After weeks of recruitment on campus at SUNY Cortland, the Cortland Women’s Rugby Football Club accepts many new members with open arms for their competitive 15s season.
“I love the spirit this team has, especially with the new players wanting to learn the game,” said Treasurer and back captain Megan Sparks.
First year, transfer, and international students alike have found themselves comforted by the unique and evolving sport of rugby here in Cortland, New York. The welcoming veteran players were eager to find additions to their current roster.
“The first few weeks of practice are looking amazing,” said Vice President and pack captain Alexis Gomez. “I am so excited to see what this new team can do and how far we’ll go.”
The first game of the season against Colgate, four new players stepped onto the pitch: Wing Jackie Brown, Inside Center Kay Williams, Flanker Zoe Owaza, and Lock Natalie Figueroa. The new reserves includ Madison Copertino, Elizabeth Lentini, Ryann Heimink, Charlotte Young, Niko Soma, and Mikaela Murphy.
“Rugby is a challenging sport but you’re playing with a team that supports you and cares about you, it starts to become easier,” said Williams.
The team values off the field bonding events including pasta parties the night before games and early morning Dunkin’ runs when traveling to other schools.
“With carried traditions of wearing hair ribbons on game days and new ones like painting our nails red and black, I’m so excited for the rest of the season and what this team can accomplish,” said Sparks.
The Peace Frogs, under the guidance of new head coach, Claire Brandon, are striving to defend their 4th place title for Division III National Collegiate Rugby. Brandon is a Cortland alum and 2021 All-American Small College Center.
The Peace Frogs have been the team to beat for the past few seasons given their team chemistry and supportive nature.
“I think the biggest positive of being a Peace Frog is the family dynamic,” said returner McKenzie Barber. “I’ve struggled to make friends in college and now I’ll have a family for life.”
With more new players becoming members of the Cortland Women’s Rugby Club every day, the Peace Frogs are looking to continuously grow their family even more as the semester continues.
“The team was very welcoming and a positive environment from where I was coming from with trying to get onto other teams,” said Brown. “I couldn’t be happier being on this one.”
Over the past few weeks, the team has had to fight through adversity of injuries, with the loss of Brown, Sparks, and veteran player Nicole Perez, but it hasn’t stopped their momentum.
At home on September 22, the Peace Frogs overcame a huge victory to the Black Widows (SUNY Oswego), defeating them 45-15, and invoking a mercy rule in the first half.
The team dominated on the pitch, seeing try’s from a variety of different players including many forwards.
“It was so exciting to feel the home game energy,” said Figueroa. “I could tell we were going to go in strong before we got started.”
Stay up to date with the Peace Frogs season and follow their Instagram @cortlandwomensrugby for more information.