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WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
BY JAMES ROWE
Staff Writer
Occasionally when a person goes to
a rugby social, they will encounter a
chant that the rugby team proudly yells:
"Saturday is a rugby day." The energy
used in the chanting displays how both
the men's and women's rugby teams are
proud to be rugby players.
Both the men's and women's rugby
team come together to celebrate playing
hard for 80 minutes. It's hot just a team
sport; it's a sport of brotherhood and
.sisterhood.
Rugby is not the type of sport where if
one player is not playing then the team
feels like they will lose; it does not have a
superstar on the team. Every player on the
field and bench is important.
"I like rugby because it mixes together
a lot of the common generalizations from
other sports into one big non-stop display
of athleticism," said Mike Frazier who
is the senior forward and rugby social
chair. "There is the running involved from
sports like soccer and the physicality is
somewhere along the lines of football."
"The best part of rugby for me is the
atmosphere that the team creates" added
Frazier. "Everyone on the team is like a
family member and they are all treated as
such. An 80 minute rugby game is really
taxing on the body and the mind so it helps
to have 14 brothers out on the field with
you and, consequentially, that relationship
exists off the field as well."
Rugby used to be very popular until
after the 1924 Olympics when it was
dropped from the Olympic program, but
has started to rise in popularity once again.
There are a lot of reasons why the rugby
teams at Guilford College are so popular.
The main reason is that rugby players are
friendly and they invite fans and other
people to their social events just to have
fun and interact with them.
"I think the rugby culture is so popular
here at Guilford because the rugby team
strives to represent a lot of the same
principles that Guilford is all about," said
Frazier. "We accept anyone who wants to
give the sport a try, or just wants to hang
out with us, on and off the field."
The women's rugby team struggled in
recent years to just get a win; however
the team has experienced a huge gain in
attendance at the matches, and shows a lot
of promise for this upcoming year.
"I expect a lot from the women's team
this year. We have a lot of talent and
committed players," said Peach McCarty,
senior forward and captain of the women's
team. "Having George coach us and Dan
last semester really helped us get to be
competitors this year. I have full faith in
my team to score some wins this year."
The women's team last season proved
to be a winner, and there certainly is a lot
of excitement for the team this season.
"I think we will be successful this year
because we became friends on and off the
pitch last year," said McCarty. "Rugby is a
tough sport and it is hard to put yourself
on the pitch and subject yourself to tackle
after tackle if it is not for someone you
know has your back. Getting closer as
friends allowed us to play better as a
team."
Last year, the men's rugby team
struggled to field the minimum team of
15 as injuries hurt them. It was sad to see
the season cut short, however the team is
excited for this season due to having 32
players on the roster, more than double of
last year's team.
"This year, people should expect to see
us competitive in our conference," said
Frazier. "We have a great group of guys
this year who are just as committed as
they are talented."
"Rugby is one of the most fun things I
have done at Guilford," said McCarty. "I
am so glad to have done it and the team
these past years, as captain, has made it
really worthwhile."
It should be an exciting year for rugby,
so get out there, cheer and enjoy it.
"The best part of rugby for me is the
atmosphere that the team creates.
Everyone on the team is like a family
member and they are all treated as
such."
Mike Frazier, senior forward and rugby social
chair
(Top right) Hooker Lexi Gottlob prepares to throw
into the line-out to her forwards during practice Friday
evening. (Below) Andrew Welch, Grier Cross,
Noah Wernstedt-Lynch, and Conor Sastre
hone a passing drill.Their first game is Saturday, Sept 22.
Tyler Campbell: epitome of the complete student-athlete
BY CLARENCE TURPIN
Staff Writer
Most academic institutions place strong emphasis on the
term "student-athlete." Luckily for Guilford College, first-year
Tyler Campbell exemplifies everything, and more, the college
wishes to have in its student-athletes.
Campbell, a center on the Guilford football team, has recently
been named a finalist for the 2012 National Scholar Athlete
Award, an honor bestowed upon an athlete that excels both in
the classrcxjm and on the field.
Campbell has been selected to represent the Corrigan/
Faircloth Chapter in the Triad for the National Football
Foundation. This chapter is one of 120 in 46 states that reward
high school football players who perform academically and
athletically at a high level.
With the initial candidate pool reaching over 3,000, being
selected as one of the 26 finalists is an honor for Campbell.
"It is such an honor to be a top finalist for this award," said
Campbell. "It makes the whole academic process worthwhile,
to get recognition."
Beth Campbell, Tyler's mother, says that Tyler has had the
potential to succeed all along.
'Tyler has always had a natural desire to achieve success
in everything he does," said Beth. "He realizes the desire and
knows his family will provide the love and support he needs to
achieve that self-actualization that he is known for."
Campbell's mother is not the only who has noticed the first-
year's desire to achieve success.
"This is good for Tyler in general, for showing what he can
do not only on the football field, but also in the classroom,"
said Head Football Coach Chris Rusiewicz. "He is definitely
someone who will lead by example because of his work ethic."
Leading by example comes naturally for Campbell,
according to Rusiewicz.
"I have coached a long time, and I have had players win the
Chapter Award, but I have never had someone make it to the
national level," said Rusiewicz.
Faris El-Ali, junior captain on the football team, has also
noticed Campbell's hard work.
"He does not like making mistakes," said El-Ali. "If he does,
he is committed to improving from day to day."
Campbell realizes that with reward there is a price to pay.
Sacrifices need to be made in order for him to maintain his lofty
academic and athletic aspirations.
"In college you have to manage your time a lot better," said
Campbell. "At times you have to sacrifice some sleep, but in the
end it is worth it in order to make good grades."
Campbell maintains habits that enable him to stay on top of
both athletics and academics.
"Always keep a schedule handy," he said.
Flis roommate, first-year Troy Philpott, has witnessed this.
"Tyler takes a part of his day to sit down and figure out what
exactly he has to work on," said Philpott. 'Tyler knows what he
has to do and he finds a way to get it done."
With a mixture of self-disdpline and good habits, Campbell
considers himself to be in a position that suits both him and his
future aspirations.
"I am very excited to be playing for, and representing my
hometown college team", said Campbell. "Go Quakers!"