Heart, Heritage, and Hard Hits

 Every so often, you meet an athlete whose journey reminds you exactly why rugby matters — not just as a sport, but as a vehicle for identity, resilience, and community. Aimee Ramos is one of those athletes. A standout for San José State University Women’s Rugby and a rising force representing Mexico Rugby, Aimee’s path is built on grit, cultural pride, and an unwavering commitment to becoming the best version of herself.

From a childhood shaped by soccer idols and a volleyball coach who taught her the hard lessons of mental toughness, to discovering rugby by chance on a college plaza, Aimee’s story is anything but linear. What began as a spontaneous decision to attend a practice has evolved into national team caps, international competition, and a deep sense of responsibility to represent her family, her heritage, and her community with honor.

In this Q&A, Aimee opens up about the mentors who shaped her, the cultural identity that fuels her work ethic, the moment she first pulled on the Mexican jersey, and the demanding climb from collegiate club rugby to the international stage. Her answers are honest, grounded, and full of the fire that defines her game.

This is Aimee Ramos — her journey, her voice, and her love for rugby.

LLR- Growing up, who were the athletes or mentors who shaped your approach to the sport?

Aimee- I grew up playing soccer, so at the time Mia Hamm was always a huge inspiration. I always credit my high school Volleyball coach for “breaking” my mental game. I’ve always been very hard on myself, but it got to the point that I was a bad teammate on the court because I couldn’t shake my mistakes. He started to bench me when I started spiraling because “why keep you on the court, if you’re not gonna contribute, you’re just an extra body out there at this point.” My teammates would be upset with me because they knew I was much better than the players that would be subbed in for me, so I quickly had to learn how to shake things off and be mentally tough, otherwise I’d continue to let my team down. 

LLR- How has your cultural identity influenced the way you play and carry yourself on and off the field? 

Aimee- I was raised to always believe that I needed to work harder in all aspects of life as compared to my peers simply for being Mexican. Being a minority, it's easy to be written off or passed by, so that gritty, always grind, work ethic was ingrained in me ever since I was little. I’d say that mentality is what drives my obsession to be the best player I can be both on and off the field. In addition, the belief that the behaviors of Mexicans are always under the microscope is what helps keep me grounded even when I’m upset. My reactions can have much bigger consequences if not kept in check. So, knowing that I’m not only representing myself and my family, but my country and community helps me maintain a level head both on and off the field. 

LLR- What made you choose San José State University as the place to continue your academic and athletic career? 

Aimee- I had only been accepted into two schools, Fresno State for Kinesiology, and San Jose State for Biomedical Engineering. As much as I desperately wanted to get away from home, I knew an engineering degree would most likely give me more stability career-wise long term, so I decided to stay in San Jose and accepted the challenge of trying to get an Engineering degree (I’ve always struggled with math). So academically, I made the deep dive and fully embraced the challenge. Athletically, after high school, I’d decided I was going to “retire” from sport. But that lasted about 1 month because I quickly got bored not knowing what to do in the gym or how to keep myself active. I had been walking down 7th St. Plaza during club tabling looking for the club soccer team, to which I had no luck, when I was approached by the rugby team. I was asked if I wanted to try it and though, well, I have nothing else to do, how bad could it be? I went to my first practice the next day, and never looked back. 

LLR- How would you describe the rugby culture at SJSU?

Aimee - I’d say it's a mix between inclusive and fun, while also being very competitive when it’s time to lock in. It’s important to remember that we are a club, so we definitely need to have some fun and keep it light. However,2 national championships in 8 years definitely shows the team is willing to lock in when it’s time to step up 

LLR- What did it feel like the first time you put on the Mexican national team jersey?

Aimee - Everyone always laughs when I say this, but the moment I walked out onto the field, its like I could feel my ancestors walking with and around me. I was hit with gratitude, excitement, nervousness, and pride all at the same time because I knew that in that moment, I was now representing something much larger than myself. Seeing my parents up in the stands the day I debuted made it that much more emotional. It felt like wow, all the sacrifices they made to give me a better life were finally paying off. 

