Blackshirts Dominate Cal Lutheran

20

Author: Jessica Stevens

Strengthened by a class of new recruits and a growing following, the Oxy men’s rugby team defeated the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen in their first match of the season, Friday, Jan 25. Rebounding from a loss against UC Irvine in exhibition play last fall, the Blackshirts have taken their program to a new level turning in a dominant 41-5 performance against Cal Lutheran.

Making an early return to campus during winter break, the team organized a new weeklong training camp to prepare for the demanding season. “Our depth and talent is remarkable and we’re getting stronger after each training,” Captain Spencer Jemelka (senior) said. “Already this year, we have had a chance to bond as a team through camp-the camaraderie is tangible both off and on the field.”

Numerous players cited this new attitude as part of the team’s recent success. “We are really working as a cohesive unit, compared to the bunch of individuals we were playing as last year,” Inside Center Phil Guerrero (senior) said.

Lock Victor Lopez (senior) echoed this sentiment. “The most important thing has been the commitment level of the guys involved,” Lopez said. “Veterans are taking the team into their hands and showing everybody what it takes to be a good rugby player.”

However, preparation and teamwork are only part of the new and improved men’s rugby program. “Administrative support was lacking in years past, but recently there has been a shift in focus to helping club sports fulfill their potential on campus,” Jemelka said. Additionally, he noted, “a lot of [the team’s] success can be accredited to the influx of football players in recent years, all of whom are tremendous athletes.”

Numerous varsity athletes join the Blackshirts during their off-season, while some have made the switch to rugby full time. Football players Brett Henderson (junior) and Alex Ochoa (junior) have become a force in the Blackshirts starting lineup.

“Rugby just seems to be a release,” Guerrero said. He attributes the growing interest in Rugby to the physical release evident in the sport. “We even have some soccer players [on the team] that just wanted a little more contact in their lives.”

Several new recruits have already made their presence felt, as first-years Ian Boehme and Ian Powell led the charge against Cal Lutheran. “With such a good mix of athletic first-years along with our more experienced players, we are in mid-season form right now,” Guerrero said.

The Blackshirts put their form on display against the Kingsmen, controlling the pace of play for the majority of the match. The Oxy offense was especially productive, as Henderson, Ochoa and James Leonard (senior) all scored in the first half. Cal Lutheran made a late push to get back in the match, but an open-field tackle by Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz (junior) sealed the Oxy victory in the final minutes.

With matches against the University of Southern California and Loyola Marymount University scheduled for February, the Blackshirts are looking ahead towards bigger and better competition. “I am extremely confident about our chances of going all the way to nationals this year,” Jemelka said. “But we have a lot to work on and will take our season one match at a time.”

This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.

Loading

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here