Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

In its first year as part of the National Small College Rugby Organization, Western Oregon Rugby was already making a name for itself. Two seniors and two sophomores were invited to try out for the Pacific Coast All-Star team to play as Grizzlies: seniors Joey Caver and Matt Cornish, and sophomores Kai Segundo and Trever Kahunahana. Trying out individually, if they made it, they’d be playing the All-Star tournament in Houston, Texas beginning on May 23.

“It’s an honor to just be selected to try out,” explained Assistant Director of Campus Recreation Andy Main, “but if we get someone on the team, I’m really hoping to make it known because it’s a pretty big deal.”

Main went on to explain what it takes to be nominated; aside from talent on the turf, it all comes down to character.

“The success of the Pacific Coast All-Star team in the past was because they had high-character guys, as well as good rugby players. Absolutely all four of these guys meet that criteria,” Main said. “They’re good rugby players but also really good guys so I’m really proud they’re the ones getting the shot at this.”

On April 13, the morning of the tryouts, the players could feel a change in energy on the pitch.

“It was different honestly. I kept thinking about it the day of because I was comparing it to a regular game,” said Caver. “I was still really nervous but I knew that because it was more-individual focused … I didn’t have all the pressure and focus that I usually do. It was a different focus.”

Kahunahana could relate with the energy Caver was feeling that morning.

“I was really nervous. Not knowing the coaches… it’s really hard preparing for that… just getting thrown into the fire,” said Kahunahana.

When it came down to it, the four pushed their nerves aside and played as hard as they could. For the seniors, just being nominated was significant, as it was their last opportunity to show their skill for Western.

“It means a lot, actually. I’m a senior… Western Oregon Rugby means a lot to me,” said Caver. “It’s sad to know that I’m done with Western but now we have this, the All-Star game… knowing that there’s more gives me hope.”

Cornish added, “I’m always trying to go out there and do my best so this felt like a really good thing.”

As for the sophomores, being nominated at a young age meant something entirely different. For Kahunahana, it was only his second year playing rugby.

“For me it was a big experience. My position doesn’t really get the spotlight,” said Kahunahana, “the fact that someone actually made notice of my work was a really special thing.”

For Segundo, this was his first year every playing rugby at all.

“It was truly an honor to be nominated,” said Segundo. “I have been constantly working … to get a better knowledge of the game of rugby and to mold myself into the best player that I can be.”

After a long day of every player going out of their way to prove their talent and abilities, the team walked away with a sense of pride in what they had accomplished. But for Caver, that sense of pride came in the form of a confirmed spot in the Houston All-Star game.

“After the game, the coach pulled me aside and asked me, ‘are you going to be available for the Houston game?’” said Caver, “and I was like, ‘I’ll make myself available.’ … I got one of the three total automatic spots on the team from that day.”

The rest of the players are anxiously awaiting to hear whether or not they’ll be joining Caver with the Grizzlies, and the final results will be released on May 1. But as for now, the nominations alone shows the direction that Western Oregon Rugby is headed.

“WOU Rugby is going to be dominant in the future. With the four of us being nominated, it will motivate our other teammates to push harder in practice and in games to be nominated as well,” said Segundo.

Kahunahana added to that, saying “we’re going to be a really young team but luckily this year with a lot of experience passed down, we’re looking really good.”

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Brandon Killen