LLR- How did you earn your spot on the national team, and what was that process like?

Aimee - I probably had every speed bump you could imagine, so I’ll try to give the spark notes version. One of the assistant coaches at SJSU was chatting with me one day and the question of have you ever thought of playing for Mexico popped up. She had sent off a few of her high school girls to play with the U-20 so there was a connection to the Mexico coaching staff there. At the time, I almost exclusively played 15s, and I knew Mexico didn’t have a 15s team, so my immediate answer was “no, they don’t even have a team.” To which she responded, yeah but you could play 7s. I almost immediately let out a cackle because I knew I was nowhere near being in 7s shape. But, I definitely still had dreams of playing international rugby. So, I scrapped together a highlight reel (with almost all 15s film) , sent it over, and got to work trying to get fit for 7s. A few months later, I met the Mexico captain at a PR 7s try out, where by a miracle, we were placed on the same team to scrimmage together and had an instant connection on the field. She vouched for me with the coach, and a few months (and a long battle to get my dual citizenship) later, I got invited to my first camp. After that camp, I got called up for my first tour and debuted in Poland at the last stop of the Challenger series. 

LLR- What are the biggest differences between playing collegiate rugby in the U.S. and competing internationally for Mexico? 

Aimee- Going from D2 club rugby, to international rugby is a very big jump. Training alone was almost ten fold what I was used to in college. The intensity was also a big jump. Much faster pace, bigger hits, more pressure, you name it. 

LLR- What does representing Mexico mean to you personally and culturally?

Aimee - For me, it means getting to show the world that Mexicans aren’t just field workers, or the help. It means showing that we’re able to work just as hard as the rest of the world and are capable of doing what others are. It’s also my way of thanking my family for all their sacrifices. Although they came to America to give my brother and I a better life, it’s important to embrace my roots and never forget where we come from. 

* Part 2 coming soon..

Corazón, legado y golpes contundentes

 De vez en cuando, conoces a una atleta cuya trayectoria te recuerda exactamente por qué el rugby importa — no solo como deporte, sino como un vehículo de identidad, resiliencia y comunidad. Aimee Ramos es una de esas atletas. Destacada jugadora del equipo femenino de rugby de San José State University y una fuerza emergente que representa a México Rugby, el camino de Aimee está construido sobre la determinación, el orgullo cultural y un compromiso inquebrantable por convertirse en la mejor versión de sí misma.

Desde una infancia marcada por ídolos del fútbol y un entrenador de voleibol que le enseñó las duras lecciones de la fortaleza mental, hasta descubrir el rugby por casualidad en una plaza universitaria, la historia de Aimee está lejos de ser lineal. Lo que comenzó como una decisión espontánea de asistir a una práctica se ha transformado en convocatorias a la selección nacional, competencias internacionales y un profundo sentido de responsabilidad por representar a su familia, su herencia y su comunidad con honor.

En esta entrevista, Aimee comparte sobre los mentores que moldearon su camino, la identidad cultural que impulsa su ética de trabajo, el momento en que se puso por primera vez la camiseta de México y la exigente transición del rugby universitario al escenario internacional. Sus respuestas son sinceras, reflexivas y llenas del fuego que define su juego.

Esta es Aimee Ramos — su trayectoria, su voz y su amor por el rugby.

LLR- Creciendo, ¿quiénes fueron los atletas o mentores que moldearon tu enfoque hacia el deporte?

Aimee- Crecí jugando fútbol, así que en ese momento Mia Hamm siempre fue una gran inspiración. Siempre le doy crédito a mi entrenador de voleibol de la preparatoria por “romper” mi juego mental. Siempre he sido muy dura conmigo misma, pero llegó un punto en el que era una mala compañera en la cancha porque no podía superar mis errores. Él empezó a dejarme en la banca cuando comenzaba a perder el control porque decía: “¿Para qué mantenerte en la cancha si no vas a contribuir? En este punto solo eres un cuerpo extra ahí afuera.” Mis compañeras se molestaban porque sabían que yo era mucho mejor que las jugadoras que entraban en mi lugar, así que tuve que aprender rápidamente a dejar las cosas atrás y ser mentalmente fuerte; de lo contrario, seguiría decepcionando a mi equipo.

