El 408 Bisonte

    Hace unos años hice una entrevista increíble con una jugadora de San José, California, más específicamente del club de rugby Overfelt High School Royals Girls. Julissa era una de mis jugadoras favoritas para entrevistar en ese momento y estaba muy eufórico cuando dijo que sí a hacer otra sesión de preguntas y respuestas. Solo que esta vez se graduó de la escuela secundaria y no asiste a la Universidad de Howard, en el momento de la última entrevista Howard era la escuela de sus sueños para ingresar, y ahora se está haciendo un nombre entre los escuchados y representando no solo a los Royals sino a los 408 en la costa este. Aunque todavía se mantiene la esperanza de una llamada de Las Serpientes, Selección Nacional de Rugby de México, una llamada telefónica de USA Rugby no sería ignorada y, de hecho, bienvenida. Realmente espero que llames, tómate el tiempo para leer sobre ponerte al día con Julissa o tal vez sea tu primera vez. Espero que todos disfruten y se sientan un poco más cerca de un increíble ser humano y jugador de rugby destinado a marcar la diferencia.

 

¡VAMOS HOWARD!

 

LLR- ¿Cómo se ha trasladado el ajuste de la costa oeste a la costa este?

 

JDA- Inicialmente, mudarse solo a DC a través de la nación fue una experiencia desafiante, tanto mental como literalmente. Sin embargo, contrariamente a mis expectativas, dejar a mi familia en el aeropuerto no fue nada difícil. Mi entusiasmo por comenzar de nuevo en una gran ciudad plagada de cultura e historia dominó mi vacilación de dejar atrás la Costa Oeste. Arrastrar 4 maletas por el aeropuerto no fue tarea fácil, pero cuando finalmente llegué a DC, mientras conducía a mi dormitorio y echaba un primer vistazo a las calles de ladrillos de Howard, supe que se convertiría en mi hogar. Inicialmente, tuve dificultades para navegar por las tiendas en DC después de darme cuenta de que me faltaban algunos artículos necesarios para mi dormitorio. Durante mi primer viaje a la tienda de comestibles, me perdí y terminé en un Walmart abandonado bajo la lluvia torrencial. Nunca he sido demasiado bueno con las direcciones, por lo que familiarizarme con las calles y el transporte público fue una tarea increíblemente laboriosa, pero por necesidad, eventualmente, me esforcé por desarrollar mi independencia y conocimiento de DC con el tiempo. Otra cosa es que cuando la gente dice que el Este es frío, ¡créanles! Tuve que ampliar todo mi guardarropa como californiana amante del sol y adaptarme a las inclemencias del tiempo a medida que el otoño llegaba a su fin. Incluso pude experimentar la nieve en DC y, finalmente, aprendí a apreciar el clima por la experiencia única que fue. El último ajuste importante que tuve que hacer mientras me mudaba de Occidente a Oriente fue hacer nuevos amigos. Todos mis viejos amigos se quedaron en casa en el Oeste, así que durante un tiempo me sentí solo, pero afortunadamente, hice varios lazos especiales con mis compañeros de equipo de rugby y, con el tiempo, con dos amigos sólidos fuera de mis compañeros de equipo. Puede que no parezca mucho, pero para mí, este grupo de amigos cercano y dedicado es todo lo que podría pedir en la vida. Mudarse definitivamente ha traído su conjunto de desafíos, pero no es nada a lo que no pueda adaptarme con paciencia, determinación y, lo más importante, ¡tiempo!

 

LLR- ¿Qué ha sido lo que has echado de menos de casa y lo que más te ha gustado de estar en Howard?

 JDA- ¡Extraño desesperadamente la comida callejera mexicana y a mis amigos en casa! En San José, puedes encontrar tacos, esquites y tamales en cualquier lugar a buen precio. En DC tienes que luchar para encontrar cualquier lugar de comida mexicana / hispana para empezar y cuando lo haces, la comida es increíblemente cara y tiene un sabor poco auténtico. Es lo que me gusta llamar comida mexicana americana. Un solo taco de birria decente cuesta $ 5-6 aquí es un hombre rudo ... Aparte de la comida, también extraño a mis amigos y familiares, especialmente a mis hermanas y primas, que me escuchaban sin importar cuál fuera el tema o a qué hora los necesitara. Sé que están a solo una llamada de distancia, pero aún así no es lo mismo. Siempre veo a mis amigos pasando el rato experimentando la universidad juntos y pasando noches divertidas, solo desearía estar allí para compartir el momento con ellos. Echo de menos entrenar con mis antiguos compañeros de equipo y ponerme al día con mis entrenadores de secundaria también. Todavía me mantengo en contacto, por supuesto, pero diría que esas son las cosas que más extraño de casa. ¡Lo que más me gusta aquí en Howard tiene que ser el equipo de rugby! Estaba muy emocionado de conocer al equipo y pronto las caras que vi en el Instagram de HUWRC durante mis años de escuela secundaria ya no eran caras de extraños, sino las caras de mis nuevos amigos y compañeros de equipo. Jugamos con mucha pasión y todos se ayudan unos a otros cuando pueden, mental y físicamente. No somos solo un equipo de jugadores individuales, sino una unidad unida con algo que demostrar. No podría estar más feliz con ellos a mi lado, ¡son lo más destacado de mi experiencia!

