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SPORTS

The Norwich Guidon
Dec. 11, 2003

NU men's rugby celebrates solid record; heads to Sweet Sixteen

By Brian Mullally
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Players leap for the ball during a rugby game at Norwich. The Cadets had a successful season and are looking to be even better this spring. (Plourde photo)

Last month, the Norwich athletic fields were almost frozen solid. Despite great efforts, most fall sports teams' seasons have ended on a losing note.

However, the men's rugby team is red hot. The team has just earned itself a spot in the National Sweet Sixteen, something no other Norwich rugby team has ever done.

"I remember telling them at the end of pre-season camp that we may accomplish something that no other rugby team has ever done here at Norwich," said Head Rugby Coach Bob Wieggler.

The team started the year strong with wins against Bishop College and Brown, but stumbled a bit with a loss to Amherst.

"The loss to Amherst was just one of those days when we didn't show up ready to play, but we learned from that loss and moved on," said Chris Eckerson, 24, an international studies major from Middletown, NY.

The team bounced back the next week with a win against Boston University, but lost the following week against Army, 37-3.

"The game against Army was a lot closer than what the scoreboard made it look like; we lost, but we knew they were beatable," said Paul Mittchell, 20, from Grants Pass, Ore.

The team had to forget about the loss to Army and move on. Harvard, ranked second in the nation, was paying a visit to Northfield the following week.

"That game was dirty. It was cold, raining out, the wind was blowing, but we still battled and came out on top 17-12, which was a big rebound win for us," Eckerson said.

The team cruised though their last three games of the regular season, outscoring their opponents 90-47.

The Cadets then headed down to U-Mass Amherst to face their nemesis, Army, in the Northeast regional playoffs.

"We took it to them, but just came up a little short," Weggler said. The Cadets lost a heart-breaker 25-24.

"It was the closest thing to winning without winning. They put some new bodies in at the end, and it just wore us down."

Down but not out, the team rallied back the following day to beat Northeastern 45-7, a team that had beaten them earlier on in the season.

"We wanted revenge from the last meeting with Northeastern. We never should have lost the first time we played them, and we proved that in the playoffs," Mittchell said.

The Cadets will be ranked fourth in the Sweet Sixteen, which is being held April 17-18 at a site not yet determined.

In order to stay in shape over the winter, the team will be on a lifting program starting after Christmas break.

They will have a few matches to prepare them for April.

"We are doing a tour of games over in Ireland over spring break, and we have been invited to a four-team tournament in Bowling Green, Ohio," Weggler said.

"We can't wait for the playoffs to start," Mittchell said. "We feel confident as a team that we can win it all."

"I am very grateful for this opportunity, but my goal is to get my sixth trip to the final four and win one," Weggler said.

"I am just very proud of the way the team represented themselves in the Northeast playoffs. I think people around New England have a different respect for Norwich Rugby, both on the field and off the field."

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.