Bowling Green High School is known for the wide variety of opportunities it presents to its students, countless classes, clubs, and sports that all students can take advantage of. This year, the school will add another such opportunity: a rugby team. Jacob Schwandt and Micah Hayes, two social studies teachers, have started to organize the team. Schwandt played rugby through high school and college and speaks highly of the sport and its benefits.
“I think it’s a really good group activity for kids. Plus, the way the positions are, you need kids who are 110 pounds and really fast, and you need other kids who are 280 pounds just mowing people over, so it really presents opportunities to kids who can’t find their place anywhere else,” Schwandt said. He emphasized the importance of students realizing that rugby is not a dangerous sport; on the contrary, rugby is statistically safer than football.
“A big thing will be educating people that the sport is safe and that there will be scratches and bruises, but nobody is going to get seriously injured,” Schwandt said.
The team is still looking for sponsors and needs a large group of interested players to help secure funding. Purchasing equipment and jerseys is still on their to-do list, and the more recruits that sign up, the easier covering these costs will be. The team is looking for an ideal lineup of about 25 players but would gladly accept anywhere from 30 to 40 people at interest meetings. Schwandt is planning to have an interest meeting by the end of November where potential players can come together to eat pizza, watch a game of rugby, and go over rules and positions. If enough people are willing to play, the team will also look into joining a high school rugby league.
To those hesitant to sign up, Schwandt said, “Remember that we need people of every size and figure and that this should just be an experience to come in and have some fun with.” Mr. Schwandt has more information on the team in his room for any students interested in joining.
“I think it’s a really good group activity for kids. Plus, the way the positions are, you need kids who are 110 pounds and really fast, and you need other kids who are 280 pounds just mowing people over, so it really presents opportunities to kids who can’t find their place anywhere else,” Schwandt said. He emphasized the importance of students realizing that rugby is not a dangerous sport; on the contrary, rugby is statistically safer than football.
“A big thing will be educating people that the sport is safe and that there will be scratches and bruises, but nobody is going to get seriously injured,” Schwandt said.
The team is still looking for sponsors and needs a large group of interested players to help secure funding. Purchasing equipment and jerseys is still on their to-do list, and the more recruits that sign up, the easier covering these costs will be. The team is looking for an ideal lineup of about 25 players but would gladly accept anywhere from 30 to 40 people at interest meetings. Schwandt is planning to have an interest meeting by the end of November where potential players can come together to eat pizza, watch a game of rugby, and go over rules and positions. If enough people are willing to play, the team will also look into joining a high school rugby league.
To those hesitant to sign up, Schwandt said, “Remember that we need people of every size and figure and that this should just be an experience to come in and have some fun with.” Mr. Schwandt has more information on the team in his room for any students interested in joining.
By Hemi Bell