 

LLR- ¿En qué te estás especializando actualmente?

 JDA- Soy estudiante de la Universidad de Howard con especialización en ciencias políticas en la carrera de pre-derecho. Mi objetivo de pregrado es graduarme con un 4.0 e ir a una prestigiosa escuela de posgrado para convertirme en abogado corporativo o abogado litigante. Mi visión es utilizar mis conocimientos de negocios y leyes para encontrar formas creativas de retribuir a la comunidad sin tener problemas legales. Quiero ser capaz de construir empresas sostenibles dedicadas a ayudar y defender a las comunidades de bajos ingresos y, en última instancia, utilizar mi experiencia política para postularme para un cargo. Siempre me ha apasionado ayudar a los necesitados. En años anteriores, he planeado eventos de servicio comunitario y recaudaciones de fondos, expandí el rugby en nuestra comunidad y asumí varios roles de liderazgo a lo largo de la escuela secundaria (y pronto en la universidad). Sin embargo, deseo hacer un cambio más institucionalizado a través de una legislación que represente con precisión las necesidades de BIPOC en el cargo como abogado, político y aliado inquebrantable. Al fin y al cabo, trabajo para el pueblo y vivo para el pueblo. Por eso estudio lo que hago.

  

LLR- Al comenzar tu carrera como jugador universitario, ¿cuál ha sido la mayor diferencia entre el club de la escuela secundaria y el nivel de club universitario?

 JDA- La mayor diferencia entre jugar con un equipo de secundaria y tener una carrera universitaria en el rugby fue que la flexibilidad aumentó sorprendentemente y el entrenamiento se basó más en las habilidades en lugar de estar arraigado en lo básico. Cuando vayas a jugar rugby universitario, los entrenadores y el equipo esperarán que tengas algún tipo de conocimiento del deporte. Sin embargo, si no lo haces, repasan los conceptos básicos a principios del otoño, simplemente no se detienen en ellos durante la temporada de primavera. Jugar quince también es la norma en la universidad y estoy muy agradecido de haber adquirido algo de experiencia en mi última temporada de rugby durante la escuela secundaria (éramos principalmente un equipo de 7 y 10 hasta entonces). Nuestros entrenadores aquí en la Universidad de Howard esperan responsabilidad, pero son muy comprensivos con la vida universitaria de un estudiante y las dificultades que la siguen. A menudo, el entrenador Lele y el entrenador Mac nos permitirán tomarnos un descanso para ponernos al día con las calificaciones, el trabajo o simplemente para tener un día de salud mental cuando sea necesario. Son conscientes del clima, evitando las prácticas bajo la lluvia, la nieve u otros entornos hostiles que podrían enfermarnos. Sin embargo, esa es exactamente la razón por la que cuando podemos entrenar, se espera que demos el 100 por ciento en el campo y vayamos duro. En la escuela secundaria, el objetivo era llevarnos al siguiente nivel: oportunidades universitarias e internacionales. Es por eso que entrenamos bajo la lluvia torrencial, durante los descansos y en el verano enfocados en lo básico con un compromiso total de superarnos. No estoy diciendo que el rugby universitario sea menos intenso, todo lo contrario, el nivel de habilidad que se necesita para jugar un juego, así como las apuestas que se ponen en ellos, se vuelven mucho más altos, sin embargo, en la universidad somos adultos con responsabilidades que cuidar, por lo que la indulgencia y la responsabilidad se convierten en una gran parte de tu desarrollo como jugador de rugby con el tiempo.

 

 LLR- ¿Qué me puedes contar de tu equipo en la Universidad de Howard?

 JDA- Howard Womens Rugby Club (HUWRC) es un equipo de rugby increíblemente trabajador e impresionante que fue fundado hace solo 3 años por nuestro increíble presidente Takunda Rusike. Está lleno de mujeres jóvenes apasionadas y talentosas que están orgullosas de ser atletas negras y una inspiración para todas las minorías que aspiran a jugar al rugby a nivel universitario. Como un grupo demográfico subrepresentado de jugadores en la comunidad del rugby, nuestro equipo se siente honrado de allanar el camino para las futuras generaciones de color y continuaremos redefiniendo la historia cada vez que nos pongamos los botines. A los 2 años de existir, HUWRC se convirtió en campeón de la D2 East Coast (primavera de 2023), la conferencia capital número 1 y obtuvo el segundo lugar de D2 a nivel nacional (primavera de 2023). HUWRC luchó con uñas y dientes por esos títulos, no como individuos glorificados, sino como una unidad singular que imponía respeto. Nuestros entrenadores trabajadores; El entrenador Lele, el entrenador Mac, el entrenador Sully, el entrenador Scout, el entrenador KB y el entrenador Tyler dedican horas a planificar entrenamientos hábiles, jugadas complejas y entrenamiento de resistencia para mejorar nuestras habilidades como atletas. Nuestras gerentes Arabella, Kyandall y Brianna ayudan a que nuestras prácticas / juegos sean más organizados y sin esfuerzo detrás de escena. Por último, todos mis compañeros de equipo aportan algo valioso y especial a nuestro equipo. Takira es nuestra enérgica rucker, Janeece acelera el juego y Gabby siempre es confiable. Takunda es nuestro líder, Shylynn es imposible de derribar y Kam es nuestro comodín ruidoso. Los estudiantes de último año disfrutan jugando sus últimos partidos, mientras que los novatos se preparan para jugar el primero. ¡Todos estamos en diferentes etapas de nuestras vidas, pero unidos de una misma manera! Entrenadores, gerentes, Eboard y atletas contribuyen al legado de HUWRC y pronto, después de que obtengamos un boleto para D1 Nationals, esperamos asegurar la oportunidad de convertirnos en el primer equipo de rugby femenino HBCU NCAA D1.

 

 LLR- ¿La aspiración de vestir la camiseta del águila sigue siendo el objetivo o ha cambiado?

 JDA- Si se me presentara la oportunidad de hacer una prueba para los Eagles, ¡definitivamente daría lo mejor de mí! Sus estándares son increíblemente altos, pero con suficiente trabajo duro, dedicación y experiencia, no creo que esté demasiado fuera de su alcance. Sin embargo, mi corazón está en representar a HWRC y mis raíces mexicanas con Las Serpientes, el equipo internacional de rugby femenino de México. Con suerte, para finales de este año, habré participado en uno de sus torneos profesionales sub-19, ya que las pruebas parecen estar a la vuelta de la esquina.

 

 LLR- ¿Jugadora de rugby favorita?

 JDA- Portia Woodman de las Black Ferns es, con mucho, mi mayor inspiración en el rugby. Domina absolutamente el campo y se hizo un nombre familiar en un deporte e industria dominados por hombres. ¡Woodman es uno de los principales anotadores de tries en la Serie Mundial por una razón! Entrena duro, se abre paso entre las personas y puntúa constantemente. Aunque no es la más grande en el campo, es una de las más temidas y una inspiración para las jugadoras de rugby más pequeñas como yo. Quiero ser capaz de levantar a los oponentes sobre mi hombro sin ayuda como ella lo hace y ser un compañero de equipo confiable que no te defraudará sin importar la habilidad o el tamaño del equipo contrario. Espero llegar a ser tan grande como Portia Woodman algún día, pero hasta entonces seguiré viéndola y me mantendré motivado para trabajar hacia ese nivel de respeto y honor en el rugby.

 

 LLR- Si pudieras jugar en el extranjero en cualquier club, ¿cuál sería?

 JDA- No estoy muy seguro, honestamente no he pensado mucho en ello. No sé mucho sobre los equipos de clubes de rugby en el extranjero, pero si alguna vez siento la necesidad o tengo la oportunidad de unirme a un equipo disciplinado de alta intensidad, lo haré y continuaré mi viaje de rugby hasta bien entrada mi vejez.

 

LLR- ¿En qué posición juegas mientras estás en Howard?

 JDA- Actualmente, soy un jugador utilitario (mi posición varía según sea necesario) y para el final de esta temporada de primavera, ¡debería tener 5 posiciones en mi haber! En mis años anteriores de experiencia en la escuela secundaria, solo jugué como corredor, utilizando mi velocidad generalmente como ala o fullback. Este año me introdujeron en el medio scrum y el flanco, y con el tiempo, también aprenderé a enganchar. De los cinco, sigo siendo un fullback de corazón, ¡pero scrummy está en segundo lugar! ¡Estoy muy emocionado de tener experiencia con los forwards, ya que el tackleo es uno de mis aspectos favoritos del juego de rugby! Puede que sea pequeño, pero después de haber sido sustituido como lateral en estos últimos partidos, me he sentido bastante cómodo en los scrums y la línea defensiva, además de confiar en mi capacidad para apoyar a mis compañeros de equipo en el campo. Me he ganado la reputación de no tener miedo de tacklear a personas que me doblan en tamaño y gané el premio al Novato del Año por mi contribución la temporada de otoño pasado. Con la edad, el trabajo duro y el tiempo, espero solidificar una posición titular en la lista, pero hasta entonces continuaré aprendiendo tantas posiciones como sea posible y seré útil para mi equipo en todo lo que pueda.

 

 LLR- ¿Estarás en el mundial femenino de 2033 en suelo estadounidense como jugadora o aficionada?

 JDA- Honestamente, probablemente estaría en el suelo como fan y no me importaría en absoluto. Estaría ejerciendo la abogacía, ocupado con la política y, siendo realistas, no tendría mucho tiempo para entrenar con el estándar de American Eagles, sin embargo, ¡garantizo que tendré los mejores asientos que el dinero pueda comprar! Si tuviera la bendición de jugar una Copa del Mundo en mi vida, consideraría que mi vida deportiva se cumplió para siempre :)

 

 LLR- ¿Aspiraciones para tus objetivos personales y de equipo para esta temporada en Howard?

