Image: Jacob Kifolo (left)
Rugby can sometimes be a very aggressive and chaotic sport. In the second row position, Jacob Kifolo has an aura opposite of that. Having the pleasure of highlighting and interviewing Kifolo as not only a rugby player but also as a person was a real treat. He’s here at West Chester University (WCU) studying economics and is programs coordinator for the American Marketing Association.
He grew up in Bucks County, Pa. with two sisters, one older and one younger. Growing up, he played soccer, baseball and basketball. He played soccer and baseball specifically when he was 12 or 13 and started playing basketball when he was around 15.
He got into playing rugby after going to the gym with his roommate all the time. To do something more with their time, his roommate suggested they should play rugby. Kifolo fawned at the idea, and after more convincing from a friend, Division 1 second row Kevin Lowman, he started to seriously inquire about trying out. When he first tried out, he didn’t have any idea what he was doing, and it was a lot to take in. Being quick on his feet, he started to learn fast. Looking back, he told me if he would advise someone starting rugby, he would tell them to just go for it, and as long as they are willing to take a hit, they’ll be fine. Describing the sport, he said it’s a mixture of football and soccer, and there’s not a lot of starting and stopping. Kifolo told me one of his career-defining moments for him was his first scrimmage against Kutztown and his first shot at putting all the practice he did together. He admitted a challenge of his was the amount of work it entailed and taking a hiatus from sports to now doing one that takes such a physical toll on you and the practice they do three to four days a week is a lot. He mentally prepares himself by putting himself in the mindset to perform his best at a game, doing the practice he needs to do and not exerting too much force when he doesn’t have to. Drinking a lot of water and eating a lot of carbs is something he focuses on before games as well. Kifolo said during games he stays motivated by remembering all the work he has put in and how rewarding it would feel to win, which pushes him to perform even better. In terms of diet, it’s hefty; on the regular, he shared that he’s ordering two to three sandwiches from Sykes and probably something around the same at dinner. But if he had his way, after games he would have a nice steak. Also, Kifolo said some things about the team aspect of sports on the subject of handling disagreements during games; he said teammates chip in when they can to get people back on track and give good feedback and advice. He said a lot of the teammates he has now have been in rugby for a while, so they do know what’s best. I also asked Kifolo what he thought about some of his teammates; he said for most serious he would give it to his teammate Christian Reagor and for most funny he would give it to Jeff. Here’s how he contributes to the team personally: Kifolo is very consistent and dedicated to coming to anything regarding the team and trying to help everyone when they can. If his teammates were to describe him, they would say he’s funny, handsome and a goose, which is his nickname. Speaking of nicknames, he highlights one of his teammate’s, “KitKat” nickname, which originated from someone on last year’s team named Kat. It’s just hilarious to Kifolo and makes him think the perception of the man is that he eats a lot of KitKats.
Transitioning to talking about his past season, Kifolo said it was something that was based on a lot of learning. He is proud to start for the Division 3 side of WCU rugby. For next season, he wants to improve on defense, learn how to play on sevens in the spring and just expand his knowledge of the game. One of his favorite moments was when he scored his first try (a score in rugby) against Pennsylvania State University Berks; he was assisted by teammate Billy Boyle. If he could change one rule in rugby, it would be the ability to tackle higher up on the body. Kifolo said he wants to leave a long legacy that is rooted in positivity and motivates the people coming up behind him. Some lasting advice he got was from his coach, “If you don’t give up on me, I won’t give up on you,” has motivated him to keep striving to bring his best. One of Kifolo’s favorite places he played rugby was at the University of Maryland.
If he wasn’t doing rugby, Kifolo thinks he would be more involved in more business clubs around campus. We started ringing off some fun facts about him, and he told me if he couldn’t live without one app, it would be Snapchat; if he could have dinner with anyone, it would be his grandma; and if he could be any athlete for the day, it would be Steph Curry. If he could play rugby anywhere in the world, it would be Ireland; the worst food he ever ate was a ghost pepper. One country he wants to visit that he hasn’t already is Mexico. He hates to see people throw away food because he feels like he could’ve eaten it and then let it be wasted, which leads to his favorite food being mac and cheese and his favorite holiday being Thanksgiving. His favorite place to buy clothes is Columbia. If he had to pick between college and high school, he would pick college; his favorite color is brown, and after college, he was thinking about joining the Navy.
After my interview, I realized how much of an eclectic man Kifolo is. I appreciate his time and for letting me put him in the spotlight. In closing words, Kifolo wants everyone to come out to a rugby game and come to a marketing club program!
Isaiah Ireland is a fourth-year Media and Culture major.