HISTORY

-Sara O'Neil Faranda

"It all began in the fall of '95 when I was introduced to the game of Rugby after being invited to watch the men's team play. Although confused as to what the rules were and how exactly the game was played I was quickly drawn to the action and excitement of the game. It was the winter of '96 that I was determined to play the game as well. I knew this wouldn't be an easy task, for New Paltz had hot had a women's team, and as it was, the sport was just starting to pick up for women on other college campuses. I began to make several flyers for a general interest meeting and posted them throughout campus.

Many said it wouldn't happen because it had been attempted before and had no success. Weeks went by and I was beginning to lose hope, slowly the phone calls came in and by spring of '96 we had 26 girls that were as eager as I was.

We learned a lot that spring, all thanks to the men's team who offered countless hours of training coaching and support. The men's team also did not have a head coach and yet were ranked quite high in Division I. Luckily across the bridge was Vassar college, who not only had a very established men's and women's team but an established coach as well, who happened to be the MET Union's president, Tony Brown. It was the phone call I received from him that put us on the map. He offered some rugby clinics for us that spring and by fall of '96 we had a schedule lined up playing Division I teams. You may ask why a brand new team would be playing a Division I schedule? Because our men's team was in this division, we were automatically placed there as well. Playing teams like Stony Brook and Vassar and many injuries later we were thankfully placed in Division II the following spring, allowing us to better our skills and play women who had about the same experience as us. It was also that spring that we entered the Stony Brook Rugby Tournament and came in 2nd place for our division.

I never would have thought that it would take off as far as it has. My younger cousin also played on the same team I started, only a few years later. We made friendships that first season that I know will last a lifetime. I'm proud to see what the women's club has turned into. A well established and respected team that continues to flourish and I know will succeed for years to come."