 JDA- Para mi objetivo personal, planeo terminar mi primer año con un 4.0 en la lista del decano y pagar el resto de mi matrícula para poder seguir asistiendo a Howard. Para el próximo año, espero unirme a más eventos y clubes basados en el servicio comunitario. Espero asegurarme el puesto de presidente del evento de servicio comunitario de HUWRC en estas elecciones y unirme al Modelo de las Naciones Unidas para ampliar mi comprensión de la política exterior y el debate (el Modelo de las Naciones Unidas es un club de debate y discusión político y de relaciones internacionales). Algún día incluso espero postularme para la presidencia de HUWRC y continuar mi viaje como líder en la comunidad del rugby como lo hice con mi antiguo equipo en casa. Esta temporada, mi objetivo es llegar a la lista de viajeros y, eventualmente, a la lista de viajeros de los nacionales porque realmente creo que HUWRC puede mantenerse en el negocio como los no favoritos y llevarse la victoria. El año que viene espero asegurarme más tiempo de juego en el campo y seguiré explorando nuevas posiciones hasta que sea necesario especializarme. Por último, espero desarrollar un estilo de juego único y dominar un movimiento característico para distinguirme en la comunidad del rugby.

 

Si quieres dejar en seguir a Julissa y su viaje o ponerte en contacto con ella, dale un seguir en Instagram-@julissa_essj

The 408 BISON

    A few years back I did an amazing interview with a player from San Jose, CA. more specifically from the Overfelt High School Royals Girls rugby club. Julissa was one of my favorite players to interview at the time and I was so elated when she said yes to doing another Q&A. Only this time she has graduated from high school and is no attending Howard University, at the time of the last interview Howard was her dream school to get into, and is now making a name for her self amongst the heard and representing not just the Royals but the 408 on the east coast. Although still holding out hope for a call from Las Serpientes , Mexico Rugby National Team, a phone call from USA Rugby would not be ignored and in fact welcomed. I truly hope you call take the time to read about catching up with Julissa or maybe its your first time. Either way I hope you all enjoy and feel a bit more closer to an amazing human and rugby player destined to make a difference. 

*there will also be a Spanish translation coming soon.

VAMOS HOWARD!

LLR- How has the adjustment been moving from the west coast to the east coast?

JDA- Initially, moving across the nation to DC alone was a challenging experience, both mentally and literally. However contrary to my expectations, leaving my family behind at the airport was not difficult at all. My excitement to start anew in a large city ridden with culture and history dominated my hesitation to leave the West Coast behind. Dragging 4 suitcases through the airport was no easy task, but when I finally arrived in DC, as I drove to my dorm and took my first glance at the brick-built streets of Howard, I knew I would it would become my home. Initially, I did have difficulty navigating the shops in DC after I realized I was missing a few items needed for my dorm. During my first-ever trip to the grocery store, I got lost and ended up at an abandoned Walmart in the pouring rain. I’ve never been too good with directions, so becoming familiar with the streets and public transportation was an incredibly effortful task, but out of need, eventually, I pushed myself to develop my independence and knowledge of DC well over time. Another thing is that when people say the East is cold, believe them! I had to expand my entire wardrobe as a sun-loving Californian and adjust to the harsh weather as fall came to an end. I even got to experience snow in DC and eventually, I learned to appreciate the weather for the unique experience it was. The last major adjustment I had to make while moving from the West to the East was making new friends. All my old friends remained back home in the West, so for a while I was lonely, but luckily, I made several special bonds with my rugby teammates and over time about two solid friends outside of my teammates. It may not seem like much, but to me, this close and dedicated group of friends is all I could ever ask for in life! Moving has definitely brought its set of challenges, but it's nothing I couldn’t adapt to with patience, determination, and most importantly, time! 

LLR- What's been the one thing you miss from home and one thing you've grown to like the most from being at Howard?

JDA- I desperately miss the Mexican street food and my friends back home! In San Jose, you can find tacos, esquites, and tamales anywhere for a good price. In DC you have to struggle to find any Mexican/Hispanic food place to begin with and when you do, the food is incredibly expensive and tastes inauthentic. It's what I like to call American Mexican food. A single decent Birria taco is $5-6 out here its rough man… Aside from the food I also miss my friends and family, especially my sisters and cousins who would hear me out no matter what the topic was or what time I needed them. I know they are just one call away but it's still not the same. I always see my friends hanging out experiencing college together and having fun nights out, I only wish I was there to share the moment with them. I miss training with my old teammates and catching up with my high school coaches as well. I still keep in touch of course, but I would say those are the things I miss the most from back home. The thing I love the most here at Howard has to be the rugby team! I was so excited to meet the team and soon the faces I saw on HUWRC’s Instagram during my high school years were no longer strangers’ faces, but instead the faces of my new friends and teammates. We play with such passion and everyone helps each other when they can mentally and physically. We aren’t just a team of individual players but a bonded unit with something to prove. I couldn’t be happier with them by my side, they are the highlight of my experience!

LLR- What are you currently majoring in?