LLR- ¿Cómo ha influido tu identidad cultural en la forma en que juegas y te comportas dentro y fuera del campo?

Aimee- Fui criada con la creencia de que debía trabajar más duro en todos los aspectos de la vida que mis compañeros, simplemente por ser mexicana. Siendo una minoría, es fácil que te pasen por alto, así que esa ética de trabajo intensa y constante se me inculcó desde pequeña. Diría que esa mentalidad es lo que impulsa mi obsesión por ser la mejor jugadora posible, tanto dentro como fuera del campo. Además, la idea de que los comportamientos de los mexicanos siempre están bajo el microscopio me ayuda a mantenerme con los pies en la tierra, incluso cuando estoy molesta. Mis reacciones pueden tener consecuencias mucho mayores si no las controlo. Saber que no solo represento a mí misma y a mi familia, sino también a mi país y a mi comunidad, me ayuda a mantener la calma dentro y fuera del campo.

LLR- ¿Qué te hizo elegir la Universidad Estatal de San José como el lugar para continuar tu carrera académica y deportiva?

Aimee- Solo había sido aceptada en dos universidades: Fresno State para Kinesiología y San José State para Ingeniería Biomédica. Por mucho que quería alejarme de casa, sabía que un título en ingeniería probablemente me daría más estabilidad profesional a largo plazo, así que decidí quedarme en San José y aceptar el reto de obtener un título en ingeniería (siempre he tenido dificultades con las matemáticas). Académicamente, me sumergí por completo y abracé el desafío. Deportivamente, después de la preparatoria había decidido “retirarme” del deporte. Pero eso duró aproximadamente un mes, porque rápidamente me aburrí sin saber qué hacer en el gimnasio o cómo mantenerme activa. Caminaba por la Plaza de la Calle 7 durante la feria de clubes buscando el equipo de fútbol, sin éxito, cuando se me acercó el equipo de rugby. Me preguntaron si quería probar, y pensé: “Bueno, no tengo nada más que hacer, ¿qué tan malo podría ser?” Fui a mi primera práctica al día siguiente y nunca miré atrás.

LLR- ¿Cómo describirías la cultura del rugby en SJSU?

Aimee- Diría que es una mezcla entre inclusiva y divertida, pero también muy competitiva cuando llega el momento de concentrarse. Es importante recordar que somos un club, así que definitivamente necesitamos divertirnos y mantener las cosas ligeras. Sin embargo, dos campeonatos nacionales en ocho años demuestran que el equipo sabe enfocarse cuando es hora de dar un paso adelante.

LLR- ¿Qué sentiste la primera vez que te pusiste la camiseta de la selección mexicana?

Aimee- Todos siempre se ríen cuando digo esto, pero en el momento en que salí al campo, fue como si pudiera sentir a mis ancestros caminando conmigo y a mi alrededor. Me invadieron la gratitud, la emoción, los nervios y el orgullo, todo al mismo tiempo, porque sabía que en ese momento estaba representando algo mucho más grande que yo. Ver a mis padres en las gradas el día de mi debut lo hizo aún más emotivo. Sentí que todos los sacrificios que hicieron para darme una vida mejor finalmente estaban dando frutos.

LLR- ¿Cómo ganaste tu lugar en la selección nacional y cómo fue ese proceso?

