It was November 2006 when Kerry Totti, Micheala Sullivan, and Courtney Manswar brought the first women’s rugby team to Franklin Pierce University. Now a senior, the current President of Rugby, Alison McNeany, looks back at her freshman year when she had first joined compared to this year. “When I first started rugby, it was new to the school,” McNeany said. “There were about ten girls and there weren’t a lot of games. It was still growing.” McNeany continued by saying that nothing compared to this year’s rugby team. The girls played five games, which included two wins against Plymouth State and Saint Anselm College, a tie against Merrimack, a forfeit from Brandeis, and one loss to Lowell. McNeany also explains the changes in numbers with the girls who have joined the team. “We went from having like twenty girls to having forty girls, which is huge, like an explosion of girls. Everyone came out and it was amazing.” Freshman Saskia Joseph said, “Sometimes we’ll have a practice where we’ll run through game situations and then other practices we’ll do fitness." Fitness includes figure eights which consist of sprinting and calisthenics and then a series of “suicides.” “Tough wise, if you’re not in good shape it will be hard. Otherwise practices are fun,” Joseph said. The girl’s rugby team has done a few fundraisers and events. These include making Christmas cards with Rocky the Raven, selling t-shirts and sweatshirts, and their most successful fundraiser, Krispy Kreme donuts. The team had their first game April 3 and lost against Keene State. They also had their first Pierce Pride event on April 10 and won against Plymouth State. On April 16 the team went for a weekend to Rhode Island for Beast of the East. McNeany said, “I want them to continue the team, and I want there to be much more dedication as there’s always been.”
Be the first to comment on this article!