Bloomsburg Women Rugger’s are Unstoppable
A special congratulation’s goes out to the Bloomsburg University Women’s Rugby Club. Once known as the underdogs of their conference, the Huskies pushed past all of the odds stacked against them and have now come out on top this past weekend at the Mid-Atlantic 7s tournament.
At the start of the season, Bloomsburg Women’s Rugby was not looked at as a threat and hardly received any recognition or support, but they never let that stop them. They took that and let it fuel their desire to win, and now Bloomsburg Women’s Rugby has made a name for themselves in the world of rugby, and this is only the beginning.
There isn’t a team that deserves it more; this is the most dedicated group of girls you will ever meet. This team is much more than just a group of “rugby players,” they are a family, and that is very apparent to anyone that has ever seen these ladies on the field. The chemistry that is displayed between this team of 35+ girls is incredible, and truly inspiring. This team supports and motivates one another, encourages each other on and off of the field, and above all else they love the game of rugby.
There is nothing that stops a practice or a game. These girls practice in rain, sleet, snow, extreme wind and storms. No matter the weather they are out there practicing, fighting and improving their skill. Through breaks, tears, bruises, scrapes and any other injury you could think of, these girls return without hesitation or complaint giving 100 percent, 100 percent of the time. They push past any and every obstacle that comes their way.
You can literally feel the passion and drive radiating off of this team from miles away. These are all the things that can be attributed to their success as a team.
The team is lead by Kevin Castner (Head Coach, center), Kelly Mason (back captain, left), and Erin Duganitz (pack captain, right). When Mason was asked why she played rugby she answered, “I play rugby because I fell in love with the game and my team. I grew a passion for the sport and my teammates have become my second family. I am always motivated to do my best. I’m motivated the most by my teammates. I never want to let them down and I want to be the person out there that the team can count on. I come back because it has become a part of who I am. It’s shaped my character as a person and I wouldn’t be the same now if I hadn’t started. I keep coming back because I like the life lessons that rugby has taught me. They will always be a part of me. The goal of college is to make those life long friends that will always be there for you in the end and I did just that with my rugby teammates.”
Bloomsburg University Women’s Rugby Club defeated Kutztown University in the final match of the tournament with a score of 22-12. Through hard work and dedication they are now heading to ACRA 7s Championship May 2-3, West Point, N.Y. Bloomsburg University wishes you the best of luck!