Aimee- Probablemente tuve todos los obstáculos que te puedas imaginar, así que intentaré dar la versión resumida. Una de las entrenadoras asistentes en SJSU estaba conversando conmigo un día y surgió la pregunta: “¿Alguna vez has pensado en jugar para México?” Ella había enviado a algunas de sus jugadoras de preparatoria a jugar con la sub-20, así que tenía conexión con el cuerpo técnico de México. En ese momento, yo jugaba casi exclusivamente rugby de 15, y sabía que México no tenía equipo de 15, así que mi respuesta inmediata fue: “No, ni siquiera tienen equipo.” A lo que ella respondió: “Sí, pero podrías jugar 7s.” Casi me reí a carcajadas porque sabía que no estaba ni cerca de estar en forma para 7s. Pero definitivamente seguía soñando con jugar rugby internacional. Así que armé un video de jugadas destacadas (casi todo de 15s), lo envié y me puse a trabajar para ponerme en forma para 7s. Unos meses después, conocí a la capitana de México en una prueba de PR 7s, donde, por milagro, nos colocaron en el mismo equipo para hacer scrimmage y tuvimos una conexión instantánea en el campo. Ella habló bien de mí con el entrenador, y unos meses (y una larga batalla para obtener mi doble ciudadanía) después, fui invitada a mi primer campamento. Tras ese campamento, me convocaron para mi primer tour y debuté en Polonia en la última parada de la serie Challenger.

LLR- ¿Cuáles son las mayores diferencias entre jugar rugby universitario en EE. UU. y competir internacionalmente con México?

Aimee- Pasar de rugby universitario D2 a rugby internacional es un salto enorme. Solo el entrenamiento fue casi diez veces más intenso de lo que estaba acostumbrada en la universidad. La intensidad también fue un gran cambio: ritmo mucho más rápido, golpes más fuertes, más presión… todo.

LLR- ¿Qué significa para ti representar a México, en lo personal y en lo cultural?

Aimee- Para mí, significa mostrarle al mundo que los mexicanos no somos solo trabajadores del campo o ayudantes. Significa demostrar que podemos trabajar tan duro como cualquier otro y que somos capaces de lograr lo mismo que los demás. También es mi manera de agradecerle a mi familia por todos sus sacrificios. Aunque vinieron a Estados Unidos para darle a mi hermano y a mí una vida mejor, es importante abrazar mis raíces y nunca olvidar de dónde venimos.

* La segunda parte esta en comino

Soar Higher. Hit Harder

 Rugby has a way of weaving itself into your life, shaping your community, and creating stories worth sharing. Life Love Rugby is where I get to celebrate those stories — the passion, the growth, the culture, and the people who make this sport what it is.

In this edition, I’m sharing a Q&A that highlights the journey of the Hawks program from the perspective of someone who has been there since the early days. It’s a look at how the club grew from a small youth effort into a respected high‑school contender, thanks to dedicated coaches, committed families, and a core group of players who have been grinding since their U‑10 days.

Whether you’re a parent, a player, a fan, or someone who simply loves the spirit of rugby, I hope this gives you a deeper look into what makes our rugby community special. Rugby isn’t just a sport — it’s connection, resilience, and a whole lot of heart. And around here, we honor all of it.

I'd Like to thank the VP and Assistant HC from Carmichael Hawks Rugby, Casey Curry for taking the time to answer some questions and help shine the light on such a wonderful growing program in one of the Rugby hot beds of the USA .

LLR- How did I get involved with the Hawks?