JDA- I am a student at Howard University majoring in political science on the pre-law track. My undergraduate goal is to graduate with a 4.0 and go to a prestigious graduate school to either become a corporate lawyer or a trial attorney. My vision is to use my knowledge of business and law to find creative ways of giving back to the community without running into legal issues. I want to be able to build sustainable companies dedicated to helping and defending low-income communities and ultimately using my political background to run for office. I have always had a passion for helping those in need. In previous years I have planned community service events and fundraisers, expanded rugby in our community, and took on various leadership roles throughout high school (and soon in college). However, I do wish to make a more institutionalized change through legislation that accurately represents BIPOC's needs in office as a lawyer, politician, and unwavering ally. At the end of the day, I work for the people and I live for the people! That is why I study what I do.

LLR- In starting your collegiate playing career what's been the biggest difference from high school club to college club level?

JDA- The biggest difference between playing with a high school team and having a college career in rugby was that the flexibility surprisingly increased and training became more skill-based rather than being rooted in basics. When you go to play college rugby, the coaches and team will expect you to have some sort of knowledge of the sport. However, if you don’t, they do go over the basics at the beginning of fall, they just don’t dwell on them during the spring season. Playing fifteens is also the norm in college and I am so grateful to have gotten some experience in my last season of rugby during high school (we were mostly a 7’s and 10’s team until then). Our coaches here at Howard University expect accountability but are very understanding of a student's college life and the hardships that follow them. Often Coach Lele and Coach Mac will allow us to take a break to catch up on grades, work, or just to have a mental health day when needed. They are mindful of the weather, avoiding practices in the rain, snow, or other harsh settings that could get us sick. However, that is exactly why when we can train, we are expected to give 100 percent on the field and go hard! In HS the focus was to get us to the next level: college and international opportunities. That is why we trained in the pouring rain, during breaks, and in the summer focused on basics with a full commitment to better ourselves. I am not saying college rugby is less intense, quite the opposite, the level of skill it takes to play a game as well as the stakes placed on them become much higher, however, in college we are adults with responsibilities to take care of, so leniency and accountability becomes a huge part of your development as a rugby player over time.

LLR- What can you tell me about your team at Howard University ?

JDA- Howard Womens Rugby Club (HUWRC) is an incredibly hardworking and impressive rugby team that was founded just 3 years ago by our amazing president Takunda Rusike. It is full of passionate and talented young women who are proud to be black athletes and an inspiration to all minorities aspiring to play rugby at the collegiate level. As an underrepresented demographic of players in the rugby community, our team is honored to pave a path for future generations of color and we will continue to redefine history every time we put on our cleats. Within 2 years of existing, HUWRC became D2 East Coast champions (Spring 2023), the number 1 capital conference, and earned D2 second place nationwide (Spring 2023)! HUWRC fought tooth and nail for those titles, not as glorified individuals, but as a singular respect-commanding unit. Our hardworking Coaches; Coach Lele, Coach Mac, Coach Sully, Coach Scout, Coach KB, and Coach Tyler put in the hours to plan skillful workouts, complex gameplays, and endurance training to better our abilities as athletes. Our managers Arabella, Kyandall, and Brianna help make our practices/games more organized and effortless behind the scenes. Lastly, my teammates all contribute something valuable and special to our team. Takira is our spirited rucker, Janeece speeds up the game, and Gabby is always reliable. Takunda is our leader, Shylynn is impossible to tackle, and Kam is our loud wildcard. Seniors enjoy playing their last few games, while rookies prepare to play their first. We are all in different stages of our lives but bonded one and the same! Coaches, managers, Eboard, and athletes all contribute to the HUWRC legacy and soon, after we score a ticket to D1 Nationals, we hope to secure the opportunity of becoming the first HBCU NCAA D1 Women’s Rugby team! 

LLR- Is the aspiration to dawn an USA eagle jersey still or has that changed ?

JDA- Should the opportunity to try out for the Eagles present itself to me I would definitely give it my best shot! Their standards are incredibly high, but with enough hard work, dedication, and experience, I don’t believe it to be too far out of reach. However, my heart lies with representing HWRC and my Mexican roots with Las Serpientes, Mexico’s international women's rugby team. Hopefully, by the end of this year, I will have participated in one of their professional U19 tournaments as tryouts seem to be just around the corner!

LLR- Favorite female rugby player?

JDA- Portia Woodman from the Black Ferns is by far my biggest inspiration in rugby. She absolutely dominates the pitch and made a household name for herself in a male-dominated sport and industry. Woodman is a leading try-scorer in the World Series for a reason! She trains hard, drives through people, and scores consistently. Although she is not the biggest on the field, she is one of the most feared, and an inspiration to smaller rugby players like me. I want to be able to single-handedly lift opponents on my shoulder as she does and be a reliable teammate who will not let you down no matter the opposing team's skill or size. I hope to become as great as Portia Woodman someday, but until then I will keep watching her and stay motivated to work toward that level of rugby respect and honor!

LLR- If you could play overseas for any club, which would it be? 

