2008 Woodie Awards
Rugby enjoys winning spring despite challenges
Ben Yarnell
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Sports
A season just above .500 isn't always considered a success for a team.
For the Truman men's rugby team, it is.
After a fall record of 2-6, the Bulls took what they considered a building season and put together a 5-4-1 spring record.
The Bulls faced tough opposition this semester, but the biggest enemy for the team was the weather. Unaccommodating weather and poor field conditions forced Truman to miss three individual matches and one tournament. All of the cancellations only hurt the Bulls. They were unable to work out makeups for those missed opportunities.
Even though his team missed out on those chances to add experience to his young team, head coach Bill Sexton was pleased with the quality of many of the matches.
"We did get some good games in," he said. "It would have been nice to have it spread over more time. But, at the end of the day, I think we had more positives this spring than we did negative."
Sexton pointed to specific aspects, such as the team's awareness on the field, and the ability to spread out its game across the field, as areas in which he has seen improvement.
"We did have moments where we did break down very badly," he said. "But there were also moments where we played smart and did a lot of good things."
Sexton said another reason for the success was the addition of several more active players, bringing the roster to close to 30 for the season average. Junior Will Holleman said he sees this as a bigger stride than simply a matter of numbers.
"We've got guys that have been here three or four years, and then we've got guys who have only been with us for a semester or two," he said. "I think we've done a pretty good job getting everybody on a pretty equal playing field."
Sexton said one improvement he has been pleased with is younger players' willingness to step into positions when more experienced players missed playing time because of either injury or personal reasons.
"Sometimes that's what matters," Sexton said. "You get a chance to play games, your game turns around, you become the better player, and the guy who wasn't there loses out."
For the Truman men's rugby team, it is.
After a fall record of 2-6, the Bulls took what they considered a building season and put together a 5-4-1 spring record.
The Bulls faced tough opposition this semester, but the biggest enemy for the team was the weather. Unaccommodating weather and poor field conditions forced Truman to miss three individual matches and one tournament. All of the cancellations only hurt the Bulls. They were unable to work out makeups for those missed opportunities.
Even though his team missed out on those chances to add experience to his young team, head coach Bill Sexton was pleased with the quality of many of the matches.
"We did get some good games in," he said. "It would have been nice to have it spread over more time. But, at the end of the day, I think we had more positives this spring than we did negative."
Sexton pointed to specific aspects, such as the team's awareness on the field, and the ability to spread out its game across the field, as areas in which he has seen improvement.
"We did have moments where we did break down very badly," he said. "But there were also moments where we played smart and did a lot of good things."
Sexton said another reason for the success was the addition of several more active players, bringing the roster to close to 30 for the season average. Junior Will Holleman said he sees this as a bigger stride than simply a matter of numbers.
"We've got guys that have been here three or four years, and then we've got guys who have only been with us for a semester or two," he said. "I think we've done a pretty good job getting everybody on a pretty equal playing field."
Sexton said one improvement he has been pleased with is younger players' willingness to step into positions when more experienced players missed playing time because of either injury or personal reasons.
"Sometimes that's what matters," Sexton said. "You get a chance to play games, your game turns around, you become the better player, and the guy who wasn't there loses out."
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