CC- I started playing rugby in High School in the late '80's, then went on to play for Sac State and a little bit for the Sacramento Men's Club.  At that time, I was involved in coaching both boys and girls High School rugby with the now defunct Cougar Rugby Club under Joe Cavallero.  I eventually found a career, got married and had kids.  When my oldest son turned 6, I learned about the Hawks, which was formed the year before.  I did not coach the first year my son played, but our current President and Head Coach, Sam Enochian started coaching the U-10's.  I started coaching the following year at the U-10 level.  For the first 3-4 years, we only fielded a U-10 & U-12 team.  We eventually "grew" to include a middle school team.  We struggled for players for the first 10 years or so of our existence, and saw some families bail on us to some larger programs.  We believed we could grow something, so we stuck with it.  Both Sam and my sons had to play their HS rugby up at Mother Lode.  We did not field a team during the covid year, but as Sam and my younger sons were getting older and we finally had a core group of kids who have been with us since the U-10 days.  We decided to field a HS team in 2022.  We wanted to start from the bottom up, and only field a JV squad.  That worked for a year, and in 2023, we competed in the NorCal Silver Division.  We made it to the final, but sadly lost in the final to the Sac Islanders program.  We knew we were on to something, and had a core group of players who have been playing since U-10's.  In 2024, we again made it to the final, but lost to the Chico program.  We were then moved up to the NorCal Gold division.  Our core group of players were Juniors and Sophomores, but we competed well.  2025 was the first year we went "on tour".  We took a team down to San Diego to take on Carlsbad Thunder, and we were able to win that game.  later in the season, we tied  the defending Tier II National Champion Wolverines.   2026 was our breakout year.  Due to good numbers, we decided to field a single school team, and in 2026, we re-formed the Rio Americano High School team.  We started strong, and made it to the NorCal final, but lost to St. Francis by a penalty kick as time expired.  The following week, St. Francis won the California State title by a wide margin.  The club season started, and we came out hot.  We ran the table in our league, and again went to San Diego to play the Mustangs.  We played them tight, and got to a 10 point deficit late in the game.  The mustangs are all class, and scored 2 quick tries to put the game out of reach.  Soon after, we were fortunate to have our bid to Nationals accepted, and the rest is history.

LLR- One thing we try to implement with players?

CC- This a tough question, because the level of play in NorCal is so high now.  In our younger age groups, we want the kids to have fun.  We don't place much of an emphasis on wins and losses in the U-10 & U-12 age groups.  We are all about fundamental rugby: passing, support play, FUN.  Our director of youth teams, Ben Strange does a fantastic job in balancing the fun, with the learning.  As the kids move up in age groups, we try to put a bit more emphasis on competition, but in reality, when dealing with kids transitioning from grade school to middle school, we want them to enjoy coming to practice and playing in games.  Even our JV HS team, we focus on learning our "system", and aren't to worried about wins and losses.  Once we get to the Varsity level, we believe we have earned the right to compete, and expect our players to have the same mindset.  Every time we step on the field, we want our players to believe that if they give maximum effort, the results will follow.  It still boils down to the fundamentals though.  If we cant pass, catch and tackle: we can't compete.  Just get better at the simple stuff, and you get better at the complicated stuff.

LLR- Where do I see this program in 5 years?

CC- Ideally, we continue to grow, and get better.  We have accomplished a ton in  a short amount of time (as a HS program), but I would like to see us grow and expand our reach.  In the transition from Middle School to HS, we lose at least half our our players to the Jesuit program (Jesuit HS is about 200 yards from our home field).  If we could retain some of those players, I think we could be a mainstay in the National conversation.

LLR- What age groups can join the youth rugby programs?

CC- We field U-10, U-12, Middle School, JV and Varsity High School.  We always have families asking about a 6 year old joining, but current NorCal policy has it that for tackle, you have to by 8 years old.  I'm sure if there is enough interest, we would field a U-8 flag side.

LLR- Do kids need prior experience to start playing rugby?

CC- NO!  All we ask is the kids come with a good attitude, and are willing to learn.  As I mentioned above, we emphasize fun and learning over wins and losses in the younger age groups.  In the HS teams, we have been getting football players with no prior experience.  They are always welcome, but the learning curve is a bit steeper.

LLR- Where do practices usually take place?

CC- We practice in Carmichael, which is a suburb of Sacramento.

LLR- What is the practice schedule during the season?

CC- Our youth teams practice 2x/week in the evening during the season.  Our HS teams practice 3-4x/week during the season.  We have a strength and conditioning coach, so we try to work in weight room sessions as part of our practice regimen.

LLR- How long is the youth season in Northern California?

CC- We start practice the week after Thanksgiving.  Games begin for our youth teams in January, and goes to early March.  I think most youth clubs still have a hard time competing with Little League.  Once Little League starts, our number drop significantly.

LLR- What age do players start contact rugby?

