There’s only one word to describe the 2009 Norwich women’s rugby team: “Unbelievable.”
For the second time in three years, the Cadets won the New England Championship. The Cadets secured the 2009 title on Sunday, Nov. 1, with a 43-16 victory over Stonehill College.
Norwich advances to the Northeast quarterfinals as the number one team in New England.
From the roster of 35 players, only six members of the team played rugby before college. That’s an incredible statistic, considering that the team is unbeaten, ranked first in the nation, and is in the hunt for a national title in the spring of 2010.
One of the players who never played rugby before Norwich said team work is the key to success.
“It’s really good, we are coming together and bonding really well,” said Katelyn Gingras, 19, a sophomore psychology major from Wethersfield, Conn. Gingras is in her second season on the team and plays fly-half and lock on occasion.
After an undefeated season and being ranked first in the country, it’s hard to find something that the team needs to improve on. “Just being supportive,” said Amanda Granillo, 19, a sophomore criminal justice major.
Granillo has played rugby her entire career at Norwich and hopes to continue her career beyond the 2009 season.
Much of this year’s success comes from “teamwork, support and we have joined together more as a family than just a team,” said Chelsea Weeden, 18, a freshman athletic training major from Colchester, Vt.
Weeden, one of the few who played rugby before coming to Norwich, plays the prop and flanker positions on the field. The only key struggle this season in the eyes of Weeden has been the different referees. “Having different referees, sometimes that can lead to struggles,” Weeden said.
“We focus on doing the best we can every single practice and every single game,” said head coach Austin Hall. “Hopefully as a result, we can be the best in the country.”
Hall, in his sixth year as head coach for the Cadets, explained that a key part to the team’s success this year is that “the players love the game and they are hungry this year.”
“This year, unlike years past, we have had pretty good teamwork and the girls get along well,” Granillo said. When asked about the team’s chemistry, Granillo smiled and said, “Yes, definitely. We are like family.”
Granillo is not the only one who thinks the team seems to be molding nicely. “It’s amazing, this team has the best chemistry out of all the sports teams I have ever been on,” Weeden said.
Practices for the team have moved along pretty smoothly and everyone works hard every day and they all “want to be there,” said Weeden.
Granillo, who plays scrum half for the team, believes the team is exceptionally good at seeing passes, working together and just playing all around “smart rugby.”
Hill, who coached for the South Burlington High School women’s rugby team, emphasizes a lot during practices.
However, one thing he tends to focus on during the course of a season is for a team to be fit, fast and physical. Hill believes that with this mentality and these three traits, a team can be very good.
When asked to describe the success of the 2009 season as of late, a smiling and energetic Hill said, “Great, we are right where we want to be.”
There have been so many players “stepping up” this year and the team is “special,” said Hill. “Everything we want to be good at we are good at,” said an inspirational Hill. “We have excellent team spirit.”
Gingras believes that in order for a team to mold, chemistry becomes a very important factor.
“Balancing each other’s strengths and weaknesses’ out and being together off the field as a team,” Gingras said.
When asked about struggles of the 2009 season, Gingras had to dig deep to find something. “I think as we have gone on we have hit close to our peak.”
However, Gingras did mention that the team always wants to think that it is not at 100 percent.
Hill’s four categories of a game plan are fitness, tactical ability, technical ability and team spirit.
“Each one of these in balance, we call the cornerstones of our castle,” Hill said. “They are driven and they are interested in success,” a smiling Hill said.
When asked if the freshmen on the team were intimidated of the upperclassman, Hill said, “There are a few for certain, especially when you first get here because you are stepping onto a team that has been so successful.”
Although good, the team still needs to work on some things from the coach’s perspective. Overall, however, the team is, “hard and tough,” said Hill.
“The girls work hard on and off the field,” said Gingras. “You get out of it what you put into it.”
The Cadets, trying to erase the sour taste left by Stonehill last season, will try to reach the National Championship this spring.