Women’s rugby values experience, not just wins

Acacia O'Connor Senior Editor

How do you measure the success of a team? Do you measure it in wins and losses, or in the number of points scored? Do you measure it in championship appearances? If you define success in these terms, Vassar women’s rugby is certainly extraordinary. However, if you ask Coach Tony Brown, he’ll tell you that it isn’t the numbers that count.

“We’re about the experience,” said Brown. “If all these people leave this program saying, ‘I had a good experience,’ then we have accomplished something.”

Brown emphasizes this belief despite the fact that the squad has deftly defeated their first two opponents, keeping them scoreless. The former professional rugby player will be the first to admit that the team needs improvment or that his players are not as talented as those of Vassar’s opponents; sentiments that seem paradoxical to the program’s statistics in the past decade.

In the past five years, the women have garnered a record of 96 wins to 30 losses, and last year they finished second in the 2006 Beast of the East Tournament. The Brewers have also won seven Metropolitan New York Rugby Division I Championships in the past nine years, and have been nationally ranked for the past several years, including a ranking of 10th in the nation in Spring 2005.

As attractive as these numbers are for any potential student-athlete, Brown said it is the philosophy of investment that continually draws new blood to the program.

“We don’t set specific time goals,” said Brown. “We talk about making the effort and taking pride in what we do. It’s all about your actions—it’s how you act and exhibit your response.”

The attitude certainly seems to be working—the women’s side gains interest and grows in numbers every year. A large part of its athleticism this season has come on the shoulders of players who are new to the game. Only two of the A-side’s seven backs are returners from last season.
Brown noted that three of the players—Elise Okusami ’08, Bridget Meade ’09, and Alex Milne ’08—are especially exciting. Okusami began training with rugby last spring after the varsity basketball season ended. She encouraged Meade, who also played basketball last year, to join as well.

“I wanted to try something new and it seems like everyone is having a great time on the field,” said Meade.

Okusami was drawn in by the value of the experience: “It’s such a huge test of your mental and physical strength. The physical part is obvious; you’re getting destroyed by people on the field. But to have the toughness to go out and do it is really important. I think it builds character.”

Okusami scored the opening try in the Brewers’ first match of the year when the team defeated SUNY New Paltz 43-0. Meade also contributed a try, while Milne racked up five conversions and a penalty kick. Seasoned captain Danika Oriol-Morway ’07 also scored the three final tries of the match.

In the team’s 51-0 victory over Temple, who were the National Division II champions in 2005, Okusami again marked a try, while Milne scored two tries and four conversions. Alexis Liakos ’08 added another, while Oriol-Morway went for an impressive four tries.

As is characteristic for the coach, Brown shifted the credit for the wins onto his players and his assistant, Mark Griffiths.

“He’s a superb coach. He really just raises the bar for them,” said Brown. “You’re absolutely going to be challenged to excel.”

Meade attributed her enjoyment of the game and amateur skill to Brown and Griffiths. “They really understand the game,” said Meade. “And they’ve been really good at explaining it to me.”

“They’re really helpful. They illustrate things well,” echoed Okusami. “They give you the greater concept, they don’t just tell you what to do specifically.”

The team will begin conference play, where they will face tougher competition from teams such as Penn State, Columbia, and Army in October. Brown hopes the team will continue to improve and that their inexperience will not negatively affect their record. But, ultimately, winning is not the only reason Brown and his players take the field. Brown said, “For me as a coach, when you get people with great attitudes, it’s just really exciting.”