded, however, defeating Brown University and Cornell University, both by scores of 15-10. They eventually lost in the championship game once again to Army by a 32-0 margin.
It is hard to believe that only four years ago, this team, with its "little engine that could" mentality, made it all the way to the esteemed Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union's championship tournament. The performance put forth by the Hawks was good enough to place them third in the nation.
To return to that prestige, training is key. This year, the team trains heavily, including endurance training on the track every Tuesday in preparation for upcoming games.
Upcoming for the rugby squad is a local game at Pennypack Park against the University of Scranton on Oct. 6. As the team motto goes, the Hawks hope to "ruck them, maul them, and make them scrum!"
The game is a great opportunity to support a successful and underappreciated club full of players who aren't afraid of a little mud in the quest to have a successful year and finish what their predecessors started.
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