CC- In Northern California, contact rugby starts at the U-10 level.  U-10's have 10 players on a smaller field.  U-12's have 12 players on a smaller field, and MS rugby is full 15's on a full side field.  Scrums of 3 players are formed, but uncontested at the U-10 level.  Scrums of 5 , but still uncontested at the U-12 level, and full scrums, but uncontested for half the season at the MS level.  Once the MS players have a few games under their belt, they go to contested scrums.

LLR- What is the biggest highlights of the program thus far?

CC- In the last 2 years, it seems like there is a lot of highlights.  I would say going to San Diego, and coming away with a win vs. Thunder gave the boys a ton of confidence.  We then rolled right into getting a tie vs. Wolverines.  Winning the Gold division in NorCal this year was a huge feather in our cap, but there is nothing quite like competing at Nationals.  We came in as the 8 seed, and made it to the finals.  To say we are proud of the boys is the understatement of the century.

As far as the program as a whole:  I would have to say the solid reputation we have built in the community.  I can still remember the days we had 10 players on U-10's, and our Middle School team had to merge with Chico to field a team.  Our youth numbers are real strong right now.   We are a success story, 16 years in the making. 

LLR- How can parents volunteer to support the team?

CC- Admittedly, this is one aspect Sam and I have struggled with.  Ben Strange has developed a strong coaching cadre in the youth, and we have bolstered our ranks at the HS level by adding National Champion collegiate players Kellen Fisch and Miles Brown.  We are always in need of fundraising, game day operations: field set-up/tear-down, and post game meals.  We are a 501(c)(3) organization, so fundraising is always important.

LLR- Are there team events, fundraisers, community events scheduled?

CC- As the season just ended, we have nothing planned.  Ben has been fantastic in getting players out for flag rugby, and to games in the Sacramento Area.  Sacramento just hosted the Women's matches between USA and New Zealand, and Canada vs. Australia.  Sacramento also hosted a MLR game, were some of the younger Hawks participated in a halftime flag match.

  

We have participated in the American River Clean Up, which is run by the local Kiwanis Clubs.  We are always looking for fundraising opportunities.

LLR- How does the program promote teamwork, respect and sportsmanship?

CC- I think that the sport itself promotes teamwork, respect and sportsmanship.  I've been involved in rugby for nearly 40 years, and I've yet to see a successful team that doesn't have those qualities.  We are not the largest team physically, so we need to score team tries.  That requires teamwork.  If you don't respect your opponent, or give them a pat on the back and say good game after the match, we have failed.  It's easy to have these qualities when things are going your way, but sport is cruel, and inevitably, the tide will turn.  At those moments, it is crucial to remember how you treated your opponent when things were going good.  That is what makes our sport the best sport in the world.  You beat on one another for 70 minutes, the get in a circle an congratulate on another and break bread.

LLR- Are there opportunities for girls only teams or clinics?

CC- We field co-ed teams up until HS.   We don't have the numbers to field a girls only team, but we have a fantastic relationship with the Harlequins, which is a highly successful girls program in our area.  Our girls that have stuck with rugby, have found tremendous success with coach Wes Hilger at Harlequins.

LLR- Words of advice for those wanting to help out with their local club?

CC- Find a way to get involved.  Clubs, whether they know it or not, need help with some aspect of running a successful club.  We have coaches who have never played before, but they have value to our club.  Helping with post game meals  is huge.  Field set-up and tea-down is huge.  Any of the off field stuff a volunteer can help with, is something the coaching staff doesn't have to deal with, which means they can concentrate on coaching skills to the kids in the program.  Although rugby is growing, it is still something of a niche sport.  We could use all the help we can get.  If a coach or administrator doesn't have anything off hand to do, let them know you're available.  Something will come up.

* please give the Hawks a Follow on their social media accounts and check out there website for registration, news and other resources. 

carmichaelrugby.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/Carmichaelhawks

Instagram: instagram.com/carmichaelhawks/



Autism in Rugby Merch!

