Page 10
Greensboro. N.C.
Perseverance and rugby: Senior Kevin Woodcock
Caitlin Adams
Staff Writer
u T
didn't want to quit,
-L but I probably should
have," said senior Kevin
Woodcock referring to a
severe case of mono he had
during his first-year at
Guilford.
"It is actually kind of embar
rassing; I did not know I had
mono my freshman year,"
said Woodcock. "So I kept
playing rugby and doing the
things people do when they
are in college. It turned into
hepatitis. I got really sick."
Woodcock began playing
rugby upon arrival at Guilford.
His eagerness to play rugby
in his first year has continued
throughout his time at
Guilford.
He has been the captain of
the rugby team since his jun
ior year and will graduate this
spring with a double major in
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political science and econom
ics.
"He is tough and has a
good attitude," said rugby
coach George Hubert.
On the decision to make
Woodcock a captain, Hubert
says: "He is thoughtful and
makes good decisions. Every
decision he makes affects
other people."
"I was one of the oldest,"
said Woodcock. "Also, I had
the most experience."
Woodcock gained extra
experience playing rugby with
the Raleigh Vipers the sum
mer after his first year at
Guilford."You can walk out
there and play," said
Woodcock.
Woodcock appreciates the
unity of rugby. "Rugby is such
a team sport," said
Woodcock. "It requires
finesse and physical strength.
You can be any size and play.
It is a really dynamic sport."
SPORTS
Woodcock origi
nally came to
Guilford as a
golfer; his rugby
enthusiasm is a
relatively new
development.
"I came here
because Guilford
has a really good
D-3 golf program,"
said Woodcock.
"Freshman year
I maybe went to
one golf practice,
but I decided not
to play. I got
burned out. I had
been playing since
elementary school.
I wanted to do
something physi
cally active and
the two club sports Guilford
has are ultimate frisbee and
rugby. I just started playing
rugby. I had no idea what it
was about I just went out
jH
there and started playing."
Throughout his playing time
at Guilford, Woodcock's rugby
game has developed into
something that both his coach
and teammates appreciate.
"Woodcock plays rugby like
a god among men," said
sophomore teammate Ben
Snyder.
His time at Guilford has not
been all about rugby and aca
demics. He had his share of
fun living in infamous Bryan
hall during the fall of 2002.
Woodcock's friends can attest
to that.
"If Woodcock were a super
hero back then, his super
hero powers certainly would
have been guzzling Jack
Daniels," said sophomore
year roommate Alex
Lissenden.
"My sophomore year, fall
semester, I had a great time
living in Bryan C 23, but I've
grown up a bit since then"
said Woodcock.
Spring semester of
Woodcock's sophomore year,
he traveled to Brunnenburg to
study abroad.
Economics professor
Robert Williams led the trip
and asked Woodcock to join
him.
"I of course said, 'yes, that
sounds like an excellent time. 1
When we were in Italy that
semester we went to Venice
for Carnavale," said
Woodcock. "That was one of
April 22, 2005
www.guilioraian.com
MAGGIE BAMBERG/GUILFORDIAN
Senior Kevin Woodcock
the most fun experiences
ever."
When questioned how he
maintains an interesting
social life and a double major
Woodcock said: "I hope my
social life is interesting. I have
grown up a bit since my
freshman year. Now I am very
into my academics and I can
balance my social life and
academics."
Woodcock recently finished
an independent study with
political science professor
Ken Gilmore.
"I wrote a case study for the
textile industry in North
Carolina," Woodcock said.
"Basically, what economic
and political forces destroyed
it."
Woodcock hopes to attend
law school in the future. "I
interned at the Greensboro
district attorney's office and
that helped me decide. I read
a book by Scott Turow, about
his account of his first year of
Harvard and that gave me
some insights about it."
After graduation Woodcock
plans to work in the banking
field. "I have heard back from
one place, but I don't know if I
will take it"
Woodcock has no intention
of leaving the sport he loves
behind after May 7. "I think I
will play rugby after I gradu
ate," said Woodcock. "Any
decent size town has a men's
rugby team."*