WCU’s Rugby team went undefeated this past season for the first time, but this wasn’t the only “first” they accomplished this season. The Golden Rams brought home the first National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) Tier II National Championship title in program history when they traveled to Boston to face Brown University. Doubted in the beginning, being ranked fifth in the NIRA preseason poll, the ladies weren’t discouraged. They dominated their way through the season on their way to being crowned champions.
Of the 35 ladies on the roster, six happened to be playing in their final game in the matchup against Brown. For Monique Jervier, Sophie Monboussin, Katie Moritz, Haley Spangler, Aly Mento and Juah Toe, they were able to end their Golden Ram careers as national champions. Each individual reflects on how it feels to bring home a national title and what they will remember from their historic run.
Monique Jervier
“When I joined the team three years ago, if you had told me that we would win a national championship I’d probably laugh a little.”
“Honestly, just the energy of every single game, stepping on the field before the whistle and the first kick. I knew I was ready to do whatever I had to to keep us undefeated. It was an incredible feeling to be a starter during my senior year on an undefeated national championship team.”
“When I joined the team three years ago, if you had told me that we would win a national championship I’d probably laugh a little.”
Sophie Monboussin
“It honestly doesn’t real. I never imagined as a walk-on my freshman year, having never touched a rugby ball before, we would win a national title by my senior year. It’s definitely something I will feel proud of for the rest of my life.”
“Definitely the chemistry between us on and off the field. Our team has gone through a lot of changes and growth since I started and the group of women we had this year really clicked and felt right. It’s something I hadn’t realized we were missing or felt until this year and I believe it’s what lead us to a perfect season and the championship.”
Our team has gone through a lot of changes and growth since I started and the group of women we had this year really clicked and felt right.
Katie Moritz
“Words can’t describe what it feels like to hold the title, ‘national champion.’ Those last seconds of the game had everyone on their toes, and once that whistle blew, all of that anxiousness turned into tears of joy. The moment we won, I couldn’t stop crying, smiling and thinking, ‘Wow, we really just did that.’ Even now, weeks later, I still get hyped about it. The feeling can’t be described. It can only be felt when you’re on that field with your teammates.”
“I will never forget that feeling of hunger we all had to win every game and what it felt like to come off the pitch feeling confident and proud to be apart of this team. I’ll never forget how many people would show up to watch our games, too. One of the best feelings as an athlete is to know that people want to come support and watch your team play.”
Haley Spangler
“It feels incredible. Honestly, it still feels like a dream I haven’t woken up from.”
“I will remember the journey to winning the National Championship. Over my four year experience, we went through a lot of adversity that we had to overcome in order to come out on top and take home the National Championship. Most importantly I will remember the impact WCU Women’s Rugby has had on my life and my college career. Truly, so many life lessons learned and I got the chance to do it all with my best friends.”
“Truly, so many life lessons learned and I got the chance to do it all with my best friends.”
Aly Mento
“It feels absolutely incredible. To see everyone’s hard work pay off is awesome. I couldn’t be proud of my teammates, especially because winning the title was completely a team effort.”
“I will never forget the resilience this team had. Ever since day one, other teams doubted us. We started the season ranked fifth out of seven, and we turned that into motivation to prove to those teams that they were wrong about us. There were times in the season that we were down in a game and just never gave up. We always played like we had something to prove. Each game was a puzzle, and we were able to figure it out every time. Lastly, I’ll never forget the support we had along the way. I noticed a change once we went 7-0 and people started to realize we had something special going on. People who I’ve never spoken to before, in class, around campus or in the community started congratulating me on wins and started to keep track of us, so the fact we could bring the title home for those supporters is really rewarding.”
Juah Toe
“It still feels like a dream. Sometimes I have moments where I’m like ‘wow… we really won a national title.’ Winning this national title means more to me than anyone would ever know. This national title means so much to us because it finally proves to the world that we are not the team to sleep on. At the beginning of the season, the other coaches ranked us fifth in our conference. They ranked two teams we have a history of always beating before us. They didn’t think we were a threat. Now they know. Now everyone knows. We are not a team to sleep on.”
“I will remember how unselfish our team had to play for this season to go the way it did. This team was special. Unlike past years, when someone scored, you would see many teammates run over and give hugs, high fives and all the hype we could give each other. The thing I will remember the most about this team is how special we made each other feel. A team that felt and was more life a family. And seeing that team atmosphere change in two years, is something every captain would dream of. Incredibly proud of this team and how we smashed every individual and team goal we set for the semester.”
Tyler Jefferson is a fourth-year student majoring in communications and minoring in journalism. TJ876163@wcupa.edu.