The Warrior Within

  It’s not uncommon to find multi-sport athletes among young rugby players in America. Many balance rugby with football, basketball, or other sports during the off-season. But what makes our latest Q&A participant truly stand out is her remarkable versatility: Cadence is not only a dedicated rugby player, but also a cheerleader and an active member of her high school’s NJROTC program.
 Talk about a unique rugger—Cadence exemplifies discipline, focus, and leadership across three demanding arenas. Her ability to juggle the physical intensity of rugby, the precision and spirit of cheerleading, and the structured commitment of NJROTC speaks volumes about her character and drive.
 A proud product of San Diego’s youth rugby scene, having played with both the SD Mustangs and Spartan Youth Rugby, Cadence is poised for great things. Her well-rounded experience and strong foundation make her a promising addition to any club she joins in the future.

LLR-What position do you play and when did you start playing rugby?

CC- I started playing co-ed rugby the winter of 2022. I have played full back, fly half, wing, inside and outside center. The center positions would have to be my favorite. 

LLR- There are many examples of cross over athletes who come to rugby, but a Cheerleader to rugby on top of also being a member of the NJROTC. Which order did they all start and what are people's reactions when you tell them?

CC- I started cheerleading when I was 5 years old. When I was 11 years old I started playing rugby. I just started NJROTC this year as a freshman in high school. Most people are pretty surprised when they hear I play rugby and also cheer. A lot of people think those two sports don’t usually go together but everyone has been extremely supportive.

LLR- What's something from cheerleading that transfers over to rugby and rugby to Cheerleading? 

CC- I would say two of the biggest things that transfer between rugby and cheer would have to be communication and trust. Both of these are crucial for keeping everyone safe and achieving the team’s goals. 

LLR- What's been a highlight thus far for you in playing rugby?

CC- I can’t think of just one specific moment but I have been so lucky to have had such incredible opportunities to work with some of the most amazing coaches. Coach Troy with San Diego Mustangs was my very first coach and made me fall in love with game. Coach Ailani with San Diego Mustangs helped build my confidence on the field and see that I was capable of more than I knew. Coach Charlie the head coach at USD, runs the skills program at Proteus. He has taught me so much and gives me great advice to perfect my technique. He helps keep me focused on what’s really important and to stay on track. Coach Chris with Spartans rugby encouraged me to try other positions and taught me how to lead other when he put me in a captains role. I will always be so thankful for these coaches.


LLR- Do you still plan to continue all three programs going into college ?

CC- I would love to continue all three programs going into college. So finding a school with all three would be ideal. 

LLR- Is there a college or two you hope to attend in the future?

CC- Ever since I was 6 years old I have wanted to go to the University of Kentucky. I even had a UK themed birthday one year. Another school I have been extremely interested in is the United States Military Academy West Point.

LLR- Who has been a role model for you ?

CC- Someone that I really look up to would definitely have to be Portia Woodman. Every time you see her off the field she always smiling, really positive, and super humble. Then she steps on the field and she is an absolute beast. 

LLR- Favorite movie?

CC- My favorite movie would have to be A Dogs Purpose. 

LLR- In-N-Out or Chick-fil-a?

CC- I would have to choose Chick-fil-a

LLR- If you had the opportunity to speak in front of a group of middle school girls what 3 pieces of advice would you give them in giving rugby a try?

CC- If I could give other girls some advice about trying rugby I would say don’t be intimidated. It doesn’t matter your size or skill level, there is a place for everyone. Also rugby is not like other sports it’s a family. Not only do you build a strong bond with your teammates but also with players from other teams. Rugby is the most fun you’ll ever have you just gotta jump right in.

LLR- Any last words or heads-up about personal highlights coming up you would like to share? 

CC- I am super excited to start my first year of high school rugby. 

When I was in 6th grade I was being bullied and really just looking for something new. I found out my dance teacher played rugby when she was young and I thought that was so cool. So I decided to give it a try and I’m so glad I did. Rugby has given me confidence and shown me that I’m a much stronger person than I thought I was.

*Cadence C. Currently plays for Spartan Youth Rugby