JDA- I’m not too sure I honestly haven’t thought about it much. I don’t know much about rugby club teams overseas, but should I ever feel the urge or have an opportunity to join a high-intensity disciplined team I will do so and continue my rugby journey well into my older years.

LLR- What position are you playing while at Howard?

JDA- Currently, I am a utility player (my position varies as needed) and by the end of this spring season, I should have 5 positions under my belt! In my previous years of high school experience, I only played as a back, utilizing my speed usually as a wing or a fullback. This year I was introduced to scrumhalf and flank, and eventually, I will also learn to hook. Out of the five, I am still a fullback at heart, but scrummy is a close second! I am very excited to get experienced with the forwards as tackling is one of my favorite aspects of rugby gameplay! I may be small but after being subbed in as a flank these last few games I’ve gotten quite comfortable in the scrums and defensive line, as well as confident in my ability to support my teammates on the pitch. I’ve earned a reputation for not being scared to tackle people twice my size and earned Rookie of the Year for my contribution last fall season. With age, hard work, and time I hope to solidify a starting position on the roster, but until then I’ll continue to learn as many positions as possible and be useful to my team in whatever way I can!

LLR- Will you be at the 2033 women's world cup on American soil as a player or fan? 

JDA- In all honesty, I would probably be on the soil as a fan and I wouldn’t mind at all. I would be practicing law, busy with politics, and realistically not have much time to train to the American Eagles standard, however, guarantee I will have the best seats money can buy! Should I be blessed enough to ever play a World Cup in my life I would consider my athletic life forever fulfilled :)

LLR- Aspirations for your personal and team goals for this season at Howard ? 

JDA- For my personal goal, I plan to end my freshman year with a 4.0 on the dean's list and pay off the rest of my tuition so I can continue attending Howard! For the upcoming year, I hope to join more community service-based events and clubs. I hope to secure the position of HUWRC’s community service event chair this election and join Model UN to further my understanding of foreign policy and debate (Model UN is an international relations and political club of debate and discussion). Someday I even hope to run for the presidency of HUWRC and continue my journey as a leader in the rugby community as I did with my old team back home! This season, my goal is to make the traveling roster and eventually, the nationals traveling roster because I truly believe HUWRC can stand on business as the underdogs and take the win! Next year I hope to secure more playing time on the field and will continue to explore new positions until there is a need to specialize. Lastly, I hope to develop a unique playing style and master a signature move to distinguish myself in the rugby community.

If you want to follow Julissa and her journey or reach out to her, give her a follow on Instagram- @julissa_ess

*spanish translation coming soon.

Bells keep Ringing

Retouching base with a former Q&A player, Mateo from San Jose, CA, It was great to hear from Mateo and as always very gracious for him taking the time to answer these questions. My hope is that you all, like my self, get a opportunity to learn a bit more about this young player and be sure to add him to your list of young up and comer to keep an eye on. 

LLR- Since our last conversation, how did last season end?

M- Last year was a rough season for our rugby program. The boys fought hard all the way through the season, and we improved tremendously throughout the season, but we ended up letting games slip through our hands. 

 

 

LLR- What preparations have you taken to prepare for this coming season?

M- The way I improved myself most was going to Argentina for 2 months to play rugby for a club team. I learned a lot about rugby culture in Argentina and how it is vastly different than the culture in California. I addition to the culture I learned about a whole new style of play, and I developed new skills myself. As a team we have been preparing by keeping each other accountable for training sessions and by helping the newer guys understand the game and how we prepare for it.

 

LLR- How has recruitment gone thus far in getting more players to come out for the team?

M- This last year we lost a large majority of our team that were seniors who all graduated and so now we are left with fewer numbers than I would like. The recruiting this year has gone well and we have a lot of newer players. I’m excited to see how they develop as rugby players this season and perhaps in the future if they decide to keep playing.

 

LLR- Are there any special matches scheduled for this season that we should all keep an eye on?

M- I think again like every year our favorite teams to play are Bishop O’Dowd and San Joaquin Memorial because they are usually evenly matched and everyone enjoys the competition. We play Bishop O’Dowd February 3^rd and San Joaquin Memorial February 10^th both at home.

 

LLR- Are there any schools you are narrowing down your choices to that you want to get a degree from and also play for?

M- As of right now my top 2 schools which I have heard back from are Colorado State, and Montana State. I plan to play rugby at whichever school I end up choosing while studying Environmental Engineering. I am still waiting to hear back from a few schools to release acceptances like CU Boulder and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

 

LLR- What would you like to major in when moving on to college?

M- I am planning on majoring in Environmental Engineering at whichever college I end up attending.

 

LLR- Are there future plans to apply for the MLR draft or are your sights set for something else?

M- I don’t think the MLR is in my future but I 100% plan on continuing to play rugby after college for a club team.

 

LLR- Current favorite rugby player?

M- I would say right now my two favorite players are Marcos Moneta and Antoine Dupont.

 

LLR- Favorite rugby team?

M- My favorite team is the Pumas because I am Argentinian, so I root for my own country.

 

LLR- Super Bowl, who do you have winning?

M- I have my bet on the Niners beating the Chiefs.

 

LLR- Favorite subject in school?

