Warrior Rugby wraps up eye-opening spring on, off pitch

PATASKALA - A recent weekend ran Dan Hayes ragged.

Hayes oversaw more than 100 players of all ages representing Warrior Rugby in home events. Hayes admittedly did not see that weekend coming so fast when he started the rugby program two years ago, but he relished every bit of it.

"I don't think anyone foresaw that happening," Hayes said. "I think the most surprising thing so far has been the girls season, just the number of girls that came out and played pretty well was a lot of fun to watch. That has been really rewarding."

Hayes and assistant coach Andrew Meade, each former collegiate rugby players, started the high school boys team in 2016, and the response was overwhelming. The way the community has embraced the sport was unpredictable.

Warrior Rugby now has a youth program, a middle school team and a high school girls team. That girls team played three matches this spring and was a good blend of athletes from other Watkins Memorial sports and students who either have not previously been athletes or have drifted away from varsity sports for various reasons.

Juniors Olivia Teague and Grace Berry, sophomore Dani Gallant and freshmen Emma Senter and Sommer Branham were among the top girls players.

"A lot of games at this age aren't approachable if you have not played them your whole life," Hayes said. "If you are 16 and want to play baseball, you are about 11 years behind. This isn't that way yet. The kids just love it because it's a player-directed sport. Once they get on the field, there is very little coaching. They pretty much decide what happens."

The boys team, which just wrapped up its third season, had a disappointing finish May 16, falling 12-10 to Northern Force in a Division II playoff match. Warrior Rugby beat the Force in the season opener in late March, but the Force had a few additions to its roster since that match.

"These kids worked hard to win the game and had the skills to do it. We just didn't execute," Hayes said. "As the coaches, we will take responsibility for any lack of preparation, and they will take responsibility for any lack of execution. Next year's season starts tomorrow."

Warrior Rugby was senior heavy its first season, but has begun to build from the ground up the past two seasons. Warrior Rugby graduates a few major contributors, but also will return several key players, including Austin Branham, Cooper Phillips and William Hayes, next season.

"Spencer Heydinger, first-year player as a senior, was really fast. He caught on to the game really quick," Hayes said. "Jacob Varvel scored quite a few tries this year and came on to the game. He is going to play at Ohio University next year, so he will be a big loss.

"Augie Bevard is a really tenacious defensive player. It's almost scary to watch him tackle people because he just cuts them in half," Hayes added. "Trey Burchard is a hard-nosed, lunch-pail kid. He is no nonsense and just gets his work done. He has been a lot of fun."

ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8556

Twitter: @newarkurt