Issue date: 8/19/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jason Williams Sophomore Paul Edgerly (left) goes up for a throw-in during a match last spring. The Bulls were 3-5 last spring and missed out on an invite to Westerns.

The Truman Bulls need a turnaround.

After a tough spring season, with a record of 3-5, the men's rugby team is looking to get back on track this fall.

A result of the lackluster performance was the Bulls' failure to earn an invite to the Western Championships. Not getting an invite became an obstacle for the team.

"Toward the end of the season, I think a lot of guys just kind of, after we found out we weren't going to be going to the Western Championships, ... if they had to do something else or rugby practice, they were like, 'I guess I'll go to that something else," senior prop Shea Cleveland said.

One constant hurdle for the team has been departing students. The Bulls felt this when former captain Tony Giubardo graduated at the same time former vice-captain Mike Fitzgerald made his decision to transfer.

Although this has been a setback for the Bulls, head coach Bill Sexton still is optimistic.

"In the many years I've been coaching rugby at Truman, we've had lots of great players come and lots of great players have left," Sexton said. "I'm not going to sweat too much about who leaves and who doesn't leave because I don't have the time to worry about, 'Gosh, I wish somebody was here.' What I can only deal with are those who are here."

With both players gone, the burden of leadership now falls to senior captain Justin Lacy and junior vice-captain Phil Powell.

"I kind of do feel a little pressure," Powell said. "But I do have a strong captain with [Lacy]. He's an amazing guy with a huge heart and is a huge part of this team. I feel, with his help, we can do a good job."

Sexton said another major challenge for the team was a general lack of fitness. He pointed out the Bulls' final game of the season against Benedictine University as an example of the team's fitness level.

"Being up 21 points at the half and then giving up all those points in the second half was just sloppy," Sexton said. "We just were not motivated to play our best, and so we are going to have to make some significant improvements."

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools