Athlete of the Week | Mason and Nissen impressive on the rugby patch

Elizabeth Pacheco Senior Editor

For the men and women’s rugby teams, this year’s spring seasons are an opportunity to continue the success they achieved during the fall. Among their spring contests, the women will most notably will compete in the USA Rugby National Championships on April 19 in New Mexico, a tournament that they qualified for last November.

While the men came just short of qualifying for nationals, the team will look to take home another big tournament win when they play in the Big Apple at the end of April. Two players—Nick Mason ’08 and Julia Nissen ’11—have been instrumental in propeling the teams forward in the spring seasons.

When Mason first started playing rugby during fall of his freshman year, he wasn’t recognized by his teammates for his skills or quickness on the pitch, but rather for his unique facial hair—extra large sideburns.

Although still known as “Chops” to many of those who know him, Mason has now made a name for himself as critical player in the squad’s success. Though he started out playing for the B Side, Mason was soon moved up to the A Side, where he continued to play the second row lock position for all four years. It’s a position that Head Coach Tony Brown described as “pretty much unsung,” yet Mason has managed to establish himself as a dependable aspect of the team.

During the team’s 39-7 win over State University of New York at Albany last Wednesday, April 3, Mason scored two tries, which is somewhat unlikely for a player in his position.

“In rugby,” explained Mason, “a lot of the scoring happens with the backs who are typically lighter and speedier.” Mason, however, is “outstanding in the line-outs,” said Brown, “and most impressive has been his open field running. He is 6’7”, yet he is surprisingly quick and also quite elusive…he beats defenders,” he continued.

Like many rugby players, Mason came to Vassar with limited experience playing rugby. Both his dad and brother play (each, coincidentally, in the same position), but his only prior experience was in pick-up games in high school.

“The sport itself is part of the reason why I stuck with it,” said Mason, who also accredits his playing all four years to the team’s dynamic. “Well, I really like the team. The group of guys we play with are really amazing,” he said.

Unlike Mason, Nissen’s Vassar rugby career is just beginning. Having played on a club team in high school, Nissen started out this fall on the B Side in the center position. However, playing with the A Side this spring, she was asked to take on a starting position since those who typically play the position, Alex Thom ’09 and Bridget Meade ’09, are abroad and injured, respectively.

“It was rather intimidating, seeing as both Thom and Meade are such great players, but also a lot of fun,” said Nissen. “The game wasn’t new for me, it was just a much more intense game than I had encountered before.”

Over the weekend on the April 5, the team faced off against Providence College, who they defeated in a close 10-0 match. Earlier in the season they also saw a win over Cornell University, former New York state conference champions.

“Nissen worked hard in the fall and did a lot of good things,” said Brown. “She is very consistent and is very quiet, but very determined, a good distributor of the ball, and she runs intelligently.”

These skills will certainly be important when the team competes in Nationals in two weeks. In this single-elimination tournament, the Brewers will play Navy in the opening round, a traditionally tough team with a strong history of winning.

“Obviously a huge team goal for Nationals is to beat Navy,” said Nissen. “It would be utterly fantastic if we were to do that, and I think the team is definitely capable.”