M- Favorite subject right now is probably my Engineering Design and Development class.

 

LLR- If you had an opportunity to speak with a coaching staff member from a national team, what would you say to them to take the chance on you?

M- If I had one chance to speak with a coach of a national team I would say “Just watch”. Now this might seem a little cocky but there’s no other way to prove myself other than to just demonstrate what I can do. Actions speak louder than words. No amount of “sweet talking” should vouch for someone’s abilities. Now in no way am I qualified to tell a coach of a national team to “Just watch” but that is what I would say if I had such ability.

 

LLR- Words of motivation for your teammates?

M- What I say to my teammates after every practice is that they keep improving every single practice. We have got to keep working hard and nothing is going to be given to us. Not only working hard for ourselves but fighting for our entire team. When you step on that field play with pride because you are representing Bellarmine. Leave everything on the field so when the final whistle blows you have no regrets.

*Bellarmine lost 2/3 40-19 to Bishop O'Dowd 

Fallow Bellarmine Rugby Club on instagram- @bcprugby 

Grace the busy Beaver - part UNO

  

 When something like this does come together I am very excited and very proud to be able to share with you a small insight into another player/club that most may not have an opportunity to hear about since most of the larger publishing sites tend to focus on the bigger named schools. None the less I am very excited to shine the light on an amazing rugby player whos' played collegiate rugby in two different regions of our country and has contributed so much to both program's. Grace Galles is a very passionate person about her role with Oregon State University's rugby club and also where she would like to see her personally and professionally. A jack of all trades in the back line Grace can be another name you all will hear come 2033. personally I look forward to seeing her in person play while also showing my own young girls a positive role model to aspire to here in Corvallis.

This is part 1 of 2, part two will be published in the coming days.

LLR- Where are you from originally? 

G- I grew up on a farm, but the closest town was Washta, IA.

LLR- How are you liking living in the Pacific northwest?  

G- I love living in the PNW! It’s admittedly very different from living in the Midwest and takes some adjustment, but it is incredibly beautiful (and much more temperate).

 

LLR- How was your playing experience when you played for Iowa?  

G- My experience with Iowa was pretty split. My teammates were and continue to be inspirations and fantastic leaders in rugby at the collegiate, international, and coaching levels. At the same time, the experience with my coach at the time sort of soured my experience and made my growth as a young rugby player pretty difficult.

LLR- How is your experience with OSU and are there some differences between the two clubs?  

G- OSU has been fantastic. It’s pretty similar in that when I have played for both, we have been developing teams. I personally love building up teams and encouraging a new generation of players. The biggest difference has been the unmitigated support I’ve gotten at Oregon State, and the confidence my coaches have in me to continue to compete at a higher level.

LLR- Your role with OSU is social media, is there any frustration with that role or opposite?  

G- Social media has been super fun! I actually design most of our posts in between sets at the gym, so it isn’t too time consuming, and I’ve have gotten a lot of kind words from teammates on how our social media has been looking. It’s a fun position, and I love seeing our fan base grow.

LLR- How has the current season been going for the Lady Beavers?  

G- The current season has been really promising thus far. We have ~50 active players, which has been such a big change from barely fielding a 15s side the past few years. This means we have a ton of new players, but they are all so incredibly driven and talented. We’ve had a few rough matches but each started out with so much intensity and promise that I’m looking forward to what the winter season has to bring. Oh, and our developing side is undefeated, so the future is looking pretty bright

 LLR- What's been one of your highlights while playing with OSU?  

G- In terms of overall, it has probably been getting to learn so many new positions. A year ago, because of a teammate being sick, I got moved to scrumhalf for the first time and have been there ever since. I’ve recently played 8, and while I’m not sure that’s my calling, it has definitely been fun to play around. In terms of individual moments, playing 7s this last spring and absolutely dominating gave our team so much confidence and really shocked quite a few other teams and refs. 

LLR- There is a push to get women’s rugby to varsity status with the NCAA, in your opinion since playing with two collegiate club teams, should both IOWA and OSU move to make each club Varsity or are they just fine being at club status?  

G- Honestly, this is a tough question. Varsity sports get more funding, more attention, and there is a lack of contact sports for women at the collegiate level that definitely needs to be addressed. For that, I think varsity status would do a lot of good for clubs like OSU and Iowa. But that also implies that we have enough younger players to be recruited and competitive at a varsity level. I’m all for varsity status, I know that is a huge goal for both teams. But I also think we need to build at younger ages first to start seeing that kind of growth in the US

LLR- How can people follow yourself and the Beavers?  

G- I’m @gracegalles on I think every social I have ever had, and the OSU team is @osuwomxnrugby on Instagram and we livestream on @OregonStateWomxnsRugby on YouTube!  

