Athlete of the Week

Rutgers University men’s rugby team was bigger, but according to Aidan Benson ’07, “rugby is a game where brains can often make up for a lack of brawn.”
When asked what he has contributed to the season, he likes “to think brains, of course. But I owe a lot to the coaches.”

Benson’s ability to outsmart the Scarlet Knights led to the Brewers’ stunning 55-7 victory on Sunday Sept. 18.

Given that Benson has only scored one try thus far this season, his nomination may come as a surprise to someone basing assessment only on points. But Coach Tony Brown credits Benson with an “excellent defense and ability to set up others.”

This ability comes in part from learning the game earlier than many college players. Unlike most, who pick up the game as an alternative to another sport once they reach college, Benson learned at Brentwood School in British Columbia Canada.

In his write-up of Sunday’s game on the athletic website, Coach Brown praised not just Benson’s ability, but the “hard knocks” he is willing to take in “playing 10 times his size.”

Coach Tony Brown also points to Benson’s early training as having taught Benson the game very well, and made him “incredibly fast and very brave [with] a good range of rugby skills.”

—Sarah Palermo, Sports Editor