Bright Future- Sydney the enforcer

 The 2033 women's rugby world cup is not that far and the current female athletes that are in high school and college will be the core of the USA lineup come that first kickoff. There is an explosion, albeit small right now, for women's and girls rugby in the USA. the emphasis on providing high quality matches and reporting on youth teams is seeing a rise for female players and their respected clubs. Sydney Copeland is one of those players who are taking advantage and thriving thanks to new programs being established and bridges being made between the various levels of rugby. She is a star on the rise and could very well be in the history books come 2033. A NorCal native Sydney has found her stride while attending and playing for Western Washington University, bringing pride to not just Bellingham but all the north west. With the PR7s and the much talked about potential investment into the WPL, players like Sydney and others could very well be better prepared for the future and  I hope you all enjoy learning about Sydney as much as I have.

LLR- Where abouts from the Bay Area are you from?

SC- I am from Martinez in the east bay area

LLR- When did you first start playing rugby and for what club?

SC- My senior year at Carondelet high school, they created a womens rugby team and I joined about halfway through the season in 2019.

LLR- You currently play for Western Washington university, how has your experience playing at the collegiate level been thus far?

SC- I have had a great experience with WWU, I have developed a lot of my core skills from being on this team and from the coaches that I have had. When I first came to western, my coach had taught me how to play scrumhalf and how to kick, and to see the progress I have made in those skills with where I am at on the team now is really cool. We also won our league last year and made it to regionals in California which was a great experience and a nice opportunity for our team to continue to progress to higher levels.

LLR- At such a young career you are experiencing some amazing opportunities, PNW selects, Pacific coast grizzlies. What are some key points that you feel those programs have helped you improve your overall playing experience?

SC- For both of these teams, being able to come together, having never played together as a team or even with most of the people there, and understand everyone's skills and the team dynamic is a great learning experience. Just being able to adapt to a new dynamic and figure out how to let everyone's skills shine and flow smoothly together is a great feeling and growth opportunity, and we got to see it work in Iowa with the PacCoast grizzlies with us winning tier 1.

     Also, just being able to play rugby at a higher level than our current collegiate level, with some of the best players in our region has been a huge factor in helping me improve as a player and teammate.

 Even with the PNW selects and our recent loss against UBC, it was a great learning experience. I feel like a game like that can help put into perspective what our weaknesses were as a team and individually, and how we can improve on those. If we are out here winning every single game we wouldn't get the opportunity to see those little things they were able to capitalize on and be able to grow from it.

LLR- Another amazing thing to point out is your time down in chula vista, can you explain what the reasoning was for the training and the impact it has had on you as a whole? 

SC- This year in 2023 I just started getting into 7s. My first camp at chula vista in June was a huge learning experience for me as a player and for my game in 7s especially. The first camp I attended was more of a learning-based camp to understand the strategies and skills for 7s and how to read the players and the field when on offense and defense. The next two camps in August and October were more performance based camps where we were able to take what we have learned and put it into practice with the scrimmages we did at the end. Overall, I have learned so so much just from these camps, especially being able to train and play with extremely talented athletes from all over the nation. I feel like I have grown with rugby and within my values, seeing how skilled and dedicated everyone is, is extremely motivating and pushes me to continue to work hard to be able to compete at this high of a level.

LLR- Focusing on WWU and the 2023/2024 season how has the team performed thus far reaching the halfway point.

SC- WWU has performed so well! We are currently 2-0 so far this season with big wins against U of O and UW. (our first game against OSU got rescheduled). We are looking forward to continuing to dominate in our league and hopefully we will be able to to compete at regionals again this Spring.

LLR- In your own opinion is there enough being done to get potentially young female players to pick up the ball?

SC- I have seen a lot of growth with girls and womens rugby but I always believe we can be doing more to spread the love of the game, especially to the next generation. Girls rugby is doing an amazing job of growing the name of rugby and empowering young girls all across the nation. I would love to see more funds and spotlight on them and their program.

LLR- Where would you like to see the women's game go here in North America come 2033 ?

SC- I would love to see womens rugby just as big as mens rugby in North America and the United S⁸tates specifically. I would also hope that by 2033, womens professional rugby players are getting paid enough to where they do not need another job.

LLR- Speaking of the USA Women's Rugby World Cup , is there any specific location you personally would like to see at least one round played at in 2033?

SC- I would love to see them play in San Francisco or at least somewhere in the bay area.

LLR- After WWU what's the next step in your rugby and personal journey ?

SC- After I graduate WWU I will have a bachelors in kinesiology exercise science, and will find a job in that field. With rugby, I am wanting to pursue it as far as I can and hopefully even playing professionally one day, thats the dream.

LLR- If you had an opportunity to go back to your middle school and high school, what would you say to those young girls in encouraging them to take up rugby and , for the older ones, going to WWU?

SC- I would tell them that they are capable of amazing things and to always, no matter what, through the ups and downs of life, always continue to believe in yourself. You are strong, powerful, and dangerous.

LLR- Final words of encouragement to those who are reading this?

SC- Keep putting in the work. Even if its not fruitful today or tomorrow, the hard work will pay off. Set your standards high and prove to yourself what you are capable of.

*If you would like to fallow Sydney on her journey along with the Western Washington Woman's rugby club and the PNW Womens Selects please give each profile below a fallow below!

Sydney- @sydneycopeland

WWU club team instagram- @wwuwomensrugby

PNW u23 regional instagram- @pnwws_rugby